Tuya Smart has made a strategic investment in Robopoet as part of the AI hardware company’s recently completed RMB 100 million pre-A financing round. Existing investors Sequoia China and GSR Ventures also participated, along with two other new backers.
Tuya said the investment supports its strategy of accelerating the commercialization of physical AI products. The company plans to combine its AI cloud platform, development tools and international market resources with Robopoet’s consumer hardware capabilities.
Robopoet develops Fuzozo, a compact plush AI companion designed to interact with users through movement, conversation and emotional engagement. The product had generated cumulative domestic sales approaching 300,000 units as of June 2026, according to Tuya.
The companies began working together in 2025, when Tuya started providing the underlying AI cloud platform used by Fuzozo. Tuya’s infrastructure helped support the product’s development and transition from concept to commercial production.
During China’s 618 Shopping Festival, Fuzozo sold approximately 40,000 units and ranked first in Tmall’s AI toy category, according to the company. Other AI products supported by Tuya also reported sales momentum during the event.
Walulu sold approximately 8,000 units, while the AOOMII Smart AI Companion Robot, AI Scruffy Cat and Wozzi each reached roughly 5,000 units. Famue was also included on JD.com’s Smart Robot Gold List.
Tuya provides hardware developers with technology intended to accelerate product design, manufacturing and commercialization. Its AI Development Platform helps companies move products from early concepts into mass production while integrating cloud connectivity, AI models and device management.
The company also provides localized operational resources and access to international sales channels. Tuya intends to use these capabilities to support Robopoet’s expansion outside China and help other AI hardware companies enter global markets.
Tuya’s broader physical AI strategy covers robots, toys, smart home devices and other connected products capable of responding proactively to users. The company believes AI hardware will increasingly function as a bridge between software models and everyday consumer experiences.
Its technology portfolio includes the Personal Voice Activity Detection model, Physical AI Foundation V2.8, WukongAI 3.0 and the T-RTC real-time communication network. Tuya also offers a Physical Action Model and OmniMem V2.0, a long-term memory system intended to help devices maintain context across interactions.
The strategic investment reflects Tuya’s plan to support hardware companies through capital, technology and market access. The company is developing a growth model centered on AI platform services, ecosystem partnerships and the international commercialization of connected products.
Tuya also plans to support smaller AI hardware developers and businesses operating under the “One Person Company” model. This approach involves giving individual founders and small teams access to infrastructure that would otherwise require larger engineering and commercial organizations.
KEY QUOTE:
“2026 marks the critical window for AI hardware to be commercialized at scale. Market-validated, AI-native hardware is entering a phase of explosive growth.”
Alex Yang, Co-Founder, COO and CFO of Tuya Smart
