美国知名机器人公司，倒闭

Core Insights - K-Scale Labs, a prominent robotics startup based in Silicon Valley, has announced its closure due to insufficient operational funding, despite initial success in securing investments and partnerships [2][5][6] - The company aimed to create an open-source, low-cost humanoid robot platform for researchers and developers, but faced significant competition from Chinese robotics firms that have secured substantial production funding [3][6] Company Overview - K-Scale Labs was founded in 2024 and had a valuation of $50 million after raising approximately $4 million in seed funding earlier this year [3] - The company signed a strategic partnership with Tao Motor Inc., which included a $2 million investment to support K-Scale's development [3] - K-Scale Labs launched its K-Bot humanoid robot, priced at $16,000, with an early bird price of $8,999 for the first 100 pre-orders [3] Closure Announcement - The CEO, Benjamin Bolte, informed customers via email that the company would cease operations and refund deposits due to a lack of funding [5][6] - Bolte expressed disappointment in not being able to secure additional funding despite confidence in the U.S. capital market [6] Industry Context - K-Scale Labs is not the only robotics company to shut down; at least 10 robotics firms have closed since the beginning of 2024, highlighting a trend of financial difficulties in the sector [6][7] - In contrast, the Chinese robotics industry has seen over 600 investment events in the first three quarters of this year, indicating a robust funding environment [8] Market Dynamics - The challenges faced by K-Scale Labs reflect broader issues in the robotics industry, including difficulties in scaling production and meeting delivery targets [8][9] - Major players in the Chinese market are experiencing high demand, with significant pre-orders for new robotic products, while Western companies struggle to compete [8][9]