Million-dollar robot 'empire' of 9X Chinese founder

From a lab at Xi'an Jiaotong University to four desks in Shenzhen, and now a leading company serving 300 large enterprises in the world , the 9X founder from Anhui province has spent 8 years working to make UAI Robotics a "giant" in the robotics industry.

Recently, his company UAI Robotics (hereinafter referred to as "UAI") filed for listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with the aim of going public.

Journey of a Pioneer

Zhang Zhaohui, born in 1992 in Suzhou, showed a different way of thinking early on when he was a PhD student in robotics at Xi’an Jiaotong University. Instead of focusing solely on theory, he always oriented his research to solve practical business problems.

This view shaped his path, pushing him and his colleagues to embark on a robotics revolution. “It will definitely work. If we don’t do it now, it will be too late,” he said, believing that robotics technology is mature enough to explode.

In 2017, at the age of 25, Zhang Zhaohui and four friends decided to start a business. They founded UAI Robotics and moved to Shenzhen. Their first office was a cramped office of less than 20 square meters in Huaqiangbei, a famous electronics and hardware hub.

YouiBot's OW12 industrial mobile robot, designed to automate the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Photo: ChinaDaily.

This was the stage where they had to quickly bridge the gap between technological capabilities and market needs. To do this, the team directly approached many industries, from bus tire inspection to hazardous goods handling, to understand real-world needs and adapt the product.

UAI’s turning point came with a contract with Michelin. The contract to develop the world’s first commercial vehicle inspection robot, worth more than $280,000, affirmed its capabilities and put UAI on the market’s radar.

However, the rapid development also created internal disagreements about strategy. After a week of intense debate, the team agreed to delve into specific industry scenarios, integrating both hardware and software.

“Robots will certainly create greater value for all industries in the future, but like humans, they also need intensive training and education ,” explained founder Truong Trieu Huy.

This landmark decision prompted them to invest heavily in software development, creating an in-house logistics management and control system that became the foundation for later success.

Artificial intelligence incarnate

UAI Robotics’ core area of expertise is Embodied Intelligence Robots. This technology integrates AI into physical machines, allowing them to interact, learn, and adapt to real-world experiences. UAI’s solutions enable robots to move autonomously, navigate complex environments, and perform sophisticated operations with high precision.

These intelligent robots are capable of performing tasks such as inspection, handling, loading and maintenance in a variety of industries, including semiconductor, energy and consumer electronics manufacturing. According to a Frost & Sullivan report, UAI is the global leader in industrial mobile robot revenue by 2024, ranking first in the semiconductor industry and second in the energy and chemical industry in China.

UAI Robotics debuted at the Global Manufacturing 2025 Conference, which took place from September 20 to 23 in Anhui Province, China. Photo: CN-Robot.

UAI robots solve core problems in industrial logistics. In high-tech factories, especially semiconductor manufacturing, the transportation of precious materials requires absolute precision and cleanliness. UAI robots solve this challenge with millimeter-level accuracy, far exceeding industry standards. In one factory, more than 80 UAI robots performed more than 16,000 material operations per day, helping to fully automate processes, optimize production, and increase equipment efficiency.

In the field of inspection and maintenance, UAI robots are the optimal solution for hazardous industrial environments. Built to operate in power and chemical plants with high temperatures, pressures and toxic gases, robots perform 24/7 monitoring, data collection and early warning tasks, helping to protect workers' safety and maintain continuous operation of infrastructure.

UAI’s revenue comes from providing comprehensive solutions. Instead of just selling products, the company offers a complete package from robotic hardware, custom software, to planning, deployment, and maintenance services. Thanks to this approach, UAI has built strong relationships with customers, with a customer retention rate expected to exceed 70% by 2024.

China's industrial mobile robot industry record

UAI’s rapid growth is backed by strong financial resources. Since its inception, the company has successfully raised over $280 million in nine funding rounds. In 2020 alone, UAI received three rounds of funding from major investment funds such as SIG and BlueRun Ventures.

Notably, the Series C funding round of $196 million in June 2024 set a record for the Chinese industrial mobile robot industry. This investment shows the strong confidence of venture funds and local governments in UAI's potential.

Currently, UAI is present in more than 60 countries and serves more than 300 customers, including 50 companies in the Fortune 500 list (an annual ranking of the 500 largest companies in the US).

The company's revenue also increased impressively, from $11.4 million in 2022 to $35.7 million in 2024, although it still reported a net loss due to heavy reinvestment in R&D.

After eight years, founder Truong Trieu Huy shared: “We chose this path, and the market chose us,” affirming that the vision has met the needs of the automation market.

Source: https://znews.vn/de-che-robot-trieu-usd-cua-nha-sang-lap-9x-trung-quoc-post1589220.html