Background & Funding Overview
Founded in late 2023, EngineAI (Shenzhen EngineAI Robotics Technology Co., Ltd.) has quickly become a leading contender in China’s humanoid robotics space. Headed by Zhao Tongyang, the company was built by engineers previously from Xpeng’s robotics team.
In its most recent rounds, EngineAI raised nearly 1 billion yuan (≈ $139–140 million), with the Pre‑A++ round led by Rocket Capital and Xpeng, and the Series A1 round led by JD.com, along with investors including CATL Capital, Yintai Group, Tsinghua Holdings Capital, and Baidu Ventures. This infusion brings its total capital raised to over $166 million in less than two years.
Robot Capabilities & Technological Edge
EngineAI’s humanoids, including models like SE01, are built for high performance. Weighing about 55 kg, standing around 170 cm tall, and boasting 32 degrees of freedom, they can walk at speeds up to 2 m/s, squat, grasp, run—and even perform aerial acrobatics such as a front flip, a milestone first globally achieved by their robot in early 2025
The robots are powered by a proprietary SEED multimodal AI model, capable of interpreting visual, auditory, and sensory data to execute complex, context-aware tasks. EngineAI also designs its own high-performance joint modules optimized for torque, speed, and precision.
Strategic Vision & Market Focus
EngineAI is pursuing an open-source hardware model paired with ecosystem profit-sharing, encouraging partnerships, custom applications, and rapid adoption in markets like logistics, tourism, hazardous operations, and public services. Such an approach aims to build communities around shared innovation and standardization.
With the latest funds, EngineAI will accelerate:
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Mass manufacturing of humanoid platforms
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Expansion of its product portfolio into specialized service robots
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Enhancement of its embodied AI stack for real-world adaptability
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Global market entry, in particular across Asia’s industrial automation landscape
China’s Humanoid AI Race: EngineAI Among Strong Peers
EngineAI joins a growing cohort of Chinese humanoid robotics innovators. Notable players include:
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Unitree Robotics (Walker S2 capable of self battery swap), renowned for affordable, agile humanoids.
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AgiBot, a Shanghai-based firm with open-source design plans and mass production of over 1,000 units by early 2025
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UBTech Robotics, a Shenzhen stalwart known for its Walker series deployed in industrial settings.
EngineAI’s edge lies in its demonstrated dynamic movement (e.g. front flip), AI-driven decision-making, and open ecosystem strategy—positioning it well in a rapidly evolving market
Why It Matters
As demand surges for embodied AI agents capable of performing physical, intelligent tasks in dynamic environments, EngineAI’s funding and innovation roadmap signal serious momentum. The company’s approach to open hardware, fast prototyping, and scalable payload robotics gives it a strategic advantage in industrial, logistics, and service automation.
With China’s humanoid robot market expected to surge from $2 billion in 2024 to over $13 billion by 2029, startups like EngineAI are setting the stage for global leadership. Its strategy blends high-end AI, cost-efficient manufacturing, and a community-centric growth model to deliver adoption at scale
Keywords
EngineAI funding, Shenzhen humanoid robot, front flip robot, embodied AI, SEED multimodal AI model, open‑source humanoid hardware, Chinese robotics startups, EngineAI Pre‑A++ round, EngineAI Series A1, humanoid robot sprinting and flipping, AI robotics China, JD.com robotics investment, Rocket Capital EngineAI.
