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Boston Dynamics IPO: How to Invest, Revenue, Investors & Valuation

George Sweeney, DipFA| Updated December 13th, 2023
Boston Dynamics IPO: How to Invest, Revenue, Investors & Valuation 1

As technology continues to develop at a rapid pace, Boston Dynamics is a company that has managed to capture the imagination of investors, robot enthusiasts, and everyone in between. With people looking out for the next significant tech advancement, robotics firm Boston Dynamics has managed to inspire headlines and curiosity worldwide.   

Throughout this article, we’re going to take a look at the most important details relating to the firm so that you can decide whether you’d like to invest in Boston Dynamics. We’ll dive into all the key areas, such as the company statistics, revenue, users, and everything you need to know about the Boston Dynamics IPO (Initial Public Offering).

What does Boston Dynamics actually do?

The company began over 30 years ago. Starting in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1992 – Boston Dynamics is an engineering company focusing on robotics. It specialises in building machines designed to replicate the movement of humans and animals. In practice, this often means robots with legs. The idea being, these robots can go anywhere we can go, making them useful for difficult terrain or unsafe environments. 

Boston Dynamics started as a spin-off company from MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Over the years, Boston Dynamics has grown and developed a number of specialist robots. The firm was bought by Alphabet in 2013, SoftBank in 2017, and most recently – Hyundai in 2021. Customers of Boston Dynamics include the likes of SpaceX and the US Army.

Boston Dynamics Key Company Facts

Founded 1992
Headquarters Massachusetts, US
Sector Technology
Industry Engineering/Robotics
Founders Marc Raibert
Number of employees 900+ (LinkedIn November 2023)
IPO Date 2023/2024 (expected)
Number of investors 54
Total funding $37 million USD
Valuation estimate $1.1 billion USD

Boston Dynamics Company Statistics

Below is a breakdown of some key figures, including Boston Dynamics’s revenue, estimated value, robotics models, and competitors.

Boston Dynamics revenue

Year  Estimated revenue USD
2021 $20 million – $30 million
2022 $30 million – $40 million

Source: Zippia, Forbes.

Boston Dynamics valuation

Year Estimated valuation USD
2013 $500 million
2017 $165 million
2021 $1.1 billion

Source: Zdnet, Bloomberg, Verdict, Arstechnica, Reuters, Financial Times.

Boston Dynamics models

Current and past robot models offered by Boston Dynamics include:

  • Atlas
  • Spot
  • Stretch
  • BigDog
  • Handle
  • Wild Cat
  • LS3
  • Sandflea
  • Rhex

Source: Company data

Boston Dynamics’s competitors

Only a few robotic engineering companies are successfully creating robot models and prototypes that could rival Boston Dynamics. Here are some possible competitors to Boston Dynamics:

  • Fetch Robotics
  • Amazon Robotics
  • SIASUN
  • ANYbotics
  • VisionNav Robotics
  • Mushiny Intelligence
  • Symbio
  • Automata Technologies
  • Dexterity

Who is Boston Dynamics owned by?

At the moment, ownership of Boston Dynamics is split between Hyundai and SoftBank:

  • 80% – is owned by Korean company Hyundai (bought for $880 million USD in 2020/2021).
  • 20% – is owned by SoftBank, who acquired Boston Dynamics from Alphabet in 2017 and later sold a majority stake.

When is the Boston Dynamics IPO?

There’s no news on when the Boston Dynamics IPO might take place. It was thought that Hyundai was keen to raise funds for Boston Dynamics through an initial public offering soon after the acquisition was completed in 2021. However, investing sentiment has become more risk-averse, with retail and institutional investors less interested in high-risk, high-reward technology stocks.

Some have forecast that Boston Dynamics should soon become profitable (ideally in 2023 or 2024). But with the current economic climate, this may not be enough to encourage Hyundai to publicly list Boston Dynamics. The company has some existing contracts and also sells some of its robots to individuals, allowing it to generate revenue. 

Yet, it’s unclear exactly what Hyundai’s overall plans are. Many investors hope the Boston Dynamics IPO will come sooner rather than later. But it’s likely that Hyundai will try and wait for the most opportune moment based on market conditions. This could be when Boston Dynamics secures a particularly lucrative contract or makes a significant breakthrough with its robot technology.

How to invest and buy shares after the Boston Dynamics IPO

After the Boston Dynamics IPO date, you can freely buy the newly listed stock. Interactive Brokers and eToro are two top-rated brokers where you can access Boston Dynamics shares and buy the stock with low fees after the IPO. Take a look at both these brokerage options below:

1# Interactive Brokers

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Interactive Brokers at a glance

Minimum deposit€/$/£0
Products availableStocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Forex, Commodities, Bonds and Funds
RegulatorsFINRA, SIPC, SEC, CFTC, IIROC, FCA, CBI, AFSL, SFC, SEBI, MAS, MNB
Countries Supported218 countries globally

Founded in 1978, the IBKR platform lets you access over 150 market destinations in 33 countries and trade any asset you may be looking for: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Commodities, Options, Futures, CFDs, Cryptos Futures, and even tiny small companies (a.k.a micro caps).

