Encos, a China-based developer of core humanoid robot components, has closed a RMB 200 million (~$27 million) financing round — its third in 2025 — led by HuaKong Fund and Shenzhen Capital Group, with participation from Puhua Capital and continued backing from existing investors Oasis Capital and Jinqiu Capital. Minglun Capital served as exclusive financial advisor.
The company has now shipped over 100,000 joint modules in 2025 alone and is scaling toward million-unit annual capacity — positioning itself as a critical enabler of the global humanoid supply chain.
Unlike system integrators or AI startups, Encos focuses exclusively on mission-critical hardware:
- Integrated actuator joints (planetary, harmonic, cycloidal)
- Dexterous hands
- Smart battery systems
- High-bandwidth communication modules
These components form the physical foundation of humanoid motion — and account for up to 60% of total robot BOM cost.
Product Strategy: “Hardware Infrastructure for Robot Makers”
Encos does not build robots.
It supplies the standardized, high-reliability building blocks that allow new entrants to skip years of R&D.
Its joint portfolio covers multiple torque and precision tiers, enabling customers to:
- Select pre-validated actuators for their payload needs
- Integrate in weeks, not months
- Avoid custom motor, gearbox, or driver development
This “plug-and-play” approach is accelerating time-to-market for dozens of new humanoid OEMs — many of which lack deep mechatronics expertise.
“We’re not just a parts supplier. We’re the hardware innovation infrastructure for the embodied AI era,” said executive.
Beyond joints, Encos now offers full subsystems — allowing customers to source hands, power, comms, and motion from a single vendor, reducing integration risk.
Industrial Scale: From R&D to Mass Production
Founded in 2022, Encos has moved rapidly from prototype to volume:
- In-house production lines in China
- Full vertical control over motor winding, gear assembly, and firmware tuning
- Automated testing for torque, backlash, thermal stability, and lifecycle
This industrial discipline has earned “unanimous high praise” from leading humanoid builders, according to HuaKong Fund.
Encos is now the undisputed leader in planetary integrated actuators — the preferred choice for high-torque, high-efficiency applications in legs and arms.
Investor Validation: Core Components = Core Value
The backing from top-tier institutions reflects a strategic shift in robotics investing:
HuaKong Fund:
“Integrated joints are the highest-value component in humanoids. Encos is the market leader in planetary actuators — with the most complete product portfolio, best quality, and strongest mass production capability.”
Shenzhen Capital Group:
“The intelligence of a robot is meaningless without precise, reliable physical execution. Encos is building the foundation that turns AI into action.”
Puhua Capital:
“Encos meets the industry’s urgent need for ‘high performance + high stability’ at scale. Its full-stack R&D and supply chain control are unmatched.”
All three emphasize:
In a market of 150+ humanoid startups, the real winners may be the suppliers who enable them.
Investment Takeaway: The Bottleneck Is Hardware — And Encos Is Solving It
While the world watches robot demos, the real constraint is component availability, cost, and reliability.
Encos is addressing this by:
- Standardizing critical interfaces
- Delivering volume at automotive-grade quality
- Reducing total integration cost for OEMs
With 100,000+ units shipped and million-unit capacity under construction, Encos is no longer a startup.
It is a production-grade industrial supplier — and a rare pure-play on the physical layer of embodied AI.
For investors seeking exposure to the humanoid boom without betting on unproven end brands, Encos represents a high-conviction, supply-chain-level opportunity.
As Shenzhen Capital noted:
“Encos isn’t just a parts vendor. It’s the platform for the next generation of intelligent machines.”
