Shanghai Sazhi Secures Hundreds of Millions in Pre-B Funding for Industrial AI Robots
Shanghai Sazhi Intelligent Technology closed a Pre-B funding round worth hundreds of millions of yuan, according to a report by app.dealroom.co, with investors including Jianto Investment, Nantong Investment Management, and Yunqi Partners. The capital will support large-model research, multi-arm robot development, and factory expansion, the company said. Pandaily.com added that Sazhi’s A++ and A+++ rounds, totaling hundreds of millions of yuan, were led by Haitong Kaiyuan and Guoyuan Equity, with funds allocated for overseas market expansion and intelligent manufacturing line construction.
Founder’s Background and Technical Edge
Founded in 2017, Sazhi targets industrial tasks like precision assembly and long-sequence testing, areas where traditional robots struggle, app.dealroom.co reported. Its CEO, Zhang Jianzheng, holds a doctorate in intelligent robotics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and previously worked at Fanuc and Shinva. Pandaily.com noted his 21 years of experience, including leading 3D vision hand-eye systems for automotive applications. The company’s “Xuanjia” six-armed robot and self-developed SAGE-OS operating system aim to achieve ±0.05mm assembly accuracy, addressing flexibility and intelligence gaps in automation.
Customer Base and Growth Metrics
Sazhi claims to serve over 50 Fortune 500 or listed companies across semiconductors, automotive, and pharmaceuticals, app.dealroom.co stated. Pandaily.com cited clients like Li Auto, Johnson & Johnson, and Mitsubishi, with annual shipments reaching 1,000 units. The company reported 50–120% annual revenue growth and projected 300% growth, while its Shanghai factory operates at full capacity. Overseas orders are estimated at 500 million yuan, according to app.dealroom.co.
Funding Trends in China’s Embodied-AI Sector
China’s embodied-AI sector raised 93.5 billion yuan in the first half of 2026, per IT Juzi, but investor focus is shifting from demos to real-world deployments. Sazhi’s pitch hinges on repeatable factory use, with its 99.9% reliable industrial world model, Xuanshu SageNexus, trained on 360TB of multimodal data. Pandaily.com highlighted the company’s profitability and plans to expand production to 5,000 units annually within three years.
Contrasting Sources on Founding Year and Investors
While app.dealroom.co states Sazhi was founded in 2017, Pandaily.com claims 2018. The sources also differ on lead investors: app.dealroom.co lists Jianto Investment and Yunqi Partners, whereas Pandaily.com names Haitong Kaiyuan and Guoyuan Equity. Both agree on the scale of recent funding but emphasize distinct allocation priorities, with Pandaily.com highlighting overseas expansion and app.dealroom.co focusing on multi-arm robot development.
What’s Next for Sazhi?
Sazhi plans to expand its Shanghai factory fourfold within three years, according to app.dealroom.co. The company’s success will depend on translating its 99.9% reliability claims and Fortune 500 client list into sustained revenue. With China’s industrial robot market valued at around a trillion yuan, Sazhi’s ability to scale its “body-group-scale” architecture could position it as a key player in flexible manufacturing.
FAQ
When did Sazhi start operations?
Sources conflict: app.dealroom.co cites 2017, while Pandaily.com states 2018.
Who are Sazhi’s major investors?
App.dealroom.co lists Jianto Investment, Nantong Investment Management, and Yunqi Partners, whereas Pandaily.com names Haitong Kaiyuan and Guoyuan Equity.
How much revenue does Sazhi project for 2027?
The company anticipates 300% annual growth, per Pandaily.com.
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