Insider Brief
- JD.Com has led a Series A funding round for Shenzhen-based PaXini Tech, raising the startup’s total to CNY1 billion (USD139 million) in just four months, according to Yicai Global.
- The deal marks JD.Com’s sixth robotics investment since May and reflects a strategic push into embodied intelligence, a growing focus in China’s competitive robotics sector also being targeted by Alibaba and Meituan.
- PaXini, founded in 2021, develops humanoid robots and precision tactile sensors, with flagship products including the Tora-One robot and DexH1 robotic hand; the company has backing from JD.Com, BYD, SAIC Motor, and TCL Capital, and recently established a data center for embodied intelligence in Tianjin.
JD.Com is ramping up its investment in Chinese robotics, leading a Series A funding round for Shenzhen-based PaXini Tech and signaling a deeper push into embodied intelligence, Yicai Global reported. The latest funding brings PaXini’s total haul to CNY1 billion, or roughly $139 million, in just four months, according to state-owned Yicai.
The deal marks JD.Com’s sixth robotics investment since May, adding to a growing portfolio that includes AgiBot, Spirit AI, EngineAI Robotics, LimX Dynamics, and RoboScience. As competition in China’s robotics industry accelerates, major technology firms such as Alibaba Group and Meituan are vying for strategic positions in what is seen as a transformative sector, Yicai reported.
The news agency noted that JD AI Research’s senior leadership has said that these systems promise wide applications in logistics, warehousing, and human-robot collaboration.
PaXini develops high-precision tactile sensors and humanoid robotic platforms. Its flagship offerings include the Tora-One, a humanoid robot, and the DexH1, a robotic hand capable of mimicking fine motor movements of a human hand. The startup has also established a data center dedicated to embodied intelligence in Tianjin, a northern Chinese city.
Founded in 2021 by Xu Jincheng, a former student of Japanese roboticist Shigeki Sugano, PaXini has quickly attracted major backers, according to the news agency. In addition to JD.Com, the latest round included new investors Puxin Capital and XGD, a payment terminal maker. Existing shareholders TCL Capital and Addor Capital also increased their commitments. Automotive firms including BYD, SAIC Motor, and BAIC Group are among PaXini’s earlier backers.
