Top 100 Shanghai Startups to Watch in 2026
Shanghai's startup scene shows considerable strength in sectors like AI, robotics, and healthcare. The city hosts a mix of well-funded new companies and established market leaders.
Social e-commerce platform Xiaohongshu has raised over $917 million to date. In comparison, robotics company Agibot, founded in 2023, secured CN¥600M in its initial seed round.
Below is our list of 100 Shanghai startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
Agibot builds humanoid robots capable of performing complex, real-world tasks. Their systems are designed for multi-robot collaboration, particularly within industrial and manufacturing environments.
| Year Founded | 2023 |
| Founders | Peng Zhihui |
| Funding Amount | CN¥600M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | HSG, LG Electronics, Tencent, CDH Investments, JD.com |
Xiaohongshu built a popular social commerce platform where users share product reviews and discover new lifestyle trends. Their app integrates user-generated content with a seamless shopping experience, making it a go-to destination for community-driven purchasing.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Charlwin Mao Wenchao, Miranda Qu |
| Funding Amount | $917.7M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Secondary Market |
| Top Investors | Temasek Holdings, HSG, Hillhouse Investment, Alibaba Group, Tencent |
Biren Technology develops general-purpose GPUs and other intelligent processors built for AI and high-performance computing. Their hardware is designed to accelerate complex workloads within data centers using advanced GPU and DSA computation architectures.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Jiao Guofang, Zhang Wen |
| Funding Amount | $785.2M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Qiming Venture Partners, Hillhouse Investment, Walden International, BAI capital, IDG Capital |
Full-Life Technologies develops radiopharmaceutical medicines for cancer therapy. They manage the entire drug lifecycle, from initial research and development through to production and commercialization.
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Hong-hoi Ting, Lanny Sun, Nicholas Wong |
| Funding Amount | $187.3M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | HSG, Sky9 Capital, Summer Capital, Lapam Capital, Prosperity7 Ventures |
Smartee Denti-Technology develops clear dental aligners using its own digital orthodontics platform and 3D technology. They provide a range of invisible orthodontic treatments and are a leading brand within China's dental care market.
| Year Founded | 2004 |
| Founders | Junfeng Yao, Zhongwei Yao |
| Funding Amount | $87.6M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series D |
| Top Investors | BioVenture, CD Capital, Neovision Capital, Beijing Taikang Investment, China Resources Capital-China Resources Xianglianhe Fund. |
Ronovo Surgical builds robotic platforms to advance minimally invasive surgery. Their core system, Carina, is a modular and configurable tool designed to assist surgeons in a wide range of laparoscopic procedures.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | John Ma, Ying Mao |
| Funding Amount | $135.8M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series D |
| Top Investors | INCE Capital, Matrix Partners China, Lilly Asia Ventures, Vivo Capital, Granite Asia |
Epigenic Therapeutics develops gene modulation therapies that treat diseases by regulating epigenetic mechanisms. The company uses its proprietary platform to control gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Bao-Hong Zhang |
| Funding Amount | $122M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | OrbiMed, Qiming Venture Partners, Morningside, Lapam Capital, Kingray Capital |
MetaX builds high-performance general-purpose GPU chips for heterogeneous computing in data centers. Their hardware is designed to accelerate demanding workloads in AI, cloud computing, and the metaverse.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | William CHEN |
| Funding Amount | CN¥2B |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | Lightspeed Venture Partners, HSG, Matrix Partners China, China Internet Investment Fund, Lightspeed China Partners |
United Imaging Healthcare develops and manufactures a full portfolio of advanced medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment. The company provides a range of systems, including PET/CT, MR, and CT scanners, designed to help clinicians improve patient care and diagnostic capabilities.
