Geely Leads $141 Million Round for Tsinghua-Linked Robotics Startup
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A humanoid robot developed by Robot Era is displayed at the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing on Aug. 12, 2025. Photo: VCG
Robot Era, a fast-rising Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots, has secured nearly 1 billion yuan ($141 million) in a Series A+ funding round led by Geely Capital, the investment arm of auto giant Geely Holding Group.
The deal, announced Thursday, also drew participation from BAIC Capital, a subsidiary of Beijing-based automaker BAIC Group, and two state-backed funds focusing on Beijing’s artificial intelligence and robotics sectors.
The investment reflects growing momentum in China’s embodied AI space — where companies combine physical robots with advanced software — as investors pour capital into startups aiming to bridge the gap between intelligent algorithms and real-world industrial applications.
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- Robot Era, founded in August 2023, raised nearly 1 billion yuan ($141 million) in a Series A+ round led by Geely Capital; total funding since inception exceeds 1.8 billion yuan.
- Its proprietary “ERA-42” AI and various robots serve logistics, manufacturing, and services globally, with half of revenue from overseas markets.
- Chinese embodied AI and robotics investment is surging, with notable recent deals by Astribot, Ling Technology Inc., and Unitree Robotics nearing IPO.
AI generated, for reference only
Who’s Who
- Robot Era
- Robot Era is a rapidly growing Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots. It has secured nearly 1 billion yuan ($141 million) in a Series A+ funding round, following multiple prior funding rounds since its founding in August 2023. The company, founded by a Tsinghua University assistant professor, develops both software like its AI brain "ERA-42" and hardware, including the full-sized bipedal humanoid robot L7. They have substantial commercial traction, with total orders exceeding 500 million yuan.
- Geely Capital
- Geely Capital is the investment arm of Geely Holding Group, an auto giant. It led the Series A+ funding round for Robot Era, a Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots. This investment highlights Geely Capital's interest in the embodied AI and robotics sectors.
- Geely Holding Group
- Geely Holding Group is an auto giant, whose investment arm, Geely Capital, led a Series A+ funding round for Chinese humanoid robot startup Robot Era. This investment was part of a nearly 1 billion yuan ($141 million) deal. Geely is also a major corporate client of Robot Era, with total orders exceeding 500 million yuan.
- BAIC Capital
- BAIC Capital is an investment subsidiary of BAIC Group, a Beijing-based automaker. They participated in a nearly 1 billion yuan ($141 million) Series A+ funding round for Robot Era, a Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots.
- BAIC Group
- BAIC Group is a Beijing-based automaker. Its subsidiary, BAIC Capital, participated in the Series A+ funding round for Robot Era, a Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots. This investment highlights the growing trend of capital flowing into China's embodied AI sector.
- CDH Investments
- CDH Investments, through its subsidiary CDH Venture and Growth Capital, led a 500 million yuan Series A funding round for Robot Era in July. This investment highlights their participation in the growing embodied AI space, backing a company that develops both software and hardware for humanoid robots, with applications in logistics, manufacturing, and commercial services.
- CDH Venture and Growth Capital
- CDH Venture and Growth Capital, a subsidiary of asset management company CDH Investments, led a Series A funding round for Robot Era in July. This round secured 500 million yuan for the humanoid robot startup.
- Haier Capital
- Haier Capital is the investment arm of the home appliance giant Haier Group. They participated in Robot Era's Series A funding round, contributing to the 500 million yuan raised. This investment highlights their interest in the embodied AI and robotics sectors.
- Haier Group
- Haier Group, a home appliance giant, has an investment arm called Haier Capital. Haier Capital participated in Robot Era's Series A funding round, contributing to the 500 million yuan raised. This investment highlights Haier Group's involvement in China's rapidly developing robotics sector.
- Alibaba Group Holding
- Alibaba Group Holding, an e-commerce giant, participated in a 300 million yuan Pre-A funding round for Robot Era in October 2024. This investment was alongside venture capital firms Crystal Stream Capital and Vision Capital.
- Crystal Stream Capital
- Crystal Stream Capital (梧桐树资本) participated in Robot Era's 300 million yuan Pre-A funding round in October 2024. They were one of the venture capital firms involved, alongside Alibaba Group Holding and Vision Capital.
- Vision Capital
- Vision Capital (远瞻资本) participated in Robot Era's 300 million yuan Pre-A funding round in October 2024. They were among the venture capital firms backing the Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots, alongside e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding and Crystal Stream Capital.
- Renault
- Renault is mentioned as one of Robot Era's major corporate clients. Robot Era, a Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots, stated that total orders have exceeded 500 million yuan, with Renault being one of their significant customers.
- SF Express
- SF Express is a major corporate client of Robot Era, a Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots. Robot Era has secured orders exceeding 500 million yuan, with SF Express being one of their significant customers.
- TCL
- TCL is one of Robot Era's major corporate clients. Robot Era has received over 500 million yuan in total orders, and the company's overseas business, which accounts for half of its revenue, covers North America, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, and South Korea, with nine of the world's top 10 tech giants by market capitalization among its clients.
- Lenovo
- Lenovo is a major corporate client of Robot Era, a fast-rising Chinese startup specializing in humanoid robots. Robot Era's total orders have exceeded 500 million yuan, and its affiliation with Lenovo highlights its growing commercial traction.
- Astribot
- Astribot (星动未来), a Chinese humanoid robot maker, recently closed a Series A++ funding round. This investment, worth several hundred million yuan, was backed by CAS Investment and Ant Group.
- CAS Investment
- CAS Investment (中科院资本) participated in a "several hundred million yuan" Series A++ funding round for Astribot, a humanoid robot maker. This investment highlights the continuous flow of capital into China's robotics sector.
- Ant Group
- Ant Group participated in a Series A++ funding round for Astribot, a Chinese humanoid robot maker. This investment highlights Ant Group's involvement in cutting-edge technology sectors and its support for innovation within China's robotics industry.
- Ling Technology Inc.
- Ling Technology Inc. is a Chinese company operating in the humanoid robot sector. They recently secured 200 million yuan in funding. The company was mentioned in the article as one of several high-profile transactions in China's humanoid robot market.
- Unitree Robotics
- Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based company, is preparing for a domestic listing. On November 15, the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced that Unitree Robotics had completed its IPO counseling with Citic Securities, which is a crucial step towards listing on the Chinese mainland.
- Citic Securities
- Citic Securities is involved in the process of Unitree Robotics' potential domestic listing. The China Securities Regulatory Commission confirmed that Unitree Robotics completed its IPO counseling with Citic Securities, which is a significant step towards listing on the Chinese mainland.
AI generated, for reference only
What Happened When
- August 2023：
- Robot Era was founded.
- July 2024：
- Robot Era netted 500 million yuan in a Series A round led by CDH Venture and Growth Capital and Haier Capital.
- October 2024：
- Robot Era raised 300 million yuan in a Pre-A round backed by Alibaba Group Holding, Crystal Stream Capital, and Vision Capital.
- October 2024：
- Robot Era co-developed 'Ctrl-World', a virtual environment for robots, in partnership with Stanford University researchers.
- Early November 2024：
- Ling Technology Inc. raised 200 million yuan.
- By November 15, 2024：
- China Securities Regulatory Commission stated Unitree Robotics had completed IPO counseling with Citic Securities.
- November 18, 2024：
- Astribot closed a Series A++ funding round worth several hundred million yuan, backed by CAS Investment and Ant Group.
- November 21, 2024：
- Robot Era announced Series A+ funding round, securing nearly 1 billion yuan, led by Geely Capital.
AI generated, for reference only
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