DeepSeek Takes 36-Month Locked Stake In Unitree To Co-Develop AI Models For Humanoid Robot Cognition
In Brief
DeepSeek invests $21M in Unitree Robotics’ $9B Shanghai IPO as strategic partner to co-develop AI models and embodied intelligence for humanoid robots.
DeepSeek has taken a strategic stake in humanoid robot manufacturer Unitree Robotics as the Hangzhou-based firm launched its initial public offering on Shanghai’s STAR Market, marking mainland China’s first listing in the humanoid robotics sector. Unitree priced the IPO at 150.8 yuan per share, achieving a valuation of $9 billion and raising $900 million and well above its initial target.
DeepSeek invested $20.8 million for 933,399 shares, equivalent to 2.31% of the strategically placed allocation, subject to a 36-month lock-up. The AI startup was joined by Tencent, Kunlun Capital affiliated with CNPC, a Southern Power Grid subsidiary, China Telecom, Citic Securities, and the National Council for Social Security Fund, each contributing comparable amounts.
The offering establishes Unitree as a valuation anchor for China’s booming embodied-AI sector, though the company faces geopolitical headwinds: U.S. sales comprised 13.3% of 2025 revenue, and future models risk exclusion under tightening American trade restrictions on Chinese robotics.
Joint Development Pact Targets Robot Cognition and Embodied Intelligence
Beyond the capital injection, DeepSeek and Unitree have entered a formal co-development agreement to build AI models and embodied-intelligence systems. The two Hangzhou-based firms will integrate DeepSeek’s large language-model expertise with Unitree’s strengths in mechanical engineering, motion control, and hardware. Unitree will prioritize DeepSeek for model-training services and technical solutions, while DeepSeek will favor Unitree for robot procurement and embodied-AI exploration.
The partnership directly addresses the central bottleneck in humanoid robotics: creating a reliable “brain” capable of interpreting unfamiliar surroundings and translating high-level instructions into precise physical actions. Unitree plans to allocate 85% of IPO proceeds to research and development—covering robot software, hardware architecture, and new product lines—while directing 15% toward manufacturing expansion.
The R&D emphasis is already visible in the company’s financial trajectory: although 2025 revenue quadrupled to roughly $252 million and humanoid sales overtook quadruped products as the largest revenue stream, first-quarter 2026 profit excluding one-off items fell 52.6% to approximately $6 million as research and marketing expenditures accelerated. By locking DeepSeek into a three-year equity commitment and appointing it as a co-developer, Unitree is effectively enlisting one of China’s most formidable model labs to architect its cognitive stack.
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About The Author
Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in crypto, AI, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
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Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in crypto, AI, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
