Beijing-based Delta Intelligence, a company specializing in embodied AI, has successfully secured over RMB 100 million (approximately USD 14 million) across three recent funding rounds. Incubated by the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence (BIGAI), the startup is dedicated to developing next-generation Humanoid Foundation Models (HFMs). This new capital will accelerate its mission to achieve sophisticated, full-body coordinated movement in humanoid robots, a critical step toward their widespread practical application.
Strategic Investment and Rapid Growth
The financing saw significant participation from prominent investor GL Ventures, alongside strategic backing from leading robotics manufacturers including Leju Robotics, ZHIYUAN, and Xinghaitu. This rapid accumulation of capital and industry support shortly after the company's founding highlights strong confidence in its technological vision. The investment creates a powerful synergy between government initiatives, advanced technology, industrial partners, and financial capital to fuel the company's growth.
Advancing Humanoid Robotics with Foundation Models
Delta Intelligence is tackling one of the most significant challenges in robotics: full-body loco-manipulation, which integrates movement and object interaction. The company's core innovation is its development of Humanoid Foundation Models (HFMs) to serve as a unified brain for robots. This approach aims to transition humanoid robots from operating with disconnected modules to performing as seamlessly integrated, coordinated systems.
The company's HFMs are distinguished by three core principles, being trained on native humanoid robot data and featuring a bio-inspired architecture resembling the human brain. They are also built upon a proprietary 3D world engine that enables inherent spatial reasoning and perception. This holistic design fuses environmental understanding with motion control, paving the way for a new generation of intelligent machines.
Demonstrated Capabilities and Industry Collaboration
The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by the advanced capabilities of Delta's robots, which can execute highly complex and dynamic actions. These include performing spinning kicks, continuous somersaults, and single-hand rotations with remarkable stability. Such achievements signal a significant advancement beyond simple demonstrations, moving toward robots capable of performing difficult tasks in the real world.
To bridge the gap between research and real-world use, Delta Intelligence has co-founded the "Tongzhi Brain Alliance" with key industry partners. This ecosystem facilitates collaborative development and validation in authentic, complex environments. The company has already delivered industrial applications with major enterprises like FAW Hongqi, STEP, and China Southern Power Grid.
A Visionary Team and Strong Backing
The company is led by a team of experts with deep experience in both AI and robotics. Founder and CEO Ma Xiaojian brings a wealth of knowledge from his time at Google Robotics and NVIDIA Research, complemented by degrees from Tsinghua University and UCLA. The wider team comprises top talent from world-renowned academic institutions and leading technology firms like DeepMind and Amazon.
Delta Intelligence's foundation is further strengthened by its origins as an incubatee of the esteemed Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence. The company's technological milestones have been consistently showcased and recognized at major national platforms, including the annual Zhongguancun Forum. This strong institutional backing provides both credibility and a robust research pipeline for continued innovation in the field.
With its new funding and strategic alliances, Delta Intelligence is well-positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in embodied AI. The company's focus on solving the core challenge of loco-manipulation through its unique foundation models could unlock the true potential of humanoid robots. This progress marks a pivotal moment in the journey toward creating versatile machines capable of performing complex, real-world tasks alongside humans.