CATL, Xiaomi Back Robotic Hand Startup Xynova Future in Angel Round
Xynova Future has raised more than RMB 100 million (US$13.9 million) in an angel financing round, marking a significant capital injection into the burgeoning humanoid robotics supply chain. The startup specializes in high-degree-of-freedom (DOF) dexterous hands and actuators, critical components for the commercialization of humanoid robots.
The investment was led by CATL Capital, the industrial investment platform of the electric vehicle battery giant, with participation from the strategic investment arm of Xiaomi. The direct involvement of these manufacturing and consumer electronics heavyweights underscores a growing trend of major Chinese industrial firms securing stakes in upstream robotics hardware to support future automation strategies.
Proceeds from the financing will be deployed to accelerate product iteration, expand the engineering team, and facilitate mass production capabilities. The deal highlights investor appetite for proprietary hardware solutions that address the complex engineering challenges required for dexterity in automated labor, a key bottleneck in the broader adoption of humanoid robots.
Strategic Backing
The funding round attracted a consortium of prominent institutional investors. In addition to CATL Capital and Xiaomi, participants included Zhengxuan Capital, Oriental Fortune Capital, CETC Fund, and L2F Light Source Capital. Light Source Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor for the transaction.
Established in late 2024, Xynova Future has positioned itself as one of the few domestic suppliers capable of independent research and production across the full stack of robotic hand technology, including motors, electronic controls, reducers, screws, and algorithms. The company leverages two decades of research experience stemming from the team of Xia Changliang, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Hardware Specifications
Following its establishment, the company released the Xynova Flex 1, a tendon-driven dexterous hand designed for mass production. The unit features 25 degrees of freedom and claims a high power-to-weight ratio, with a palm weight of 380 grams capable of handling a load exceeding 30 kilograms.
According to technical specifications released by the company, the device achieves a single-finger tip force of over 20 Newtons and can complete a full open-close cycle in 0.6 seconds. The hardware architecture incorporates proprietary 8mm hollow cup motors and 7mm planetary roller screws. These components form a micro-electric cylinder system ranging from 10mm to 12mm in size, which Xynova claims delivers a maximum thrust of 100-300N. The company states that its tendon transmission mechanism has achieved a service life exceeding one million cycles under rated load.
Control Architecture
Beyond hardware, Xynova Future has developed a control architecture combining model-driven and data-driven strategies to manage the non-linear challenges inherent in tendon-driven systems. The system utilizes AI-based intelligent parameter optimization, which allows for automatic adjustment of control parameters without manual intervention.
The startup has also expanded its product portfolio to include integrated joint modules with a torque density of 322Nm/kg, targeting humanoid and quadruped robot applications. Xynova Future indicated it has established partnerships with leading humanoid robot manufacturers and aims to deploy its technology in factory operations, commercial services, and household applications as production scales.