Vertex Ventures CEO Proposes Singapore as a Gateway for Chinese Robotics into U.S.
Chinese robotics companies blocked from the U.S. market by new restrictions can still access American buyers through substantial operations in Singapore, according to Choon Chong Tay of Vertex Ventures China. The firm has invested in several Chinese startups like Unitree Robotics and believes that anchoring key functions—such as hiring and chip control—in Singapore could help these firms bypass trade barriers. The U.S. ban on foreign-made humanoid robots, imposed by the Trump administration for national security reasons, has cut off a major market just as China advances in robotics hardware production. Tay argues economic incentives may outweigh political concerns if products are certified safe and competitively priced from Singapore-based operations. Vertex Ventures manages nearly $3 billion across funds focused on AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. Unitree Robotics generates over 40% of its revenue overseas, with about 18% coming from the U.S., making access to American markets crucial for continued growth.
Topics: robotics Singapore operations U.S.-China tech rivalry venture capital