The year 2025 has kicked off with a funding boom in the humanoid robot industry. On January 7, two companies secured investments totaling over 900 million yuan.
Fourier Intelligence: 800 Million Yuan in Series E Financing
Fourier Intelligence announced on January 7 that it had completed a Series E funding round, raising nearly 800 million yuan. This round saw participation from major investors, including Guoxin Investment, Pudong Venture Capital, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Investment, Zhangke Yaokun Fund, Prosperity7 Ventures (an arm of Saudi Aramco), and Junshan Capital.
Since its inception, Fourier Intelligence has completed nine funding rounds, backed by prominent investors such as Qianhai Fund of Funds, Guozhong Capital, and Lingang Innovation Fund. In its Series D round, the company secured 400 million yuan from SoftBank Vision Fund II and Yuanjing Capital, co-founded by Alibaba’s Wu Yongming.
Fourier plans to continue advancing humanoid robotics with its “human-centered” design philosophy and its proprietary “GRx Hexagonal” technology framework. The company aims to develop flexible, intelligent, and versatile robots for broader commercial applications.
Initially focused on rehabilitation robotics, Fourier launched the Fourier M2, its first upper-limb rehabilitation robot, which entered the North American market in 2018. The company later developed the Fourier X1, China’s first lower-limb exoskeleton robot with tactile feedback.
In 2019, as humanoid robotics entered a critical phase of innovation and market exploration, Fourier’s founder, Gu Jie, leveraged his expertise in rehabilitation robotics to venture into the humanoid robot sector. In 2023, Fourier launched its first humanoid robot, GR-1, achieving mass production with over 100 units delivered.
In 2024, Fourier unveiled its next-generation humanoid robot, GR-2, featuring comprehensive upgrades in height, weight, degrees of freedom, payload, battery life, design, joint arrangement, and dexterous hand performance. By mid-2024, Fourier’s humanoid robots were deployed at SAIC General Motors’ Jinqiao luxury vehicle plant and the Ultium battery factory, performing complex tasks such as high-voltage component installation and precision operations.
Alpha Square: Hundreds of Millions Raised in Pre-A Round
On the same day, Alpha Square announced it had raised hundreds of millions of yuan in its Pre-A funding round, led by Fortune Venture Capital and D&H Capital, with participation from cornerstone investor Cornerstone Capital. Previous backers of Alpha Square include SEE Fund, Clear Intelligence Capital, and SDIC Venture Capital.
Alpha Square was founded by Dr. Guo Yandong, a national innovation leader with a PhD from Purdue University. Under the mentorship of U.S. National Academy of Engineering members Jan P. Allebach and Charles A. Bouman, Dr. Guo amassed over 15 years of experience in AI research and industry practice. Before founding Alpha Square, he served as Chief Scientist and R&D executive at XPeng Motors and OPPO, spearheading the integration of original AI technologies into smart devices and vehicles.
Alpha Square’s core team includes alumni from leading institutions such as Microsoft, XPeng, OPPO, Momenta, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and UC Berkeley. This diverse team blends cutting-edge technology expertise with practical industry experience.
The company’s flagship product, the AI2R Brain embodied large model, powers its Alpha Bot series. The latest model, Alpha Bot1S, features a wheeled design, foldable lift structure, and high-degree-of-freedom robotic arms. It offers extended battery life, human-like form, and seamless multitasking capabilities. Its versatile and adaptive design enables precise object manipulation in various complex scenarios.
Outlook: A Heated Funding Climate for Humanoid Robotics in 2025
The year 2024 witnessed unprecedented investment activity in humanoid robotics. According to New Strategy Industry Research Institute, over 67 financing deals were completed globally in 2024, amounting to $1.52 billion (approximately 11 billion yuan). Chinese companies accounted for more than 50 deals, raising over 5 billion yuan.
Looking ahead to 2025, continued technological breakthroughs and accelerated industrialization are expected to drive even greater funding enthusiasm. This influx of capital will empower innovative companies to advance research and expand market applications, fostering globally competitive enterprises. However, as the industry matures, heightened competition and market dynamics may intensify the natural selection process, favoring the most capable players.