If you want to buy Boston Dynamics stock after the IPO, here’s how you can buy shares using Interactive Brokers:

  1. Open a trading account with Interactive Brokers.
  2. Deposit funds into your account.
  3. Once it’s available, search for the Boston Dynamics stock, there is no confirmed ticker symbol right now.
  4. Place the type of order you wish to use (e.g. market, limit, stop etc.).
  5. Once you’ve bought your desired number of Boston Dynamics shares, continue to monitor performance.

If you’d like to learn more about the IBKR platform, check out our full-length Interactive Brokers review.

2# eToro

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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

eToro at a glance

Minimum deposit$10 (varies between countries)
Products availableETFs, Stocks and CFDs on Commodities, Forex, and Cryptocurrencies
RegulatorsFCA, CySEC, ASIC
Countries Supported64 countries globally

Founded in 2006 in Israel, eToro now has over 30 million customers worldwide. The platform is widely known for its social and copy trading features. It allows users to trade stocks, forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, CFDs, and ETFs.

If you’re planning to buy Boston Dynamics stock after the IPO, here’s how you can buy shares using eToro:

  1. Open an account with eToro.
  2. Head to the ‘Markets’ page, and select ‘Stocks’.
  3. Search for the Boston Dynamics stock and select ‘Trade’.
  4. Next, hit ‘BUY’.
  5. Choose how much you want to invest in Boston Dynamics or the number of shares you want to buy.
  6. Select your leverage (or ensure that leverage is set to X1).
  7. Decide on a take-profit parameter if you want to automate a future sale of your Boston Dynamics stock.
  8. Finally, hit ‘Open Trade’

If you’d like to learn more about eToro, check out our in-depth eToro review.

Bottom line on investing in the Boston Dynamics IPO

Although the Boston Dynamics IPO (initial public offering) is yet to be announced or confirmed, the company is still likely to go public at some stage. Boston Dynamics will present an opportunity to invest in a leading engineering company attempting to revolutionise a blossoming robotics sector. 

Boston Dynamics will likely face increasing levels of competition from companies worldwide. And it will be a challenge to ensure that its technology remains superior in such a fast-moving space. However, Boston Dynamics is one of the most well-known and longest-running robotics companies globally. So it has somewhat of a first-mover advantage along with a well-recognised brand name.

Boston Dynamics appears to be growing and progressing well, but it may have a tough time weathering harsh economic conditions over the next few years. Fewer investors are willing to take risks on companies that promise future returns, instead looking for more security with immediate cash flow. But if there is one robotic engineering firm likely to succeed and stand out, it’s Boston Dynamics. 

Let us know in the comments below if you plan on investing in the Boston Dynamics IPO!

FAQs

What is an IPO?

The acronym stands for ‘Initial Public Offering’, it’s a process used by large private companies to raise additional capital. This is done to further invest in the growth of the business or even pay off debt. An IPO creates public awareness, putting the company under the spotlight. Timing of an IPO is crucial for a company if it wants to maximise its capital-raising potential and increase its valuation due to demand from investors and the market.

Is Boston Dynamics going to IPO?

Yes, but the main question is when. The company and its owners have been tight-lipped about IPO plans for Boston Dynamics.

Did Google buy Boston Dynamics?

Yes. Google (now Alphabet) bought Boston Dynamics in 2013 but later sold the company to SoftBank in 2017. 

Does Hyundai own Boston Dynamics?

Yes, Hyundai bought an 80% majority stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank in 2020/2021.

Who owns Boston Dynamics?

It’s a private company, ownership is split between Hyundai (80%) and SoftBank (20%).

Is Boston Dynamics publicly traded?

Not right now. Boston Dynamics is still a private company. But after the Boston Dynamics IPO, shares will be publicly traded on a stock exchange.

What is the stock ticker for Boston Dynamics?

There is no official stock ticker for Boston Dynamics at the moment.

Is Boston Dynamics profitable?

Not yet. Some reports suggest the company aims to be profitable in 2023 or 2024.

How much is Boston Dynamics stock worth?

It’s difficult to put an exact value on Boston Dynamics stock because it is still privately owned. The financial records aren’t fully available to the public or audited to meet certain accounting standar.

Can you buy shares of Boston Dynamics?

Not at the moment, but once the company is listed on a stock exchange after its IPO, you will be able to buy Boston Dynamics stock.

George Sweeney, DipFA
Contributor

George is a freelance writer and qualified financial advisor who focuses on educating others in personal finance and investing. His work has been featured on The Motley Fool, Finder, Freetrade, Yahoo Finance, MoneyMagpie, and Online Mortgage Advisor.‍

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