Chinese robotics startup Unitree eyes $7B IPO valuation amid AI and humanoid robot boom

China’s robotics scene is about to test investor appetite in a big way. Unitree Robotics, the Hangzhou-based robotic startup known for its viral humanoid robots, is preparing to file for an initial public offering that could value the company at up to 50 billion yuan ($7 billion), Reuters reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the plan. If successful, the deal would mark one of the country’s most high-profile tech listings in years.

Unitree burst into global attention after posting videos of robots that looked straight out of science fiction—machines climbing stairs, walking on uneven ground, and carrying heavy loads with surprising stability. That spectacle gave the company’s founder, Wang Xingxing, a reputation as one of China’s rising stars in robotics. Earlier this year, Wang joined executives from AI startup DeepSeek at a rare meeting with President Xi Jinping, a signal of how central the sector has become to Beijing’s ambitions.

“China’s Unitree Robotics is looking at a company valuation of as much as 50 billion yuan ($7 billion) for its planned initial public offering, two people with knowledge of the plans of one of the country’s newest and most high-profile startups said,” Reuters reported.

The timing isn’t accidental. China is pouring billions into robotics, semiconductors, and AI as it confronts an aging population and stiff competition with the U.S. over advanced technology. A successful IPO would send a message that local champions like Unitree are ready to raise capital onshore to support Beijing’s push for technological self-reliance.

Unitree said on its official X account that preparations for the IPO are underway, with plans to submit documents in the fourth quarter. The company hasn’t confirmed a listing timeline or deal size, but a valuation near 50 billion yuan would be a sharp leap from the 12 billion yuan mark reached during its last funding round in July. At the time, new investors included Alibaba, Tencent, and automaker Geely, underscoring the buzz around humanoid robotics.

The company declined to confirm the $7 billion figure, with a spokesperson saying: “The reported $7 billion IPO valuation is untrue.” Even so, investors expect the eventual number to be significant, given the company’s profitability and market leadership.

For Beijing, the IPO would come at a delicate moment. Chinese exchanges are showing signs of life after nearly two years of tighter regulatory scrutiny, and market volatility has slowed new listings. So far this year, onshore IPOs have raised about $7 billion—up 40% from a year earlier, but still a fraction of the sums pulled in between 2020 and 2023.

Unitree’s listing would be closely watched as a test of whether investors are ready to bet on humanoid robots, a sector Beijing has showered with subsidies and favorable policies. The company already leads its industry in production and sales, with its robots deployed in universities, sports events, and entertainment. In June, Wang said annual revenue had passed 1 billion yuan, proof that the company isn’t just a viral video factory but a real business with momentum.

Founded in 2016, Unitree has more than 30 investors and plans to float shares on Shanghai’s STAR Market with CITIC Securities as advisor. If the IPO goes through, it would cement Unitree as a rare profitable player in a frontier industry, one that China hopes to dominate as it races to close the gap with U.S. tech giants.