Clawlab raises $15M+ in Pre-A3 round to bring smart knitting into the home
What's the deal? Clawlab, a Chinese startup building a smart knitting machine for home use, has raised more than $15 million in a Pre-A3 round led by gaming company miHoYoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Existing backers Vision Plus CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Shunwei Capital increased their stakes through super pro rata participation.
What's the endgame? Knitting machines have historically been built for factories and professionals, requiring specialist knowledge for pattern development, stitch control, and operation. Clawlab wants to remove that complexity with what it calls the world's first smart knitting machine for the home, turning an image or idea into a finished item while users keep control of design, colors, and use.
Where it's headed: The company sees applications from scarves and doll clothes to pet accessories and personalized gifts, plus custom work for hobbyists and small businesses. The product is scheduled to be unveiled at CES 2027. The round takes total funding to roughly $25 million across four rounds; other backers include Sequoia China and YM CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Longer term, Clawlab wants its equipment, design software, and a creator community to help people turn ideas and memories into one-of-a-kind pieces they can hold, share, and pass on.
Why it matters: Founder and chief executive officer Wenxin Hu previously worked as a hardware engineer at DJI and Meituan, and most of the core R&D team are former DJI employees. "Standardized products are abundant, but consumers' desire for personal style, customization, and emotional expression remains underserved," Hu said. "We want to reconnect ideas, design, and production so that people without professional training can create through knitting."
By the numbers: At more than $15 million, the round ranks around the 95th percentile among early-stage deals in China's home living sector, based on a sample of 209 comparable rounds.
What could go wrong? The raise stands out against a broader push to automate textile production, but comparable efforts show the hurdles. unspun has raised more than $50 million for automated garment production and is still moving toward industrial deployment. Clawlab's significance will depend on whether it can turn a smart knitting machine into a commercially viable product, not just attract investor interest.
The signal: With AI software dominating technology investment, investors are increasingly backing intelligent hardware aimed at traditional consumer categories. Clawlab's bet is that automation can open a professional, factory-bound craft to everyday users.
Read more: techbullion.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
