Robotics Firm Hits $1.5B Valuation With $150M Raise

A robotics company that started by helping restaurants deliver food is now racing to put helpful machines in factories and warehouses around the world.

Pudu Robotics just raised nearly $150 million in fresh funding, pushing its total value past $1.5 billion. The Shenzhen-based company has now brought in more than $300 million since launching in 2016.

The company makes three types of robots that handle the jobs people often find repetitive or physically demanding. Their delivery robots carry food in restaurants and supplies in hospitals. Cleaning robots scrub floors in shopping malls and hotels. And their newest machines move heavy materials through tight warehouse aisles.

Pudu's robots already work in 10 different industries across the globe. Walk into certain restaurants in Asia, Europe, or North America, and you might see one gliding between tables with plates of food. In hospitals, they transport medication and supplies so nurses can spend more time with patients.

The company is now pushing hard into manufacturing and warehouse work. In 2024, they released a heavy-duty robot that can squeeze through narrow factory aisles while carrying substantial loads. This year, they launched a lighter version designed specifically for manufacturing facilities across Asia.

The Ripple Effect

This funding arrives as robots become less about replacing workers and more about handling the dangerous, boring, or backbreaking tasks humans would rather avoid. Factories facing labor shortages can keep production running smoothly. Restaurant staff can focus on customers instead of carrying trays. Hospital workers can spend more energy on patient care.

Pudu plans to use the new money to develop smarter AI systems that help robots understand and navigate complex environments better. They're also expanding manufacturing capacity to meet growing global demand and strengthening their supply chains.

The company isn't alone in this surge. Chinese robotics firms are attracting major investment as businesses worldwide look for practical automation solutions. Another Shenzhen company, D-Robotics, recently pulled in $270 million to build computing platforms for similar applications.

Founder Felix Zhang says the funding validates years of work building robots that actually solve real problems for real businesses. The company's approach focuses on three core technologies: helping robots move smoothly, manipulate objects carefully, and make smart decisions independently.

Pudu's expansion means more businesses globally can access affordable robotics that improve working conditions while keeping operations running efficiently.