In today’s briefing:
- SoftBank Robotics: Robotics Arm of Japanese Conglomerate SoftBank
- Geek+: Global Leader in Smart Logistics Robotic Technology
- HAI Robotics: The Pioneer and Leader in ACR Robot Market
- XPeng Robotics: Early-Stage VC Investment in Developer of Smart Robot Pony
- Gaussian Robotics: Leading Provider of AI-Powered Cleaning Robots
- MegaRobo: China-Based Disruptor in Life Science Automation
- UBTech Robotics: China’s Global AI and High-Tech Robotics Unicorn
- Keenon Robotics: Innovative Chinese Maker of Indoor Robots
- Dobot: Make Smart Manufacturing Accessible
- ROKAE Robotics: Founder-Led Supplier of Flexible Cobots and Lightweight Industrial Robots
SoftBank Robotics: Robotics Arm of Japanese Conglomerate SoftBank
- SoftBank Robotics is a pioneer in the industry of service robots and human-robot interactions. The company unveiled the world’s first social humanoid robot Pepper in 2014.
- Alibaba Group and Foxconn Technology have invested $118M each in SoftBank Robotics: 5%+ investor shareholders include Alibaba (20%), Foxconn (20%), and SoftBank holds a 60% stake.
- The company is struggling to grow revenues, and the business is structurally unprofitable. However, SoftBank Robotics announced RI strategy with plans to introduce a new series of smart robots.
Geek+: Global Leader in Smart Logistics Robotic Technology
- Geek+ is the fastest-growing robotics startup and producer of warehouse robots powered by AI and deep learning algorithms. The company successfully integrates logistics with robots.
- Beijing-Based Geek+ has raised a total of ~$532M in funding over 7 rounds. The last round was a $100M Series E in August 2022 that was led by Intel Capital.
- Warehouse robots have a huge market potential driven by rising labor costs in China, lack of human labor in the warehouse segment, and huge fluctuations in production capacity.
HAI Robotics: The Pioneer and Leader in ACR Robot Market
- Founded in 2016 by Richie Chen and Shengdong Xu, HAI Robotics is a pioneer in ACR systems and warehouse automation robotics unicorn.
- HAI Robotics offers flexible automation solutions to improve efficiency while reducing costs. The company’s vision is to utilize robotics to create and deliver value to each factory and warehouse.
- China is the hub for the production of AMRs and ACRs, easing the workforce shortage, improving operational efficiency, saving additional storage, and handling a wide range of SKUs.
XPeng Robotics: Early-Stage VC Investment in Developer of Smart Robot Pony
- XPeng Robotics is a bionic smart robot maker backed by Chinese EV giant XPeng and high-profile investor IDG Capital. The company focuses on AI, robot autonomy, and interaction.
- Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Shenzhen, XPeng Robotics is an affiliate of XPeng, with R&D centers in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Silicon Valley.
- Bloomberg reported that $100M+ Series A financing was the largest single-tranche fundraising for the bionic robot sector in China in the past two years.
Gaussian Robotics: Leading Provider of AI-Powered Cleaning Robots
- Gaussian Robotics sells a new generation of autonomous cleaning robots that can be applied in office buildings, shopping malls, indoor galleries, hotels, schools, healthcare facilities, and warehouses.
- Shanghai-Based unicorn wants to disrupt the cleaning industry with automation, promoting the use of low-cost autonomous cleaning robots worldwide.
- The company owns the world’s most advanced commercial cleaning robot portfolio offering cost-effective smart robotic solutions to 2,000+ customers in 40+ countries across 6 regions.
MegaRobo: China-Based Disruptor in Life Science Automation
- MegaRobo is a leader in life science automation, founded in 2016 by CEO Daniel Huang and CMO Zhixin Qiao. The company reached a unicorn valuation of $1B+ in 2022.
- MegaRobo wants to improve the efficiency of life sciences research by using robotics and AI technology. In June 2022, AI and robotics unicorn closed the $300M Series C round.
- Using AI in R&D drug discovery is gaining traction. The global lab automation market is a ~$5B opportunity and is expected to reach ~$9.4B by 2030.
UBTech Robotics: China’s Global AI and High-Tech Robotics Unicorn
- UBTech Robotics is a pioneer in AI and leader in intelligent humanoid robots. The company commercialized robots for consumers with a mission to deliver the affordable robot to each family.
- UBTech Robotics has raised ~$940M in equity financing and closed an $820M Series C round in May 2018, the single largest funding ever for AI private company.
- We were impressed by healthy growth at scale, diversified business lines, core AI and robotics technologies, and strong partnerships with Tencent, Apple, and Walt Disney.
Keenon Robotics: Innovative Chinese Maker of Indoor Robots
- Keenon Robotics is a China-based manufacturer of commercial service robots and one of the largest players in serving F&B in China’s robotics market.
- Keenon Robotics has raised a total of ~$244M from SoftBank Vision Fund, Prosperity7 Ventures (Aramco Ventures), CICC Alpha, and VC investors.
- VC-Backed robotics startups raised $17.1B in 2021, up from $6.3B in 2020, according to Crunchbase. As of May-22, robotics venture financing totaled ~$4.3B year-to-date, down ~27% y/y.
Dobot: Make Smart Manufacturing Accessible
- Dobot is a Chinese manufacturer and leading provider of all-perceptive intelligent robotic arms backed by top-tier investment bank CICC and high-profile investors.
- Dobot has raised a total of ~CN¥490M in funding over 3 rounds. Investors include Qianhai Fund of Funds, Shenzhen Capital Group, CICC, Potential Capital and Green Pine Capital Partners.
- The global industrial robotics market is an $80B+ opportunity. The number of robots installed in the automotive industry in China has doubled in 2021.
ROKAE Robotics: Founder-Led Supplier of Flexible Cobots and Lightweight Industrial Robots
- ROKAE Robotics is a Beijing-based supplier of next-generation flexible cobots and lightweight industrial robots backed by Chinese conglomerate New Hope Group and VC investors.
- ROKAE Robotics has raised a total of ~CN¥900M in funding over 5 rounds. The last round was a CN¥400M private equity in May-21 that was led by New Hope Group.
- The company operates a manufacturing industrial park in Shandong province with an annual output of 50,000+ robots.
💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma
Sign Up for Free
The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network
- ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
- ✓ Personalised Alerts
- ✓ Custom Watchlists
- ✓ Company Data and News
- ✓ Events & Webinars
