Unicorns, multiple funding rounds, products already deployed across multiple industries... Ten portfolio robotics companies showcase at Linear Capital's general-purpose intelligent robotics event

In mid-October, Linear Capital hosted an offline salon in Hangzhou titled "From Intelligent Robots to General-Purpose Intelligent Robots." The event invited German National Academy of Engineering academician and German Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg academician Professor Jianwei Zhang, along with researchers from university labs at Stanford University, Columbia University, and ETH Zurich, to join ten Linear Capital portfolio companies in the robotics sector for discussions and exchanges on the current state, challenges, and future development of general-purpose intelligent robots.

All ten robotics portfolio companies making their collective debut at this event were early-stage investments led or made by Linear Capital over the past five years, with cumulative investment exceeding RMB 500 million. The projects span applications of robots in industries including manufacturing, construction, healthcare, logistics and transportation, and advanced manufacturing — among them are unicorn companies and firms that have rapidly gained industry recognition despite being founded relatively recently (detailed introductions appended at the end of the article).

At the beginning of the event, Harry Wang, founder and CEO of Linear Capital, first outlined the firm's long-term focus and investment strategy in general-purpose intelligent robots: "Roughly five years ago, we shifted from focusing purely on data intelligence investments to hardware-software integration, particularly from the perspective of cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence, thinking about and experimenting with how to achieve substantial efficiency gains through machines for core, critical steps in industries like manufacturing and construction. Guided by the principles of following technological evolution and staying 2-3 years ahead of the market, we invested in several robotics startups. Everyone here today represents entrepreneurs we've supported in this robotics direction over the years, and we will continue to practice our investment philosophy and commitment in this area. Additionally, for this event Linear invited Professor Jianwei Zhang and researchers from university labs to share and exchange with our portfolio companies, and we hope to have more in-depth exchanges and cooperation with industry experts and university labs going forward."

Linear Capital partner Songyan Huang introduced that Linear Capital began its "hardware-software integration" approach in 2018, paying attention to robotics companies, and has to date invested in numerous robotics startups solving specific problems in vertical domains — for example, in manufacturing, construction, and healthcare, where some Linear portfolio companies have developed robots that can substantially improve work efficiency. However, many problems remain unsolved in commercial applications, human-robot interaction, and other scenarios. In recent years, as Embodied AI has gained increasing attention, Linear is optimistic about its prospects for solving certain robotics challenges, though considerable hurdles remain — which is precisely the topic of today's sharing and discussion. Beyond scientific questions, they also encouraged portfolio companies to discuss the impact of Embodied AI on their businesses and their thinking about commercialization.

Next, German National Academy of Engineering academician and German Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg academician Professor Jianwei Zhang recounted how he came to know Linear Capital — from initially participating in the founding of Agile Robots, a Linear seed-round portfolio company, to growing together with Agile Robots and Linear Capital. In his sharing, Professor Zhang focused on an academic perspective, summarizing and reflecting on the opportunities and technical challenges in future general-purpose intelligent robot research. Professor Zhang is a well-known scholar in the field, a professor in the Department of Informatics at University of Hamburg, director of the Institute of Multimodal Intelligent Systems, distinguished visiting professor at Tsinghua University, and co-founder of Agile Robots. Professor Zhang noted that intelligent robots represent a "deep snow, long road" entrepreneurial direction. Thirty years ago when he was studying at Tsinghua University, he chose "the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics" as his research direction. Over the years, with the rapid development of internet data and services domestically, discussing intelligent robots today — combined with new convergent technologies like sensors and computing architectures — brings even more innovation opportunities to this赛道.

Additionally, researchers from university robotics labs at Stanford University, Columbia University, and ETH Zurich shared their latest research findings in areas such as robot control and mobility. At the end of the event, the ten Linear portfolio companies exchanged views and discussed topics including the commercialization of general-purpose intelligent robots, as well as company management and development.

