Zhiyue Space Intelligence raises hundreds of millions of yuan in Pre-A round

What's the deal? Zhiyue Space Intelligence Technology, a Chinese embodied AI startup, has raised hundreds of millions of yuan in a Pre-A round, announced in September 2026. The company develops robot "big brain-small brain" systems and a 4D world simulation engine.

What's the endgame? Zhiyue builds on traditional AI vision algorithms for perception and pairs them with brain-inspired intelligence — drawn from computational neuroscience — as its cognitive and decision-making core. The goal is an intelligent system it describes as "low compute, strong generalisation, and self-learning."

Why now? The raise lands as a quick re-raise, with the company returning to market soon after its prior round. That pace signals investor appetite to keep backing the team before the next stage.

The signal: Embodied AI remains one of the most contested frontiers in robotics, and Zhiyue's bet on brain-inspired algorithms over brute-force compute stakes out a distinct position. A fast follow-on raise suggests investors see momentum worth doubling down on.

Image credit: Office of Naval Research