China-based artificial intelligence-enabled robotics maker Leju Robotics secured RMB250m ($36.4m) yesterday in a series B round that included internet group Tencent.
The round was led by Hongtai Capital Holdings, the investment firm that manages venture capital fund APlus Capital. It comes after Tencent provided $7.4m in series A funding for the company in August 2017.
Founded in 2016, Leju Robotics provides humanoid robots equipped with artificial intelligence technology that are designed to teach the fundamental principles of robotics and programming to young children.
The robots are built with voice recognition features and can move, dance, hold boxing matches, play football and respond to human gestures. Users can also teach the robots new moves and commands by reprogramming them using a 3D programming lanaguage.
Leju will use the capital to invest in technological innovation, enhance its products and services, increase headcount and explore additional commercialisation options.
The company had previously raised an eight-figure renminbi (RMB10m = $1.5) amount from Green Pine Capital Partners and Shenzhen Capital Group in 2016. It has also graduated from accelerators run by Tencent and software provider Microsoft.
Image courtesy of Leju Robotics.