China robot IPO boom

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Happy Friday! Unitree Robotics, one of China's most successful robot companies, just announced plans to go public after generating over $150 million in 2024 revenue.

Could this IPO finally give everyday investors access to the robotics boom that's been brewing behind closed doors?

In today's recap:

• Tesla sees 80% future value from Optimus robots

• Unitree plans to IPO

• Runway AI shifts tech to robot training

• China humanoid sales up 125% to 10,000 units

• Figure's AI loads dishwasher autonomously

UNITREE

China robot maker Unitree plans to IPO

Recaply: Unitree Robotics, one of China's top robot companies, announced plans to go public later this year. The firm builds popular humanoid robots and robot dogs that help with research, education, and everyday tasks. They expect to file paperwork with Chinese stock exchanges between October and December 2025.

Key notes:

• Company made over 1 billion yuan in 2024, with 65% from robot dogs and 30% from humanoid robots.

• Founded nine years ago by Wang Xingxing, the firm has been profitable since 2020.

• Major investors include China Mobile, Alibaba, and Tencent.

• Robot dogs start at $2,700 while humanoid robots cost around $13,600.

• Company serves only civilian markets, not military applications.

Impact: This IPO could mark a turning point for China's robotics industry as investors get their first chance to own shares in a profitable robot maker. The move shows how quickly robotics technology is moving from labs to everyday life.

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RUNWAY

Runway AI pivots to Robot training

Recaply: Runway, the company famous for creating AI videos, is now helping robots learn how to move and think. The New York startup discovered that robotics companies want to use their video technology to train machines safely before testing them in real life.

Key notes:

• Runway's AI creates realistic simulations that help robots practice without expensive real-world testing.

• Self-driving car companies reached out first, showing interest in the simulation technology.

• The company will fine-tune existing models rather than build completely new ones for robotics.

• Training robots in simulations costs less and scales better than physical testing.

• Runway has raised over $500 million and built a dedicated robotics team.

Impact: This shift shows how AI video technology has uses beyond entertainment. As robots become more common in daily life, companies like Runway could play a key role in making them smarter and safer.

TESLA

Tesla shifts focus to AI Robots in plan 4

Recaply: Tesla just released its Master Plan Part 4, marking a major shift from electric cars to artificial intelligence and humanoid robots. The company now sees its Optimus robot as the future growth engine, with CEO Elon Musk projecting that robotics could make up 80% of Tesla's value by 2029.

Key notes:

• Tesla's new plan emphasizes "sustainable abundance" through AI integration into physical products.

• The Optimus humanoid robot takes center stage as Tesla's next big bet for growth.

• Electric vehicles barely get mentioned despite being Tesla's core business for years.

• Critics say the plan lacks specifics and concrete timelines for achieving these goals.

• Tesla hasn't finished previous master plans from 2016 and 2023 yet.

Impact: This bold pivot shows Tesla evolving beyond cars into a broader technology company. However, with declining EV sales and unfinished promises from past plans, investors wonder if Tesla can deliver on these ambitious robot dreams.

NEWS

📰 What matters in Robotics right now?

• China's humanoid robot sales will exceed 10,000 units in 2025, marking a 125% year-over-year increase according to market data.

• Oceaneering secured a $180M four-year Petrobras contract for next-generation subsea robotics work starting late 2025.

• Figure demonstrated its F.02 humanoid autonomously loading a dishwasher using its proprietary Helix VLA model in a new video release.

• UK and Brazil researchers developed a tentacle-like robot for safer, more precise offshore subsea inspections requiring fewer human divers.

• UC Berkeley researchers created HITTER, a system enabling humanoids to play ping pong autonomously with near-perfect performance.

• UBTECH Robotics secured a $1B credit line from Infini Capital to build a joint venture "superfactory," R&D center, and Middle East headquarters.

• Greece hosted a four-day International Humanoid Olympiad where Chinese companies showed more willingness to showcase progress and failures than U.S. firms.

• XLeRobot announced XLeRobot 0.3.0, a fully open-source household robot with dual arms, 3 cameras, and 4-hour assembly for $660.

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Cheers, Jason

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