Chinese guide-dog robot maker Zhuge raises undisclosed Pre-A round
What's the deal? Shandong Zhuge RoboticsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has closed a Pre-A round, backed by Pudong Venture CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Baweitong Spatial Intelligence, and Shijiazhuang Quchuang Technology. The amount was not disclosed.
What does it do? Founded in 2009 and based in Yantai, Shandong, the company builds assistant robots for visually impaired users. Its AI LOOK robot uses multi-sensor fusion and a vision model for pedestrian pathways, letting it predict risks and make decisions in complex urban settings without pre-scanning maps or manual remote control.
What's the money for? Zhuge said the funds will support core technology development and rolling out products at scale across public services, schools, and daily-life settings nationwide.
A notable investor shift: Zhejiang Baweitong Spatial Intelligence moved from technology partner to shareholder in this round, deepening a potential link between industry players and venture capital.
What could go wrong? Zhuge says it has built a scalable commercial loop, but that claim lacks public order, revenue, or deployment figures. Rivals face the same hurdles: public-transit access, liability rules, and pricing and after-sales support remain unsettled.
The signal: Guide robots for the visually impaired are moving from demos to real-world pilots — tested on the Shenzhen metro and in Chengdu and Hangzhou. The need is clear, but the value of this round will ultimately hinge on product safety, user adoption, and sustainable sales, not the funding itself.
Read more: itjuzi.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