These ten robotics startups are:

Agile Robots

Founded in 2018, Agile Robots has received Linear Capital's backing from the angel round onward. Agile Robots maintains dual headquarters in Munich, Germany and Beijing, China. Leveraging the German Aerospace Center as its technological foundation, the company is dedicated to advancing the deep integration and innovation of AI and cutting-edge robotics technology, expanding the application of robots across more fields. Agile Robots has launched products including the robot operating system AgileCore.OS, the intelligent force-controlled general-purpose robotic arm DIANA, the humanoid five-finger intelligent dexterous hand Sony Hand, and the flexible intelligent robot platform Agile FIP. These have already been deployed in industries including manufacturing (3C consumer electronics, automotive and upstream/downstream supply chain, jewelry and other precision component manufacturing), healthcare, agriculture, education, and services. Since its founding in 2018, Agile Robots has completed multiple funding rounds. In September 2021, when it announced its $220 million Series C round, its valuation surpassed $1 billion.

Weijian Technology

Founded in 2020, Weijian Technology was led by Linear Capital in its angel round. Weijian Technology empowers the construction industry through robotics, IoT, and AI algorithms, accelerating comprehensive upgrading of the construction industry through fully self-developed intelligent construction products. Founder Dr. Yanxue Liang has ten years of R&D and productization experience. Its first product, a plastering robot, achieves 5-8x human efficiency (10x in lab environments), requiring no programming, with autonomous walking and autonomous plastering capabilities. It is currently the only company in the industry using intelligent robots to solve plastering operations at construction sites. Weijian Technology has also launched a rebar robot for cutting and shaping rebar at construction sites. To date, Weijian Technology has established cooperative relationships with China Construction Eighth Engineering Division, China Construction Third Engineering Bureau, China Construction First Group, and Zhejiang Construction Engineering Group, among others. In 2021, just one year after its founding, Weijian Technology completed consecutive Series A and A+ rounds totaling over RMB 100 million.

Dishi Medical

Founded in 2021, Dishi Medical was led by Linear Capital in its Pre-A round. Dishi Medical focuses on R&D and production of surgical systems combining biomedical and implementation instruments for supermicrosurgery, with ophthalmic surgery as its entry point. It is among the first domestic companies to complete type inspection for ophthalmic surgical robots. The founding team comes from top German robotics and AI labs and Fortune 500 German pharmaceutical companies. In the first half of this year, Dishi Medical completed two funding rounds within six months. In July, Dishi Medical's "Dishi Weifeng" ophthalmic surgical robot successfully performed its first retinal sub-thrombolysis surgery for treating macular hemorrhage at Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital.

Jiexiang Lingyue

Founded in January 2020, Jiexiang Lingyue was led by Linear Capital in its Pre-A round. Jiexiang Lingyue is a robotics company serving intelligent manufacturing and smart warehousing, with self-developed, globally first-of-their-kind pallet robot products and JMS industrial software at its core, dedicated to providing manufacturing clients with high-efficiency, high-flexibility, high-reliability standardized products and intelligent logistics panoramic solutions. Founder Feng Lv has 15 years of experience in robotics, having held key positions at Alibaba DAMO Academy and Sinovation Ventures AI Institute. Core team members come from leading companies including Alibaba DAMO Academy, Huawei, China Mobile, and Meituan. In April 2022, Jiexiang Lingyue announced the completion of nearly RMB 100 million in angel and Pre-A funding. Its new-generation unmanned forklift AMR has already been deployed at multiple Fortune 500 companies, covering pharmaceuticals, food, and semiconductor industries.

YuanYe Technology

Founded in 2019, YuanYe Technology was led by Linear Capital in its angel round. YuanYe Technology is a novel wearable robotics company founded by a team of PhDs and master's graduates from Harvard University and MIT, using machines to restore and enhance the wearer's physical function. While traditional wearable robots assist by supporting body weight, the YuanYe Technology team developed the world's first more flexible, lighter, and smarter muscle exosuit system, organically combining AI algorithms, robotics technology, flexible material design, and human biomechanics. Through machine learning to predict movement intent, the muscle exosuit achieves highly coordinated interaction with the body, providing real-time, on-demand muscular assistance that enhances the wearer's muscular performance during movement, helping them complete physical actions more stably, easily, and accurately. In April 2021, YuanYe Technology announced the completion of a $10 million Series A round from Country Garden Venture Capital, Qiaobei Capital, Hillhouse, and existing shareholder Linear Capital.

