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KEYi Tech

Category: Robotics / Embodied AI

An AI robotics company that integrates industrial-grade control technology and emotional intelligence into modular and companion robots for education, creativity, and home companionship. KEYi Tech was founded in 2014. The company is led by Jianbo Yang. Based in Beijing, China. Team size: 51-200. Total funding raised: $45.0M. Latest round: Strategic Growth round (nearly ¥100M RMB, Jan 2025). Key investors include Xiaomi, Shunwei Capital, BlueRun Ventures (Lanchi), Source Code Capital, Anker Innovation, Wuzhong Jin Kong, Yuanhe Taihuwan.

Founded
2014
Headquarters
Beijing, China
Team size
51-200
Total funding
$45.0M

Value proposition

Simplifies complex robotics through a proprietary 'click-to-connect' modular design while delivering high-end emotional interaction and professional-grade coding capabilities.

Products and solutions

ClicBot: A modular, programmable robot kit designed for STEAM education and creative building., Loona: An AI-powered 'pet' companion robot featuring high-mobility, emotional interaction, and voice command capabilities., Mi Jia Modular Robot: A strategic collaborative product developed for the Xiaomi ecosystem., KEYi Robot App: A global community platform for user-generated content (UGC), graphical programming (Blockly), and remote control.

Unique value

Developed a modular 'Click' mechanism that allows users to assemble thousands of robot configurations without tools, combined with a 'life-like' animation system featuring over 1,000 emotional responses.

Target customer

Children and students (ages 5-16), STEM educators and schools, tech-savvy families, and coding enthusiasts.

Industries served

Consumer Electronics, STEAM Education / EdTech, Artificial Intelligence, Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)

Technology advantage

Applies industrial-grade control algorithms and multi-modal perception (3D-ToF, face recognition, gesture sensing) to consumer-level toys, powered by a proprietary intelligent decision-making engine for seamless human-robot interaction.

How they differentiate

Integrates industrial-grade control algorithms and multi-modal perception into consumer robots, providing life-like animations and modularity. Unlike build-centric kits, KEYi robots focus on emotional human-robot interaction and seamless 'click-to-connect' assembly without tools.

Main competitors

Makeblock, Living.ai, UBTECH (Jimu), Digital Dream Labs

Key partnerships

Xiaomi: Strategic partnership for the Mi Jia Modular Robot product line., Amazon Web Services (AWS): Integration of Amazon Lex and other cloud services for global AI voice interaction and data privacy., Global Education Network: Partnership with over 500 schools and institutions using ClicBot for science and coding workshops.

Notable customers

Xiaomi (Mijia Modular Robot partner), 500+ global STEAM education institutions

Major milestones

ClicBot named 'Best Coding Robot' by Forbes in 2021, Strategic partnership with Xiaomi to develop the Mijia Modular Robot line, Successful launch of Loona pet robot, raising over $3 million on Kickstarter, Secured nearly ¥100 million RMB in late-stage growth funding in Jan 2025

Growth metrics

Over 10,000 active users worldwide; raised $3M+ on Kickstarter for Loona; presence in 80+ countries.

Market positioning

Premium consumer AI and STEAM education robotics leader

Geographic focus

Global market with a primary focus on North America, China, and Europe

Patents and IP

Holds over 40 registered patents and copyrights related to modular structures, joint control, and robotics software architectures.

About Jianbo Yang

Jianbo Yang is a mechanical engineer and robotics innovator who founded KEYi Tech in 2014. An alumnus of Beihang University, he gained early recognition by winning the Gold Award in the 2nd China Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. He is known for integrating complex industrial control algorithms and AI into consumer-facing modular and companion robots, notably the ClicBot and Loona product lines.

Official website: