Chinese sports technology company Pongbot has raised hundreds of millions of yuan in Series B funding to develop AI-powered training robots and expand internationally. According to an exclusive report by HardKr, Shanghai Guotou Pioneer Fund led the round, joined by Yuanhe Puhua, Pudong Venture Capital, and existing investor BlueRun Ventures. The funding supports its ambition to make personalized sports coaching more accessible.
Funding to Support Technology and Global Expansion
The precise funding amount and valuation remain undisclosed, while Gaohu Capital served as exclusive financial advisor. Pongbot previously completed three Series A rounds backed by investors including Shenqi Capital, Ming Capital, and BlueRun Ventures. Proceeds will support sports-focused AI models, computer vision, training systems, and overseas expansion.
Pongbot also plans to broaden its product lineup and adapt its technology for additional sports beyond table tennis and tennis. It will invest in international distribution and localized branding to strengthen its global presence. The strategy moves beyond individual devices toward a technology platform spanning multiple sports.
Turning Ball Machines Into Intelligent Coaches
Led by founder and CEO Zhang Haibo, Pongbot developed table tennis equipment before expanding into tennis. The company describes its technical approach as a combination of "hand, eye, and brain," integrating ball delivery, visual perception, and automated training decisions. Its systems aim to go beyond preset ball patterns by responding to player performance.
The hardware handles ball placement and delivery, while high-speed cameras capture information about player movements, ball speed, and trajectories. AI models then analyze the observations to identify potential weaknesses and recommend targeted exercises. The goal is a feedback loop linking practice, guidance, and measurable improvement.
Pongbot combines on-device processing with cloud analysis for responsive feedback. For example, a player seeking better backhand consistency could receive a sequence of drills adapted to observed performance rather than a fixed serving routine. Zhang says the goal is to supplement, rather than replace, human coaches.
Crowdfunding Traction and Training Data
Pongbot launched its PACE tennis robot series on Kickstarter in October 2024, securing more than $2.7 million in crowdfunding pledges. In May 2026, its Aura AI coaching robot surpassed $1 million in pledges within five hours of launch and subsequently exceeded $4 million in total. Aura includes a detachable dual-camera system for analyzing movement.
The company reports more than 300,000 users worldwide and says its devices have served more than two billion balls. It has also collected approximately one million sets of table tennis trajectory data and more than 200,000 sets of tennis trajectory data. Pongbot considers the data linking coaching guidance with performance changes essential to improving its AI.
Partnerships and Expansion Into New Sports
Pongbot also reported a partnership announced in September 2026 with the Australian Open, naming it an official ball-serving robot partner. It also said it would supply serving robots to Australia's National Tennis Academy. The partnership could strengthen its visibility among recreational and competitive players.
The company intends to apply its technology to pickleball, padel, badminton, and baseball while continuing to improve its AI coaching capabilities. It ultimately aims to combine hardware, motion analysis, and adaptive training software. Its success will depend on delivering consistent benefits across different sports.
The Series B gives Pongbot resources to develop its technology and expand following crowdfunding traction. Its connected robots and AI feedback target the gap between traditional ball machines and personal coaching. The challenge is converting that technology into sustainable commercial adoption across multiple sports.