Guoguang Shunneng

Founded in 2022, Guoguang Shunneng was co-led by Linear Capital in its angel round. Guoguang Shunneng proposes the MPS (Mobility Power Supply) concept, creating novel electricity consumption-side solutions through intelligent mobile supercharging robots based on intelligent electric platforms and advanced battery technology. Since its founding, it has launched fully self-developed innovative technology products and platforms including the "integrated storage-charging mobile supercharging robot G60/G60 Pro Xiaohei," the "full-scenario flexible charging expert Free Flow Fubao," and the "vehicle-cloud ecosystem integration RxLight Shuguang Cloud Platform." Founder Xiaoguang Deng previously worked at Siemens VDO, SAIC New Energy, Neta Auto, and Qingtao Solid-State Battery, and is among the drafters of current national charging standards, with over a decade of experience in the new energy vehicle industry. In 2022, it announced the completion of a tens of millions RMB angel round co-led by Linear Capital and HSG.

Hebin Intelligence

Founded in August 2020, Hebin Intelligence was led by Linear Capital in its angel round. Hebin Intelligence deeply integrates robotics and AI technology, applying high-precision, low-latency robot teleoperation technology and full-stack AI technology to the ultrasound diagnosis and treatment field, building an ultrasound imaging automated acquisition technology system that meets diagnostic standards. In 2022, it completed development of the world-leading 7-DOF force-controlled intelligent remote ultrasound robot HEBINRUS-T7, passing medical device product inspection at the Medical Device Inspection and Testing Institute. Compared with the 6-DOF ultrasound robots predominantly used in the market, the 7-DOF force-controlled intelligent remote ultrasound robot adds one redundant degree of freedom and multiple force sensors, enabling the robotic arm to be as flexible as a human arm, capable of reaching scanning points through multiple arm configurations, improving robot flexibility and reducing the impact of joint limits and obstacles. To date, Hebin Intelligence has received cumulative investment of tens of millions of RMB from Linear Capital, HSG, and TINAVI. In 2021, Hebin Intelligence was selected for the national 5G+ Healthcare Application Demonstration Project list, and in 2022 received national high-tech enterprise certification.

Xinkong Intelligent

Founded in 2019, Xinkong Intelligent was led by Linear Capital in its angel round. Xinkong Intelligent is an equipment supplier for the intelligent manufacturing industry, a software company serving intelligent manufacturing. Its products include assembly line design automation software, edge computing centers, and industrial Lego robots — using AI algorithms to generate production line layout solutions with one click, providing modular robots for rapid production line construction and implementation, with edge computing centers as the hub to achieve true digital twins. Final products currently span 3C, photovoltaics, home appliances, biomedicine, new energy, and other industries. To date, Xinkong Intelligent has completed multiple funding rounds and received national high-tech enterprise certification.

Dajie Robotics

Founded in late 2016, Dajie Robotics was invested in by Linear Capital at its Series A round. Dajie Robotics provides robotic automation production solutions for construction steel structures, heavy industry, shipbuilding, and bridge sectors, including steel structure cutting, welding, and grinding. It is dedicated to independently developing ROBIM, China's leading industrial software connecting 3D architectural data with industrial robot production, and providing integrated intelligent construction solutions for decorative construction projects. To date, Dajie Robotics has completed multiple funding rounds and has continuously served nearly a hundred construction factories, providing intelligent construction services to hundreds of real estate developers and domestic and international architectural design institutions and architects.

Bairhinoceros (Bairhino)

Founded in 2019, Bairhino was led by Linear Capital in its Pre-A round. Bairhino is an autonomous driving company dedicated to developing full-stack unmanned delivery solutions and providing normalized unmanned vehicle operations. Its core R&D team comes from Baidu, Alibaba, DiDi, and ByteDance. Bairhino's commercialization began with pilot unmanned food delivery, later signing Yonghui Supermarket as a client to provide end-of-chain supermarket delivery. It has currently obtained national high-tech enterprise certification, established partnerships with major supermarkets and local instant delivery platforms including Yonghui, Rainbow, Dada, and Hema, and received the first commercial operation license for unmanned delivery vehicles in Hefei.