Chinese robotics startup Linkerbot has closed a Series B+ round at a $3 billion valuation, reports Reuters.
The Beijing-based company, which makes dexterous robotic hands for humanoid robots and industrial systems, is already targeting a potential $6 billion valuation in its next fundraise.
The round drew backing from earlier backers Ant Group and HongShan Group, as well as new backers Zhongguancun Science Park Fund, Bank of China Asset Management, and Fosun Capital. This shows excitement in China’s robotics sector, especially as Unitree moves toward a Shanghai IPO at a valuation of up to $7 billion.
Alex Zhou founded Linkedbot in 2023 after being inspired by a childhood spent watching Doraemon, the Japanese cartoon cat famous for producing gadgets from its magical pocket. As he studied robotics, he came to a different conclusion about where the magic actually lived: it was in the hands. The company has since grown to more than 400 employees and operates five factories across Beijing and Shenzhen.
The company’s edge lies in its focus on dexterity, widely seen as the missing link for humanoid adoption. Its platform captures and standardises real-world human actions into reusable robotic capabilities, with over 500 skills recorded so far. These hands can perform delicate and complex tasks from threading a needle to handling soft materials and executing high-precision assembly.
Linkerbot also builds key components such as motors, reducers, and joint modules in-house, using specialised polymers that enhance durability and efficiency. Its lightweight O6 model, capable of lifting 50 kg while weighing just 370 grams, underscores its engineering advantage.
The company already controls over 80% of the global market for high-degree-of-freedom robotic hands, the report adds.
Unlike competitors, including Tesla, Figure AI, and Meta, that focus on training robots for general household tasks, Linkerbot specialises in precision-driven craftsmanship by building a large-scale, real-world dexterity dataset. As per the company, it embeds those skills directly into hardware.
Looking ahead, Linkerbot plans to scale production to 10,000 units per month and is developing automated manufacturing lines where robotic hands assemble other hands. While full humanoid robots remain expensive, costing between $100,000 and $150,000, Linkerbot’s modular approach allows faster deployment across industries.
Beyond factories, Zhou envisions applications in healthcare, creative arts, and advanced services, positioning the company at the centre of the next wave of humanoid adoption.
