Tactile Sensor Maker Matrix Innovation Secures Tens of Millions in RMB Funding
Matrix Innovation, a Dongguan-based developer of tactile sensors, has raised tens of millions of RMB in a new funding round. The investors include X Square Robot, Songshan Lake investment capital, and returning backer XBOT PARK Fund. Another embodied-AI company also participated in the round, according to a report by STAR Market Daily on October 10. The exact amount was not disclosed, but the figure places the company among a growing number of robotics startups attracting significant early-stage capital.
The proceeds will be used to support the development of a new generation of data-collection gloves, improvements to the supply chain, and expansion of manufacturing capacity. This investment reflects growing confidence in the company's technology and its role in the emerging embodied AI ecosystem. As robots become more capable, the demand for high-quality training data and the sensors that capture it is set to rise.
Founded in 2021 by Kuang Zheng, a former sensor engineer at DJI, Matrix Innovation specializes in flexible pressure sensors and data gloves. These devices are designed to capture touch and hand-position data, which is critical for training robots to perform complex tasks. Kuang's experience at DJI, a global leader in drone and imaging technology, brings deep expertise in sensor design and miniaturization to the venture. The company's products enable precise motion capture and tactile feedback, essential for advancing robotic manipulation.
Matrix Innovation has introduced six data-glove products so far. These include designs with more than 360 sensing points and more than 800 sensing points, offering high-resolution data collection capabilities. The gloves are used by robot manufacturers and data-collection companies to gather training data for various applications. The high number of sensing points enables the gloves to capture nuanced hand movements, which is essential for teaching robots fine motor skills such as grasping and manipulating objects.
In 2025, the company shipped 350,000 sensor sets, demonstrating significant production capacity. This milestone underscores the company's ability to mass-produce reliable tactile sensors at scale. Looking ahead, Matrix Innovation expects its data-glove shipments to reach several thousand units in 2026. This projection highlights the growing demand for tactile sensing solutions in the robotics industry, as more companies seek to train robots with human-like dexterity.
The participation of X Square Robot, an embodied AI company, and another unnamed embodied-AI firm highlights the strategic importance of tactile sensing in robot development. Tactile sensors allow robots to perceive pressure, texture, and shape, enabling safer and more dexterous interactions with objects. Unlike vision, which can be obscured, tactile sensing provides direct physical feedback. This makes it indispensable for tasks requiring precision, such as assembly or surgery. As the field of embodied AI advances, the need for high-quality touch data becomes increasingly vital.
Songshan Lake investment capital, likely associated with the Songshan Lake area in Dongguan, and XBOT PARK Fund, a returning investor, further signal local and institutional support. Dongguan, known as a manufacturing hub, provides a conducive environment for hardware innovation and production. The region's robust supply chain and skilled workforce are advantageous for sensor manufacturing. Songshan Lake is a national-level high-tech zone, known for its focus on advanced manufacturing and robotics. The involvement of these investors suggests a broader push to build a local ecosystem for embodied AI.
The funding will also help Matrix Innovation scale its operations and meet the rising demand for data gloves. With the robotics industry rapidly evolving, companies that provide essential components and data services are well-positioned for growth. Matrix Innovation's focus on flexible sensors and data gloves places it at the intersection of hardware and AI, a space attracting considerable attention from investors. The tactile sensor market is still nascent, with few players able to produce high-quality, affordable sensors at scale. Matrix Innovation's early mover advantage could be significant as competition intensifies.
As robots become more integrated into daily life and industrial settings, the ability to collect and utilize tactile data will be key to unlocking new capabilities. Data gloves are particularly valuable for teleoperation and imitation learning, where human demonstrations are used to train robots. By capturing rich tactile and positional data, Matrix Innovation's gloves help bridge the gap between human and machine. With this new funding, the company aims to solidify its position as a leading supplier of tactile sensing solutions for the robotics industry.