Ant Group’s Expanding Robotics Ambitions Fueling Startup Ecosystem
BEIJING – Ant Group, the financial technology giant, is significantly deepening its engagement in the burgeoning humanoid robotics sector, signaling a strategic pivot that could reshape the landscape of both AI and consumer robotics in China and beyond. The Alibaba affiliate has spearheaded a substantial 500 million yuan ($73.58 million) Series A funding round for Zeroth, a promising startup in the humanoid robotics space, the company announced this week.
This latest investment underscores Ant Group’s aggressive strategy in advanced robotics. According to an analysis of PitchBook data, Zeroth marks the twelfth company in the robotics and AI sector to receive investment from Ant since the beginning of 2025. The scope of these investments is broad, encompassing not only core humanoid robotics developers like Galaxea and Unitree but also crucial component and software providers such as Linkerbot, Hypershell, and Genrobot AI. This diversified approach suggests a holistic strategy to build a robust robotics value chain.
The renewed focus on robotics and AI by Ant Group comes after regulatory hurdles led to the suspension of its massive IPO in 2020. Since then, the operator of the ubiquitous Alipay mobile payment platform has been strategically diversifying its portfolio. This has included the launch of a dedicated healthcare services app and the development of its own proprietary artificial intelligence models. Further solidifying its commitment, Ant established a dedicated humanoid robot subsidiary, RobbyAnt, in late 2024, which has since unveiled its own prototype robot, the R1.
Zeroth has identified potential synergies with Ant Group’s vast ecosystem, expressing keen interest in collaborating with the Alipay platform, particularly its AI and robotics-friendly iterations. This collaboration could unlock significant distribution channels and user engagement opportunities for Zeroth’s robotic offerings.
The funding round for Zeroth also saw participation from notable investors including Monolith, Geely Capital, 37 Interactive Entertainment, and Hua Capital. With this Series A raise, Zeroth has now secured a total of 1 billion yuan in funding, positioning it for accelerated development and market entry.
Guo Renjie, founder of Zeroth, emphasized the company’s strategic focus on integrating expertise from sectors with deep experience in advanced hardware, particularly citing smartphone chip manufacturing. Currently, Zeroth’s robots are powered by chips from Horizon Robotics, a key player in China’s AI chip industry. Zeroth Robotics, known domestically as Suzhou JoyIn Intelligent Technology, was founded in late 2024, reflecting the rapid pace of innovation in this domain.
Zeroth has outlined an ambitious, phased roadmap for bringing humanoid robots into the home. The initial focus, according to Guo, is on developing companion robots tailored for the elderly care and pet care markets. This will be followed by educational robots designed for children, addressing diverse consumer needs and market segments.
The startup claims a significant market traction, with over 30,000 units already on order. Furthermore, Zeroth reported an impressive 600% surge in operating revenue during the first half of the year compared to the same period in the previous year, indicating strong early demand and operational efficiency.
Looking ahead, Guo plans to initiate international sales in North America and Europe this fall, pending the successful navigation of local regulatory and compliance requirements. This global expansion strategy highlights the company’s aspirations to compete on a worldwide stage.
Ant Group’s substantial investment in Zeroth aligns with a broader surge of interest in humanoid robotics across China. This trend is also evidenced by major global technology players. Just this week, Nvidia announced it was actively hiring for numerous robotics-related positions across its Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen offices, signaling a significant push into the region’s burgeoning robotics talent pool and market potential. The convergence of investment, technological development, and market demand suggests that the era of practical, widespread humanoid robotics may be closer than many anticipate.
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