# SoMa startup builds war robots for Pentagon

> SoMa startup Foundation aims to build humanoid robots for battlefield use, despite past factory focus.
- Title: SoMa startup builds war robots for Pentagon | Shortify
- Summary: SoMa startup Foundation aims to build humanoid robots for battlefield use, despite past factory focus.
- Keywords: foundation, phantom mk-2, so ma, humanoid robots, penta, military robots, erik trump, ukraine, gaza, robot warfare, The San Francisco Standard
- Source: The San Francisco Standard — https://sfstandard.com/2026/11/14/humanoid-war-robots-soma-startup
- Published: 2026-11-14T14:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: foundation, phantom mk-2, so ma, humanoid robots, penta, military robots, erik trump, ukraine, gaza, robot warfare, news, local
## Foundation's military pivot
SoMa startup Foundation shifted from factory robots to battlefield applications in 2025.
## Phantom MK-2 robot
200-pound, 6-foot-tall aluminum humanoid robot encased in dustproof and waterproof materials.
## Sankaet Pathak's vision
Pathak claims robots could reduce casualties in combat compared to traditional weapons.
## Military claims and doubts
Foundation claims to have sent robots to Ukraine and Gaza, but experts question practicality.
## Eric Trump connection
Eric Trump joined Foundation as chief strategy adviser in March 2026, despite no Pentagon contract.
## Contract disputes
Foundation claimed $24 million Pentagon contract, but federal records show no such deal.
## Robot capabilities
MK-1 robots struggle with tasks like loading mortar shells, taking 15 minutes to complete one attempt.
## Expert skepticism
Experts say humanoid robots for combat are decades away due to unpredictable battlefield conditions.
## Ukraine deployment
Foundation claimed to test robots in Ukraine, but no border crossings were confirmed.
## Gaza tunnel test
Foundation sent MK-1 robot into Gaza tunnels, seeking Israel Defense Forces collaboration.
## Robot leasing prices
MK-1 leases at $100,000 per unit annually with 100-unit minimum, MK-2 at $75,000.
## Military ethics concerns
Pathak declined to comment on autonomous killing capabilities, noting robots can't do this yet.
## Competitor focus
Tesla and Figure AI focus on factory applications, not military use.
## Pivoting employees
Several employees quit after Foundation shifted focus to combat applications.
## Foundation's history
Pathak founded Synapse in 2014, which filed for bankruptcy in 2024 after $50 million funding.
## Current military plans
Foundation aims to expand production from 1,000 to 5,000 units annually with AMD partnership.
## Key takeaway

SoMa startup Foundation is developing humanoid robots for military use after pivoting from factory applications.