TECH

Humanoid Robot Startup X Square Nets Big-Name Backers in $143 Million Raise

Published: Jan. 13, 2026 12:25 a.m. GMT+8

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X Square Robot’s Quanta X2 humanoid robot unveiled at the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing on Aug. 9, 2025. Photo: VCG

X Square Robot, a Shenzhen-based startup specializing in humanoid robotics, has raised 1 billion yuan ($143 million) in a new funding round led by TikTok owner ByteDance Ltd. and venture capital firm HongShan Capital Group. The investment marks the latest sign of investor enthusiasm for China’s fast-evolving “embodied AI” sector — artificial intelligence systems capable of physical interaction.

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Beijing-based X Square Robot raised 1 billion yuan ($143M) led by ByteDance and HongShan, totaling 3 billion yuan in funding.
The startup develops humanoid robots using Vision-Language-Action (VLA) AI; its Quanta X1 and X2 are already in pilot applications.
China's robotics sector is attracting significant investment, with multiple startups raising over 1 billion yuan and some preparing for IPOs.

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Who’s Who

X Square Robot: X Square Robot is a Beijing-based startup specializing in humanoid robotics, founded in December 2023. They have raised 3 billion yuan in funding, including a recent 1 billion yuan round led by ByteDance and HongShan Capital. The company develops "embodied AI" systems and has launched two humanoid robots, Quanta X1 and Quanta X2, utilizing their Vision-Language-Action (VLA) large models. They are involved in pilot applications like package sorting and food delivery.

ByteDance Ltd.: ByteDance Ltd. (also known as "字节跳动") is a major investor in the Beijing-based startup X Square Robot. ByteDance led a new funding round for X Square Robot, contributing to the 1 billion yuan ($143 million) raised. This investment highlights ByteDance's interest in China's rapidly developing "embodied AI" sector.

HongShan Capital Group: HongShan Capital Group is a venture capital firm that participated in a new funding round for X Square Robot, a Beijing-based humanoid robotics startup. This investment, alongside ByteDance Ltd., totaled 1 billion yuan ($143 million) and contributed to X Square Robot's overall funding of 3 billion yuan. The firm's involvement highlights investor interest in China's "embodied AI" sector.

Shenzhen Capital Group Co. Ltd.: Shenzhen Capital Group Co. Ltd. (SCGC) is a state-backed investment entity that participated in the new funding round for X Square Robot. They invested through their AI-focused fund, contributing to the 1 billion yuan raised by the Beijing-based humanoid robotics startup. SCGC was among a mix of private and state-backed investors in this round.

Meituan: Meituan is a Chinese tech giant that previously invested in X Square Robot. This funding round occurred in May, prior to the latest 1 billion yuan investment led by ByteDance. Meituan was among the early backers of the Beijing-based humanoid robotics startup.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is a Chinese tech giant that has previously invested in X Square Robot. This Beijing-based startup develops humanoid robotics and recently secured 1 billion yuan in a new funding round.

Unitree Robotics: Unitree Robotics is a Chinese robotics company mentioned in the context of China's fundraising boom in the robotics sector. It initiated IPO counseling in late 2025, alongside Deep Robotics. This indicates their progress and significant presence within the rapidly developing "embodied AI" industry in China.

Deep Robotics: Deep Robotics initiated IPO counseling in late 2025. This company is part of a broader fundraising boom within China's robotics sector.

Agibot: Agibot is a Shanghai-based robotics startup. The company has pursued a backdoor listing on Chinese mainland exchanges. This move comes amid a wider fundraising boom in China's robotics sector.

UBTech Robotics: UBTech Robotics is a Shenzhen-based company that has pursued a backdoor listing on Chinese mainland exchanges. This initiative aligns with a broader trend of significant fundraising and IPO activities within China's robotics sector.

RobotEra: RobotEra is a startup in China's robotics sector that has recently raised over 1 billion yuan in funding. This occurred amidst a broader fundraising boom in the Chinese robotics industry, with several other startups also securing significant investments.

EngineAI: EngineAI, a startup in China's robotics sector, has recently raised over 1 billion yuan in funding. The company is mentioned alongside other rising startups like Robotera and Galbot, contributing to a broader fundraising boom in the industry.

Galbot: Galbot is a startup in China's robotics sector that has successfully raised over 1 billion yuan in recent months. It is among several other startups, like Robotera and EngineAI, that have seen significant fundraising, highlighting the boom in the country's robotics industry. The article does not provide further details about Galbot's specific products or focus.

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