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Daniel Mou |
| Funding Amount | CN¥3.3B |
| Startup Size | Enterprise Organization (5,001+) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | CICC, SDIC Fund Management, CITIC Securities, CMB International Capital Corporation, China Life Insurance |
Fourier Intelligence builds robotic systems and exoskeletons for the medical rehabilitation industry. Their technology helps patients recover motor functions and mobility through intelligent physical therapy platforms.
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Jie Gu |
| Funding Amount | CN¥638M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series E |
| Top Investors | Vision Plus Capital, IDG Capital, SoftBank Vision Fund, Volcanics Venture, Prosperity7 Ventures |
90 Additional Shanghai Startups Worth Following
Our top 10 picks only scratch the surface of what's happening in Shanghai. Founders across the city are tackling big ideas in areas like AI, biotech, and mobility, raising billions of dollars along the way.
Some of these companies are brand new, while others are already well on their way. Here’s a look at the other startups that are shaping the city's future.
| Startup | Industry | Year Founded | Amount Raised | Last Funding Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Soul APP | Media | 2016 | $401.6M | Series D |
 YolTech Therapeutics | Biotech | 2021 | CN¥500M | Series B |
 SUS Environment | Energy | 2008 | $175M | Debt Financing |
 VelaVigo | Biotech | 2021 | $160M | Seed |
 Volant Aerotech | Mobility | 2021 | CN¥500M | Series B |
 Mabwell Biotech | Biotech | 2017 | $278.5M | Series A |
 Hozon | Mobility | 2014 | CN¥26.4B | Venture Round |
 XTransfer | Fintech | 2017 | $168M | Series D |
 Enflame | AI | 2018 | CN¥5.1B | Series D |
 WM Motor | Mobility | 2015 | $5.3B | Series D |
 Hello TransTech | Media | 2016 | $2B | Corporate Round |
 TARS | Mobility | 2025 | $242M | Seed |
 United Imaging Intelligence | Healthcare | 2017 | CN¥1B | Series A |
 ULTIZERO GAMES | Gaming | 2017 | CN¥7M | Angel |
 Mufan Power | Enterprise | 2015 | CN¥313.9M | Series B |
 Belief BioMed | Biotech | 2018 | $204M | Series C |
 MediTrust Health | Healthcare | 2017 | $308M | Private Equity |
 IPS | Enterprise | 2011 | CN¥247.5M | Venture Round |
 Moyang Biotechnology | Biotech | 2018 | CN¥100M | Series C |
 Financely | Fintech | — | $116.5M | Debt Financing |
 Haohai Xingkong Robotics | AI | 2025 | CN¥40M | Series A |
 Bridgetech | Healthcare | 2021 | CN¥1B | Series A |
 Ling Mou Zhineng | AI | 2017 | CN¥151M | Series B |
 XellSmart | Biotech | 2021 | CN¥177M | Series B |
 70mai | Mobility | 2016 | $6.5M | Product Crowdfunding |
 TOPNC | Manufacturing | 2007 | CN¥500M | Series D |
 Semitech | Automation | 2017 | CN¥1.2B | Series C |
 Tianhu Technology | AI | 2021 | $25.2M | Series A |
 Red Bear AI | Mobility | 2024 | CN¥23M | Seed |
 Titanium Robotics Technology | Hardware | 2020 | CN¥200M | Corporate Round |
 Nowwa Coffee | Food | 2019 | $73.6M | Series B |
 Leju Technology | Logistics | 2018 | CN¥200M | Series B |
