Tianji Smart raises ¥1B as Hillhouse and Meituan co-lead
What's the deal? Guangdong-based Tianji Smart (天机智能) has closed ¥1B (~$138M) in B and B+ round financing, pushing its post-money valuation to nearly ¥10B and earning it unicorn status. Hillhouse Ventures and Meituan's strategic investment arm co-led the round, with Tencent, Banyan Capital, Photosynthesis Ventures, and GGV Capital joining as co-investors. Gaolu Capital served as sole financial adviser.
The funds will go toward R&D, large-scale manufacturing, and building a global sales network.
Why now? China's intelligent systems and robotics sector is drawing heavy capital as manufacturers race to automate production lines. The combination of Hillhouse — one of China's most influential tech investors — and Meituan, which has deep logistics and hardware ambitions, signals strong conviction in Tianji Smart's commercial potential.
What could go wrong? A near-¥10B valuation places high expectations on a company still scaling production. Global expansion adds complexity: export controls, geopolitical friction, and stiff competition from established industrial automation players could all slow Tianji Smart's trajectory.
The signal: China's smart manufacturing ecosystem continues to attract mega-rounds even as broader venture funding cools. Strategic investors like Meituan and Tencent are increasingly backing hardware-plus-AI plays that sit close to their own supply chain needs — a pattern that could accelerate consolidation in the sector.
Read more: jiemian.com
