The Daiwa House Group Growth Fund has invested in US-based Persona AI, a developer of industrial humanoid robots. The fund is operated by Ignition Point Venture Partners and backed by Daiwa House Ventures. Persona AI, founded in 2024 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, develops humanoid robots for shipyards, construction sites, and energy infrastructure. The robots are designed to perform skilled tasks such as welding, inspection, maintenance, and fabrication, addressing labour shortages and improving safety in complex industrial operations. The fund cited Persona AI's experienced management team and the company's potential to solve structural challenges facing the construction and heavy industry sectors. The investment reflects growing dependence on automation solutions as many heavy industries face severe labour shortages.

Persona AI, a Houston-based humanoid robotics company, has appointed Brian Davis as Head of Global Manufacturing to scale commercial production for industrial applications. Davis brings over 30 years of operations experience, including roles at Amazon Robotics and Dell Technologies, where he oversaw 25-fold increases in manufacturing volumes within four years. The appointment comes as Persona prepares to fulfil growing demand following agreements with HD Hyundai and POSCO Group for deployment in shipyards and steel manufacturing, plus a pilot programme with Louisiana. Founded in 2024, Persona AI develops humanoid robots for high-risk industrial tasks including welding, fabrication and heavy maintenance. Davis will oversee manufacturing infrastructure, supply chain management and quality control as the company transitions from prototype to volume production.