In 2025, a Singapore-based robotics startup named Sharpa emerged as one of the most enigmatic and talked-about companies in the embodied AI sector. Despite its low profile, Sharpa gained significant attention at the ICRA 2025 conference for unveiling a highly dexterous robotic hand capable of performing intricate tasks such as peeling eggshells and using scissors. This hand, designed with human-like proportions and equipped with 1,000 tactile sensors per fingertip, impressed industry insiders with its precision and realism.

However, Sharpa’s secrecy became a defining trait. Investors and industry professionals found it difficult to engage with the company, with many reporting failed attempts to initiate contact or purchase its flagship product, the Sharpa Wave, priced at approximately $50,000. Even companies eager to integrate Sharpa’s hardware into their AI models were told that no inventory was available, and they had to travel to Shanghai to use the devices on-site.

Sharpa made its public debut at CES 2026 with the Sharpa North robot. This robot, equipped with Sharpa’s proprietary dexterous hands and autonomous decision-making capabilities, demonstrated complex tasks such as playing ping pong, folding paper windmills, and operating a Polaroid camera. The robot was praised by prominent AI investors for tackling some of the most challenging tasks in robotics.

Speculation about Sharpa’s origins persisted until it was revealed that the company was co-founded by the leadership team of Hesai Technology: CEO Yifan Li, CTO Shaoqing Xiang, and Chief Scientist Kai Sun. Hesai is a global leader in automotive LiDAR technology and has supplied sensors to major clients like Xiaomi’s automotive division. The company has also been a key player in the broader robotics ecosystem, with its LiDAR products integrated into various embodied AI platforms.

Sharpa’s emergence aligns with Hesai’s broader strategic pivot. After listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2025, Hesai faced declining stock prices. However, a strong Q3 earnings report—highlighting a 1,311.9% year-over-year increase in LiDAR shipments to the robotics sector—helped reverse this trend. The company’s CFO attributed the growth to increased penetration in both ADAS and robotics markets. CEO Yifan Li emphasized a long-term vision of transforming human-machine interaction in both automotive and robotic domains.

The founding team’s academic and professional backgrounds provide further insight into Sharpa’s ambitions. Yifan Li studied precision instruments and robotics at Tsinghua University and later specialized in robotic motion control during his PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Kai Sun earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from Stanford after studying thermal and power engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Shaoqing Xiang, also a Tsinghua alumnus, holds dual master’s degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering from Stanford and previously worked as a systems integration engineer for the iPhone.

Their transition from autonomous driving to embodied intelligence reflects a broader industry trend. Other notable examples include startups like ItStone Navigation, founded by former Huawei autonomous driving chief scientist Yilun Chen, which secured $1.7 billion in angel funding. The underlying connection between autonomous driving and embodied AI lies in spatial perception—a shared foundational technology that has enabled companies like Sharpa to leverage their expertise in LiDAR and robotics.

Sharpa operates out of both Singapore and Shanghai, a dual-location strategy that balances access to global markets and domestic supply chains. The decision to register in Singapore may be linked to geopolitical considerations. In 2024, Hesai was designated a “Chinese military company” by the U.S. Department of Defense, leading to a sharp drop in its stock price. Although Hesai challenged the designation in court, it lost the case in 2025. Establishing Sharpa in Singapore could be a strategic move to mitigate the impact of such geopolitical risks and maintain access to international capital and partnerships.

Sharpa’s story is emblematic of a new wave of robotics companies that blend deep technical expertise, strategic discretion, and global ambition. Its founders are not merely content with supplying components—they are building end-to-end systems that redefine the boundaries of human-machine collaboration.

Title: The Rise of Sharpa: Redefining Robotics Through Precision, Secrecy, and Strategic Vision