Insider Brief
- Simplexity Robotics raised about $289 million across five funding rounds in the past six months, with investors including Tencent, Alibaba Group, Vision Capital, Lanchi Ventures, HSG, Legend Capital, CAS Star and Gaorong Ventures, according to Yicai Global.
- The Hangzhou-based startup said the capital will support training robotics foundation models, developing core algorithms, expanding data collection and advancing research and development of embodied AI systems.
- Founded last year by former Li Auto executives, the company said it is developing a full-stack robotics platform and plans to deploy its systems first in controlled environments such as factories, supermarkets and logistics operations before expanding to broader applications.
Simplexity Robotics has raised about $289 million in funding over the past six months to accelerate development of embodied AI robots and foundation models, according to Yicai Global.
The Hangzhou-based company said the capital came through five financing rounds backed by investors including Tencent, Alibaba Group, Vision Capital, Lanchi Ventures, HSG, Legend Capital, CAS Star and Gaorong Ventures. Following the most recent round, the startup said its valuation has surpassed $1 billion.
According to Yicai, Simplexity Robotics said the funding will be used to train robotics foundation models, develop core algorithms, expand data collection and accelerate research and development of embodied AI systems designed for deployment across multiple real-world environments.
The company was founded last July by Chief Executive Jia Peng, Chairman Wang Kai and Chief Operating Officer Wang Jiajia, all former executives at Li Auto.
Yicai reported the company’s technology strategy focuses on developing a full-stack robotics platform, including AI models, hardware systems and control software. Simplexity Robotics said its LaST₀ base model integrates environmental understanding and prediction capabilities within a vision-language-action architecture designed to support both rapid response and longer-term reasoning during robot operation.
The company is reportedly also developing a task-planning system called ManualVLA intended to improve robotic execution of complex, multi-step tasks.
Simplexity Robotics said it plans to deploy its systems first in controlled environments such as factory workshops, supermarkets and logistics operations before expanding into more open and dynamic settings. Its first-generation robot has entered small-batch production and is undergoing proof-of-concept testing as it expands operations across Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou.
