Robot Rental Startup Qingtian ZHU Secures Funding Amid Rapid Growth
Robot Rental Platform Qingtian ZHU Gains Momentum with Major Funding
Shanghai's newest tech success story comes from an unexpected sector - robot rentals. Qingtian ZHU Technology Co., Ltd., launched just last December, has already secured significant seed funding from prominent investors including Hillhouse Capital and Fosun Creation Wealth.
Breaking Down Traditional Barriers
The platform offers businesses flexible access to robotic solutions through what they call "shared leasing + platform scheduling." Instead of hefty upfront investments in automation equipment, companies can now rent robots exactly when needed.
"This model solves two major industry pain points," explains Jiang Qingsong, Chairman of Qingtian ZHU and partner at Zhiyuan Robotics. "High deployment costs disappear, and businesses gain flexibility to use robots only for specific scenarios."
Early Success Signals Market Demand
The numbers speak volumes about market appetite:
- 200,000+ registered users within three weeks of launch
- Consistently processing 200+ daily orders
- Partnerships established with Meiyijia, Haidilao, and Yuyuan Group
Restaurant chains particularly appreciate the platform's ability to provide robotic solutions for temporary needs like promotional events or seasonal staffing shortages.
Strategic Expansion Ahead
The fresh capital injection will fuel Qingtian ZHU's ambitious "1234 strategy":
- Connect 10+ original equipment manufacturers by 2026
- Develop 200 service providers
- Expand coverage to 200+ Chinese cities
The company also standardizes insurance and training protocols to ensure smooth operations nationwide.
Hillhouse Capital sees this as more than just another tech investment. "We're witnessing the transformation of robotics from capital equipment purchases to on-demand services," a spokesperson noted.
Key Points:
- Flexible robotics: Businesses can now rent instead of buy automation solutions
- Rapid adoption: Over 200K users signed up in less than a month
- Major backers: Hillhouse Capital leads funding round with other prominent investors
- Expansion plans: Targeting nationwide coverage within two years
