The Chinese New Year has reignited national attention towards two prominent technological entities, prompting a wave of collective reflection across the nation.

DeepSeek has emerged as a name that needs little introduction; their shift in inferential logic has left a considerable impact on industry professionals, shaking the foundation of their previous approaches.

Equally impressive, the robots developed by Yushu Technology have captured the public's imagination, particularly after a standout performance during the Spring Festival Gala, making their robotic mascots household names.

Recently, Wang Xingxing, the founder of Yushu Technology, participated in a national symposium for private enterprises hosted by the government, underscoring the significance of his industry and personal brand in the wider techscape.

Robotic Canines and Their Human Counterparts

The proliferation of news emphasizing the capabilities of robots has grown commonplaceYet, witnessing Yushu's robots perform the handkerchief dance during the gala aired a newfound sense of wonder among the audience.

Notably, Yushu's UnitreeB2-W, renowned for its dancing prowess, is among the best

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Last December, this robotic canine demonstrated its agility by executing a smooth 'breakdance' routine, effortlessly sliding down a steep, rocky incline and maneuvering through a slippery river with remarkable steadiness.

In a prior showcase last October, B2, Yushu's industrial quadruped robot, gained significant attention for serving as an 'intelligent porter' while traversing the majestic Tai Mountain in China, earning admiration both locally and internationally.

Remarkably, even the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, shared snippets from this viral moment on social media, exclaiming: 'The robotic dog acts as a porter amidst the grandeur of Tai Mountain: technology benefits humanity.'

Yushu's acclaim in the industry is partly due to its strategic positioning within the consumer-grade robotics market, which serves as the bedrock for its viral videos showcasing robots imitating human behaviors—ranging from dancing, cracking walnuts, to frying eggs.

The company operates across various segments, including consumer-level and high-performance industrial robots and versatile robotic arms, marking its status as a pioneer in delivering high-performance quadruped robots that have seen industry application.

Recent statistics from the High-Tech Research Institute indicate that Yushu already commands an impressive 69.75% of the global market share of four-legged robots as of 2023, while also holding a significant 40.65% of the overall market scope

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They have been dubbed the 'Ground DJI' in this sector.

Morgan Stanley has asserted that Yushu's pioneering approach sets new industry benchmarks, with its humanoid robot G1 priced at an astonishingly affordable $16,000, a mere tenth of the anticipated cost of Tesla's Optimus model.

This pricing strategy highlights Yushu's technological advantages, which stem from high-torque density motor technology, dynamic motion control algorithms, modular joints, lightweight materials innovation, and highly sophisticated perception and AI interaction systems.

As noted by Morgan Stanley, the core value proposition of Yushu revolves around cost-effectiveness, achieved through a unique blend of innovative engineering, in-house component development, and strategic partnerships.

Yushu's Talent Scout

Recently, many venture capitalists are engaging in collective self-reflection following their oversight of DeepSeek's growth trajectory.

For instance, there are firms like ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, which has established itself as a superorganism.

As reported, ByteDance held its latest All Hands meeting on February 13, where CEO Liang Rubo reflected on the technological shifts catalyzed by OpenAI's release of its long-chain reasoning model last September.

The downside is, in certain situations, money does not hold the key to every solution

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Those who overlooked DeepSeek—born from a quantitative foundation—are not lacking in financial means, and the stake is high; they prefer not to be ensnared or manipulated post-success.

Reportedly, the higher-ups at DeepSeek have expressed a clear disinterest in commercialization, preferring to focus on research and technologyIn the realm of AI investment, the spotlight on DeepSeek has drawn attention even before their explosive rise, earning them early offers however they remained firm in their pursuits.

In stark contrast, Yushu openly invites investmentsUndoubtedly, advancing productive forces necessitates substantial financial backing.

This company, often referred to as the 'Eastern Boston Dynamics' by Goldman Sachs, according to Tianyancha, has successfully navigated through nine rounds of financing since its inception.

In its funding round last year, the investors featured prominently include state-owned enterprises and significant players like the Beijing Robotics Industry Development Investment Fund, Meituan Longzhu, and others.

Furthermore, on December 11th, Jingxing Paper released a statement on its investor interaction platform, clarifying that while its primary business does not directly involve humanoid robots, its wholly-owned subsidiary participated in a fund that invested 20 million RMB in Yushu, securing 1.8044% equity.

In addition to this indirect investment, the company emphasized that there are no other business collaborations with Yushu Robotics.

Reflecting on the conditions of the humanoid robot sector in 2024, as reported by IT Juzi, the investment landscape is multi-faceted and dynamic.

In 2024, the investment structure in the humanoid robotics sector showcases complexity and vitality, with angel and A-round financing companies dominating the statistics at 48% and 36% respectively

In contrast, the proportions of companies achieving B and C-round financings have drastically decreased to merely 3% and 4%.

It is evident that the industry is witnessing new disruptors; however, the chances of entering B and C rounds have substantially halved.

Conclusion

Overall, perceptions among institutions regarding the humanoid robotics sector are notably optimistic.

Boston Consulting Group projects that by 2025, the global humanoid robotics market will surpass $40 billion, with China poised to capture a commanding 35% market share.

By 2027, a secure and reliable industrial chain system must emerge, necessitating a self-sufficiency rate exceeding 70% in core components.

On January 9, Elon Musk discussed adjusting the production targets for humanoid robots from 2025 to 2027. Moreover, Tesla's annual report revealed plans for product finalization and large-scale production by 2026.

The lengthy journey of humanoid robots has only just begun!

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