Spirit AI
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
China's leading embodied intelligence startup building a 'universal brain' for general-purpose humanoid robots, combining full-stack AI and robotics capabilities. Spirit AI was founded in 2024. The company is led by Han Fengtao (韩峰涛). Based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang (HQ); Beijing (registered entity: 万境千寻（北京）科技有限公司). Team size: 101-500. Total funding raised: $700.0M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Yunfeng Capital (Jack Ma), Shunwei Capital (Lei Jun/Xiaomi), Sequoia China, JD.com, Prosperity7 Ventures (Aramco Ventures), Honghui Fund, Broadvision Capital (CATL co-founder Li Ping), TCL Capital, 360 Capital, China Merchants Capital, GF Xinde Investment, Huakong Fund.
- Founded
- 2024
- Headquarters
- Hangzhou, Zhejiang (HQ); Beijing (registered entity: 万境千寻（北京）科技有限公司)
- Team size
- 101-500
- Total funding
- $700.0M
Value proposition
Developing a 'universal brain' (general-purpose embodied AI model) for humanoid robots that can operate across diverse real-world scenarios — from automotive manufacturing and logistics to home service — using a proprietary VLA (Vision-Language-Action) model architecture.
Products and solutions
Spirit v1.5 / v1.6 VLA Foundation Model (end-to-end Vision-Language-Action model, open-sourced, #1 on RoboChallenge and RoboArena benchmarks), Moz1 Humanoid Robot (26-DOF full-force-controlled humanoid, 1:1 payload-to-weight ratio, world's highest power-density integrated torque-controlled joints), Xiao Mo robot (deployed at CATL battery production lines), Spirit Sense-Sync wearable, SGRv2 reinforcement learning framework for high-sample-efficiency imitation learning
Unique value
Only Chinese embodied AI company with full-stack AI+robot production-grade capabilities; first Chinese embodied model to top global leaderboards (RoboArena, RoboChallenge) beating Nvidia Cosmos3 and Physical Intelligence Pi0.5; unique 'one brain, multiple forms' approach enabling a single model to work across different hardware platforms; proprietary 'dirty data' strategy using real-world messy data for training
Target customer
Industrial manufacturers (automotive, battery production, electronics), logistics/retail companies (JD.com), commercial service providers, and eventually consumer households
Industries served
Automotive manufacturing, battery/power production (CATL), logistics & supply chain (JD.com), smart manufacturing, commercial service, retail, home service
Technology advantage
End-to-end VLA (Vision-Language-Action) model architecture integrating perception, reasoning, and action; ViLa and CoPa models (ViLa used by Figure 01 robot); EfficientZero/EfficientZero v2 — world's most sample-efficient reinforcement learning algorithms; 20x data efficiency via SGRv2 framework; Moz1's 15% higher power density than Tesla Optimus; open-source leadership (Spirit v1.5 on GitHub/HuggingFace)
How they differentiate
Full-stack AI+robot capability (both model and hardware); top global benchmark rankings (first Chinese company to top RoboArena); unique 'dirty data' real-world training strategy; unmatched investor lineup spanning 4 internet industry titans (Jack Ma/Yunfeng, Lei Jun/Shunwei, Liu Qiangdong/JD.com, Zhou Hongyi/360); 'one brain, multiple forms' hardware-agnostic approach; open-source leadership in embodied AI
Main competitors
Unitree Robotics (China, humanoid robots, ¥12B valuation), Zhiyuan Robotics (China, embodied intelligence, ¥15B valuation), Galaxy General (China, humanoid robots, ¥21B valuation), Physical Intelligence (US, embodied AI), Figure AI (US, humanoid robots), Nvidia (Cosmos3 model)
Key partnerships
Bosch China (strategic partnership for industrialization of 'Universal Brain', component supply), CATL (Xiao Mo robot deployed on battery production line, investment via Broadvision Capital), JD.com (Pre-A+ lead investor, logistics/retail deployment), Huawei (HiSilicon Ascend computing power adaptation, Hubble Investment as shareholder), Xiaomi (Shunwei Capital as seed investor), TCL (TCL Capital as investor), D-Robotics (embodied AI deployment solutions), The University of Hong Kong Beijing Centre
Notable customers
CATL (world's largest EV battery manufacturer — Xiao Mo robot deployed on production line), JD.com (logistics/retail deployment), Bosch China (strategic partnership), Huawei (Ascend computing platform adaptation)
Major milestones
Jan 2024: Company founded, Jul 2024: Moz0 first-gen robot born, Aug 2024: ¥200M Seed+Angel round, Nov 2024: Angel+ round (Broadvision Capital/CATL), Mar 2025: Spirit V1 VLA model preview, Jun 2025: Moz1 humanoid robot launched, Jul 2025: ¥600M Pre-A+ led by JD.com, Dec 2025: Xiao Mo robot deployed at CATL production line, Jan 2026: Spirit v1.5 open-sourced, #1 on RoboChallenge, Feb 2026: ¥2B in two rounds, valuation >¥10B unicorn, Apr 2026: ¥1B round (Shunwei+Yunfeng), valuation >¥20B, Jun 2026: ¥1.5B A+ round, Spirit v1.6 #1 on RoboArena beating Nvidia Cosmos3
Growth metrics
Raised ~¥50B (~$700M+) in 7 rounds over ~2 years; valuation exceeded ¥10B (~$1.4B) in Feb 2026, then ¥20B+ (~$2.8B) by Apr 2026; Spirit v1.6 model #1 on RoboArena (June 2026); Spirit v1.5 #1 on RoboChallenge (Jan 2026); Moz1 robot deployed at CATL production line (Dec 2025); 200K+ hours of real-world interaction data
Market positioning
Among the top-tier embodied intelligence unicorns in China (valuation >¥10B / ~$1.5B+), part of the 'Six Rising Stars of Hangzhou' alongside Unitree Robotics. Positioned as the leading 'universal brain' provider for general-purpose robots, competing with both domestic players and global leaders like Google DeepMind and Physical Intelligence.
Geographic focus
China (primary market for manufacturing/logistics deployment), with global ambitions (benchmark leadership in North American RoboArena, international investor base including Middle East sovereign funds)
Patents and IP
Proprietary VLA model architecture (Spirit v1/v1.5/v1.6); ViLa (Vision-Language model) and CoPa (Component Constraint Model); EfficientZero/EfficientZero v2 RL algorithms; high-power-density integrated force-control joints; SGRv2 framework for sample-efficient imitation learning
About Han Fengtao (韩峰涛)
Ex-Co-founder & CTO of Rokae Robotics (珞石机器人); PhD under robotics academician Ding Han (丁汉院士); Zhejiang University graduate. Led development and delivery of ~100 models of industrial/collaborative robots totaling ~20,000 units across 20+ industries.
Official website: https://www.spirit-ai.com/en/