Guao Technology raises nearly ¥100M Series A+ as its robots reach Bosch's lines
What's the deal? Chinese firm Guao Technology has raised nearly 100 million yuan (roughly $14.8 million) in a Series A+ round. Backers include Shenzhen Venture CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Capital CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Yueke FinancialDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The money will fund mass production of its industrial embodied robots and the launch of a dedicated robot business unit.
What does it do? Founded in 2019, Guao builds industrial robots on self-developed multi-degree-of-freedom motors that combine linear and rotational motion. Its robots have been sold to BoschDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in Germany and are in pre-operation on production lines at several large manufacturers.
Why now? Shenzhen Venture CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → also backed Guao's Series A in June 2025, making this a fast follow-on. The company has built a lead in the niche "ZR Motors" category, supplying customers including GoertekDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Sunny OpticalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What's the endgame? Founder Li Siyang argues the barrier to industrial robots is hardware, not AI. "It is like a person whose brain has developed to the level of a 20-year-old, but whose body remains at the level of a 3-year-old," he said. Guao chose to build complete machines rather than sell modules, betting that motor expertise unlocks factory-ready motion control.
What could go wrong? Overseas motor makers sell closed "motor + driver + control algorithm" bundles, so switching suppliers is costly. Li said price and specs alone will not move customers: "We must achieve exponential performance improvement."
The signal: With 2026 dubbed the "first year of mass production of humanoid robots," Guao's raise reflects a shift in focus from AI models to the hardware needed to make robots work on real production lines — and a broader push for domestic substitution in China's industrial automation supply chain.
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Image credit: jurvetson
