Belgian deep tech startup ZYGO raises seed funding to scale its software platform for Physical AI Agents
Zonnebeke, Belgium, 13 March 2026 — Belgian deep tech startup ZYGO has secured strategic funding to accelerate the development and deployment of its AI-native robotics solution.
ZYGO now has financial backing from the NXT II Investment Fund, JK Invest and business angels from the BeAngels network. In addition, the company has received financial support from its banking partners BNP Paribas Fortis and KBC. Financial details for the round are not being disclosed.
“ZYGO impressed us with their deep market knowledge and innovative approach to robotics. We believe in their technology and vision, and we are confident ZYGO has a unique potential for growth in an important sector. The cooperation with ZYGO is a perfect example of how NXT II wants to support companies with capital, network and knowledge. By sharing our expertise, we aim to support ZYGO’s growth and help them build a strong and sustainable business.”
Gerd Van Poucke, deal leader NXT II Investment Fund.
The funding comes at a critical time as European industries become more dependent on global players that have a leading position in several key tech sectors. The increased geopolitical tensions further make it paramount for Europe to have home-grown strategic technologies and deep tech innovators. Intelligent autonomous solutions in the form of Physical AI Agents represent a significant opportunity where Europe can still play a leading role with the right investment to support innovation by companies like ZYGO.
The technology enables different types of robots to execute real-life tasks autonomously and reduces the operational dependence on human presence in high-risk and physically challenging environments.
“Our goal isn’t to replace humans, but to create smarter, safer workplaces and to address labour shortages in key verticals. This funding allows us to build the teams and tools needed to make that vision a reality and to scale our solution across Europe and beyond.”
Erik van Winkel, co-founder of ZYGO.
With the new capital, ZYGO is scaling its engineering team and preparing for its upcoming European go-to-market. In April, the company will head to the Hannover Messe, the world’s leading industrial trade fair, to launch its first integrated product for the security sector, together with its German hardware partner InMotion Robotic.
Founded in 2023, ZYGO’s mission is to make hybrid teams (humans+robots) more scalable by reducing operational dependence on human labour for dangerous, dull or physically challenging tasks, such as patrolling large industrial sites or inspecting complex maritime infrastructures.
So far, companies have tried to automate such tasks with tailor-made solutions for one specific use case. That approach has proven to be too capital-intensive, too slow to market and not scalable. Moreover, those solutions often have rule-based models which lack advanced reasoning when instant action is essential. ZYGO approaches the situation differently…
“Our software platform, ZYGOS, functions as a ‘robot brain’ that turns any type of robot into a Physical AI Agent capable of perceiving its environment, reasoning about situations, and autonomously executing tasks. This reasoning happens locally on the robot, allowing it to continue operating even without network connectivity.”
Arne Depuydt, co-founder of ZYGO
The flexibility of the ZYGOS software platform allows customers to scale operations quickly, without being limited to one type of robot or a limited set of tasks. Capable of edge reasoning, the ZYGO Physical AI Agent is more agile, has greater cognitive abilities and can tackle more complex tasks in unstructured environments.
Between 2023 and now, ZYGO has received support from valued strategic partners such as VOKA (VOKA Bryo Scale-up 2024 alumnus), PwC (PwC Scale Programme 2025 alumnus) and Deloitte, as well as banking partners such as BNP Paribas Fortis (member of BNP Innovation Hub) and KBC (member of KBC Innovation Banking). ZYGO is also proud to be part of Marifish.Inc, DeBlauweCluster and the Nvidia Inception Program for Startups.
Media Kit
About NXT II Investment Fund
The NXT II investment fund for start and scale-ups is formed by entrepreneurs and C-level people who believe strongly in the power of young entrepreneurship. NXT II invests more than only capital. We share our knowledge and network on different levels. By sharing our expertise with the companies, we aim to support their growth and help them build a strong and sustainable business.
About JK Invest
JK Invest is a Belgian venture capital and holding firm specializing in B2B SaaS & Tech start-ups and scale-ups. Its mission is to accelerate the growth of early-stage companies by actively supporting them in achieving product-market fit and establishing scalable distribution channels. JK Invest positions their portfolio companies for success, guiding them through the crucial start-up phase and preparing them for further funding rounds.
Engaging as early as the pre-MVP stage, JK Invest works closely with founders and management teams to streamline operations, shape business strategies, and refine go-to-market approaches. The hands-on involvement ensures the development of a solid product-market fit and a scalable, high-performance channel strategy.
With investments ranging from €200K to €2M, JK Invest leverages a variety of financial instruments, including equity investments and convertible loans, aiming to secure an optimal stake in each portfolio company. Its goal is to provide not just capital, but strategic partnership to ignite sustainable growth.
