Linkerbot targets $6B valuation

Beijing-based Linkerbot, a leading maker of highly dexterous robotic hands for humanoids, is targeting a $6 billion valuation in its next funding round after closing a “series B+” that valued the two-year-old startup at $3 billion. Prominent backers include Ant Group, HongShan Group, and state-linked investors such as Zhongguancun Science Park Fund, Bank of China Asset Management and Fosun Capital. The firm says it controls more than 80% of the global market for high‑degree‑of‑freedom robotic hands and plans to scale production from nearly 5,000 units a month to 10,000 soon.

Linkerbot differentiates itself by focusing on high‑value human craftsmanship rather than household chores, developing LinkerSkillNet — a multimodal platform the company describes as the world’s largest real‑world dexterous manipulation dataset, now holding more than 500 skills. Its hands can perform tasks such as screwing, handling deformable objects, threading needles and precision manufacturing; the lightweight O6 model weighs 370 g but can carry 50 kg. Key components are produced in‑house using specialized polymers, and the company operates five factories with over 400 staff while developing lines where robotic hands help build other hands.

Investor interest in China’s humanoid robotics sector has surged after public demonstrations and events that underscored technical gains; competitors like Unitree have pursued IPOs and high valuations. Linkerbot supplies leading domestic humanoid makers and unnamed international industrial clients under NDAs. Management argues that deployment is practical now because many factories mount dexterous hands on existing robot arms instead of buying full humanoids, lowering cost barriers compared with $100,000–$150,000 humanoid units.

While analysts welcome rapid progress and strong investor appetite, they caution that broader adoption still faces cost, technical and regulatory hurdles. Linkerbot’s push to monetize dexterous manipulation and scale production positions it as a pivotal player in the global robotics race, reflecting growing capital flows into AI‑driven automation and specialized hardware.