Chinese Robot Hand Startup LinkerBot Seeks $6 Billion Valuation
The Story
LinkerBot, a Chinese startup founded in 2023, manufactures dexterous humanoid hands with five fingers and at least 11 joints, starting at $600 in China. Founder Zhou Yong stated the company shipped 10,000 robotic hands last year, representing 80 percent of worldwide demand, and predicted the price could fall to $200 within three to five years.
Key Facts
- LinkerBot was founded in 2023 by Zhou Yong, who previously sold an autonomous driving startup in 2019.
- The company’s hands can play piano, thread needles, tighten screws, and assemble electronics.
- LinkerBot completed six rounds of fundraising in 13 months from investors including the Chinese government, Alibaba’s Ant Group, and HongShan Capital.
- The startup is seeking new financing at a $6 billion valuation, double what it was worth a few months ago.
- LinkerBot is reportedly exploring a Hong Kong IPO, according to Bloomberg; Zhou declined to comment.
- Clients include research labs, manufacturers, and other humanoid robot makers.
- Elon Musk said at a fall event: “The hands are the majority of the engineering difficulty of the entire robot.”
- LinkerBot offers international buyers up to a year to exchange hands to overcome quality skepticism.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
- Whether LinkerBot will proceed with a Hong Kong IPO.
- How the company will address long-term inequality in a future where robots replace human labor.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Zhou Yong: Founder and chief technology officer of LinkerBot, age 40.
- Elon Musk: Commented on robotic hand difficulty at an event last fall.
- Hong Shangguan: Veteran tech investor, former partner at Legend Capital.
- Rui Ma: Founder of Tech Buzz China research firm.
Sources: Wired