 Leapstack | AI | 2016 | CN¥450M | Series C |
 VETRESKA | Fashion | 2017 | $60.4M | Venture Round |
 Makuku | Retail | 2020 | $30M | Seed |
 JunHe | Healthcare | 1989 | $7.6M | Series B |
 Tushen Zhihe | AI | 2023 | $1.5M | Seed |
 Ruishi Technology | Healthcare | 2017 | CN¥150M | Series A |
 Newsoara | Biotech | 2018 | $29M | Venture Round |
 HILONG GROUP OF COMPANIES | Energy | 2002 | CN¥100M | Venture Round |
 Linkfin Technology | Mobility | 2017 | $50M | Series B |
 TONGYU AUTOMOTIVE | Mobility | 2016 | CN¥703M | Series B |
 Horen | Hardware | 1998 | CN¥488M | Series F |
 Mabang ERP | Enterprise | 2010 | $77.2M | Series B |
 Boohee | Sports | 2008 | $41.3M | Series D |
 Pulse | Enterprise | 2015 | $100M | Series C |
 Bouffalo Lab | Hardware | 2016 | $98M | Series B |
 Westwell Lab | AI | 2015 | $15.1M | Series C |
 NextVPU | AI | 2016 | CN¥808M | Series D |
 Xiangwushuo | Retail | 2017 | $89.4M | Series B |
 SPH Health Commerce | Retail | 2015 | CN¥1.5B | Series C |
 MKSEMI | Manufacturing | 2019 | $36.9M | Series A |
 SmartSens Technology | Hardware | 2011 | $244.4M | Series B |
 Zhenkunxing | Manufacturing | 1998 | $999.3M | Venture Round |
 CYGNUSEMI | Hardware | 2020 | $231.1M | Series B |
 Motovis | AI | 2015 | CN¥210M | Series D |
 Sitrus Technology | AI | 2012 | CN¥200M | Series C |
 Hrain Biotechnology | Biotech | 2015 | CN¥400M | Series C |
 StepStar | AI | 2023 | $3M | Venture Round |
 Shanghai Zaofu Intelligent Technology | AI | 2025 | CN¥3B | Corporate Round |
 Jidu Auto | Mobility | 2021 | $403M | Series A |
 ULS Robotics | AI | 2018 | $10M | Series B |
 eRoad Software | Enterprise | 2004 | CN¥1.2B | Series D |
 Gejian Semiconductor | Manufacturing | 2022 | CN¥250M | Series A |
 Guoquan Shihui | Food | 2017 | $551.8M | Venture Round |
 Haizol.com | Enterprise | 2015 | $34.8M | Series B |
 Yitiao | Media | 2014 | $105.2M | Series C |
 Ickey | Retail | 2011 | $27.7M | Series D |
 Minxin Technology | Marketing | 2019 | CN¥199M | Series B |
 QureBio | Biotech | 2017 | CN¥309M | Series C |
 Pet Fresh | Retail | 2024 | $26.4M | Angel |
 Shijia Technology | Mobility | 2021 | CN¥100M | Series A |
 Medical Image Insights | Healthcare | 2020 | CN¥100M | Series A |
 Yixi Technology | Manufacturing | 2022 | CN¥200M | Venture Round |
 Dearer Medical | Fashion | 2017 | CN¥720M | Venture Round |
 Kai Medtech | Healthcare | 2019 | CN¥200M | Series C |
 Mangatoon | Media | 2014 | $10M | Series A |
 Yikon Genomics | Biotech | 2012 | $69.7M | Series D |
 JoyMed Technology | Healthcare | 2014 | CN¥138M | Series B |
 Xingmai Technology | AI | 2018 | CN¥100M | Venture Round |
 Shuhai Supply Chain Logistics | Food | 2011 | CN¥800M | Series B |
 Lianku | Cloud | 2022 | $29.2M | Series A |
 X-Imaging | Media | 2009 | CN¥150M | Series B |
 DeepSight | AI | 2017 | $11.5M | Series A |
 KYEE | Healthcare | 2004 | $138.4M | Series D |
 Mistine | Fashion | 1988 | CN¥200M | Series A |
 Sectrend | Enterprise | 2021 | CN¥100M | Seed |
 Matrixtime Robotics | Media | 2018 | $33.7M | Series A |
 Taiyi Guanjia | Biotech | 2020 | CN¥920M | Seed |
 Hutouju | Food | 2020 | $50M | Venture Round |
