Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba, is intensifying its focus on humanoid robotics by leading a 500 million yuan ($73.58 million) funding round for Zeroth, a start-up specializing in this field. This investment is part of a broader strategy, as Ant has now invested in 12 companies within the humanoid robotics sector since the beginning of 2025.
The funding round also included participation from other investors like Monolith and Geely Capital, bringing Zeroth's total funds raised to 1 billion yuan. Founded in late 2024, Zeroth aims to develop robots for various applications, starting with companionship robots for elderly care and pet care, and plans to expand into children's education.
The company's founder, Guo Renjie, noted that Zeroth has already received orders for over 30,000 units and reported a remarkable 600% increase in operating revenue in the first half of the year compared to the previous year. Additionally, Zeroth is preparing to enter international markets in North America and Europe later this year.
This surge in investment and development in humanoid robotics comes amid growing interest in the sector in China, as evidenced by Nvidia's recent hiring for robotics roles in major cities.
Ant's strategic shift towards robotics and AI, including the launch of its own AI models and a humanoid robot subsidiary, reflects its efforts to diversify and innovate following the regulatory setbacks it faced in its financial services operations