DeepSeek leads $400M seed round for Winverse AI amid robotics AI race

DeepSeek leads Winverse AI’s seed round

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, has agreed to lead the seed funding round for Winverse AI, a Shanghai-based startup focused on AI for robotics, according to The Next Web. The round values Winverse at approximately $400 million after the investment, though the deal remains unfinalized and details could change.

Meituan’s investment arm, Long-Z, has also committed to the round, which is reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars. The participation of two prominent Chinese tech investors underscores growing interest in AI-driven robotics.

Winverse AI’s founder and focus

Winverse AI was founded this year by Hu Han, a former scientist at Tencent, where he led vision-language and robotics AI teams. Hu holds a PhD from Tsinghua University and has also worked at Microsoft Research Asia and Baidu.

Hu left Tencent amid a restructuring of its AI research team, as the company sought to catch up with rivals like DeepSeek and Moonshot. His background in robotics AI positions Winverse at the intersection of AI research and embodied intelligence.

DeepSeek’s broader AI investments

This seed round marks one of DeepSeek’s largest bets on an early-stage startup. The company previously acquired a stake in Unitree, a Shanghai-listed humanoid robot maker, signaling its ambition to bridge AI software and robotics hardware.

DeepSeek is also reportedly close to raising at least $12 billion in a separate funding round backed by Tencent. The capital is earmarked for training models and data centers ahead of a planned listing in early 2027.

The funding spree highlights DeepSeek’s strategy of investing in both internal AI development and external startups to accelerate its growth in competitive markets.

Global competition in AI for robotics

The funding round places Winverse AI in direct competition with US startups like Skild AI and Physical Intelligence, both of which are already valued in the billions. These companies are racing to develop AI capable of powering robots for real-world tasks, a challenge that requires different approaches than chatbot-focused AI.

China is emerging as a leader in robot hardware, with companies like Unitree producing advanced humanoid robots. Pairing this hardware strength with AI software from startups like Winverse could give Chinese companies an edge in the global robotics market.

China’s AI and travel restrictions

China has recently expanded travel restrictions to include families of executives in AI and semiconductor companies, requiring government approval for international travel. The policy aims to curb the outflow of technological expertise amid escalating competition with the US.

This backdrop may influence how Chinese AI startups like Winverse AI and investors like DeepSeek navigate talent acquisition, partnerships, and international expansion.

Developing: what is not yet confirmed

The following is reported but has not been independently confirmed.

The funding round has not been finalized, and key details, including the exact amount raised and the final list of investors, may change. Neither DeepSeek, Long-Z, nor Winverse AI’s founder, Hu Han, have responded to requests for comment, leaving some claims unverified.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

This funding round signals two strategic moves at once. For DeepSeek, betting on Winverse AI is a way to secure a foothold in the next frontier of AI—robotics—without building the entire stack in-house. The $400 million valuation, even at seed stage, reflects how scarce the combination of robotics-grade AI and credible founding teams has become.

For founders, the story is a reminder of how quickly investor appetite can shift from chatbots to embodied AI. The fact that two US competitors are already billion-dollar companies means the window for early-stage robotics AI is closing fast. Startups in this space will need to demonstrate not just technical differentiation but also a clear path to solving real-world tasks, not just lab demos.

Key takeaways

• Founders in AI robotics should expect higher seed-stage valuations but also sharper scrutiny on real-world applicability.
• DeepSeek’s investment in Winverse AI suggests a model of partnering with specialized startups rather than building everything internally.
• China’s strength in robot hardware (e.g., Unitree) paired with AI startups could accelerate development cycles for embodied AI.
• The US and China are racing to dominate AI for robotics, with startups in both markets attracting significant capital.
• Former Big Tech AI researchers with robotics experience are in high demand as founding teams.

FAQ

What is Winverse AI’s focus?

Winverse AI is developing artificial intelligence for robots, aiming to enable them to handle real-world tasks. This requires specialized AI systems distinct from those used in chatbots or language models.

Why is DeepSeek investing in Winverse AI?

DeepSeek’s investment signals its interest in expanding beyond language models into robotics AI, a sector with high growth potential. The move also aligns with its broader strategy of investing in both internal AI development and external startups.

How does this funding round compare to US competitors?

US startups like Skild AI and Physical Intelligence are already valued in the billions, indicating a mature market. Winverse AI’s $400 million seed valuation reflects investor confidence in its founding team and the potential of China’s robotics ecosystem.

What risks remain for Winverse AI?

The funding round is not yet finalized, and details such as valuation, investor participation, and use of funds may change. Additionally, developing AI for real-world robotics remains a complex technical challenge.

Related on Lazyfounder

• DeepSeek
• Unitree
• More ai news
• China requires AI and chip executives’ families to obtain approval for international travel