China curbs humanoid IPOs after Unitree’s volatile debut

Chinese regulators are tightening the approval process for humanoid startups planning to go public, following a volatile debut by industry leader Unitree Robotics, according to a report by The Information on September 9. The China Securities Regulatory Commission has given a window guidance to certain investment banks and firms, signaling that approvals for humanoid startups will now be more stringent, the report stated, citing informed sources.

These companies must now demonstrate the ability to generate recurring revenue and be on track to reduce their losses or achieve genuine innovation before their IPO can be considered, The Information added. The China Securities Regulatory Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Reuters was unable to validate the report.

The shift in strategy, according to The Information, was influenced by various factors including a funding frenzy in the private market this year, a long list of companies filing for IPOs, and a sharp decline in share prices for companies like Unitree, which recently went public with a more than fivefold increase. The 45% drop in Unitree's shares since its Shanghai debut has raised concerns about a potential bubble, retail investor losses, and flaws in the IPO system.