Sequoia China backs Pop Mart designer's AI toy startup MaocoLand in seed round
What's the deal? MaocoLand (maocao leyuan), a Shenzhen startup building AI-native hardware wrapped in original plush characters, has closed a seed round led by Sequoia China and has launched a new fundraise. The company, founded in early 2025, was set up by a team from Pop Mart and DJI.
Who's behind it? Founder Wang Lili is a former Pop Mart designer who worked on core intellectual property including Crybaby, Molly, and Labubu. Co-founder Michael previously ran a business unit at drone-maker DJI.
What's the endgame? MaocoLand positions its products as "AI-native IP-personality hardware" — plush characters with their own stories that also work as alarm clocks, speakers, cameras, air fresheners, and GPS trackers. Early characters include a rabbit, "Yaoyao," and a sprout, "Liaocaocao."
What's the money for? The fresh capital will support hardware development, IP content iteration, and market expansion, according to Brandark. The company targets stressed 20-to-35-year-olds willing to pay for emotional comfort.
What could go wrong? MaocoLand has not disclosed the seed amount, product sales, or repeat-purchase data. The open question is whether its IP appeal can translate into mass-producible hardware that people keep using.
The signal: Dozens of investors have piled into AI-companion hardware over the past year, backing rivals such as Luobo Intelligence, whose Fuzozo plush product reportedly neared 300,000 domestic units sold by June 2026 before a US$13.8M Pre-A round that drew Tuya Smart. MaocoLand's distinction is a team that pairs Pop Mart's IP pedigree with DJI's manufacturing muscle — the combination investors are betting could yield the next Pop Mart.
Read more: sohu.com
Image credit: thotfulspot
