- NetEase-backed robot startup targets AI-powered physiotherapy and wellness market
- Company says robots can identify acupuncture points in seconds and replicate human techniques
Hangzhou-based robotics startup Ease Future (易启未来) has raised tens of millions of yuan in a Series A round as investors back the use of AI and robotics in rehabilitation and wellness services.
The round was jointly led by Cowin Capital, Youshan Capital and Hangzhou STI Group’s Runmiao Fund, with angel investor NetEase continuing to provide strategic support.
The company said proceeds from the funding will be used to advance core sensing and decision-making technologies, expand manufacturing capacity and accelerate both domestic distribution and overseas expansion.
Founded by NetEase alumni
The company, incubated by NetEase Fuxi, the internet giant’s AI research arm, develops intelligent massage and physiotherapy robots for clinics, spas and wellness centers, among other application scenarios.
Its flagship product, the R2, uses a self-developed algorithm that can identify acupuncture points in three seconds, combined with 3D imaging to map the human body.
The system is built on a six-axis collaborative robotic arm and force-control technology, allowing it to detect 74 key acupuncture points even through light clothing, with millimeter-level precision, the company said.
Founder Yu Zhiyong said the robot can deliver deep tissue therapy beyond the reach of human hands.
Through voice commands
“We once had a customer with a stiff neck. After 30 minutes of magnetic shockwave therapy, the condition eased significantly,” he said.
The robotic arm can extend up to 2.3 meters and apply force that reaches 5-6 centimeters below the skin, targeting deep fascia adhesions.
Users are able to adjust intensity through voice commands such as “softer” or “stronger,” or via a tablet interface that enables targeted treatment on specific body areas.
Each joint includes a fail-safe braking system that limits downward movement to less than one centimeter in the event of power loss.
Modular design
The R2 uses a modular design that supports multiple interchangeable treatment heads, including traditional massage techniques, magnetic shockwave therapy, heat-based treatments, moxibustion and cupping systems.
The setup allows operators to combine automated treatment with human practitioners, who can focus more on diagnosis and customer interaction.
The company said this “dual-mode” system can increase service capacity by more than 50%.
Ease Future said it achieved nearly 40 million yuan ($5.9 million) in orders in the first quarter of 2026, following the launch of two products, R2 and R2s.
“Ease Future has built an early lead and strong technical barriers in embodied AI healthcare,” Cowin Capital said in a press release. “Its products directly address rising demand for premium wellness services, with a clear commercialization path and significant growth potential.”
Its products are now deployed across 86% of China’s provincial-level regions and have served more than 350,000 users in clinics, traditional Chinese medicine centers, beauty salons, gyms and smart community spaces.
A widening labor shortage
China’s massage and physiotherapy industry faces a widening labor shortage, with official industry data showing a gap of more than 2 million professional therapists.
Fewer than 600,000 certified practitioners currently work in the sector, leaving an estimated 90% talent shortfall for massage and wellness services.
At the same time, the AI physiotherapy robot market is expanding rapidly. Research firm QYResearch estimates the global market will grow from $307 million in 2025 to $1.55 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate of 26.4%.
