Linear Capital
About Linear Capital
Linear Capital is a Shanghai-based venture capital firm established in 2014. The firm specializes in investing in frontier technology, data intelligence, and AI-driven companies, particularly at the early stage. Its investment focus includes AI software and applications, AI hardware, robotics, fintech, biotech, and other industrial technologies.
Linear Capital typically leads investments ranging from angel to Series A, committing between US$1 million to US$10 million per project. The firm manages 10 funds with approximately US$2 billion in assets under management and has a portfolio valued at
Linear Capital was founded in 2014 by Harry Wang and Michael Zhang. Wang was an early Facebook employee and, per LinkedIn, the first Chinese R&D manager there. Zhang is a former JD.com and Alibaba Tmall executive. Wang is the founding partner and CEO. Songyan Huang is also named as a partner in the firm's LinkedIn updates. The firm said in a LinkedIn post that its team had grown from 11 to 23 people and its partners from 1 to 3 since its 2019 annual meeting. Its LinkedIn page says USD Fund 5 closed on Dec 15, 2021. Individual fund sizes are not public. The firm does not publish which partner leads AI deals.
Linear describes the companies it looks for as data-based, AI-driven and commercially applicable. Its sectors include AI software and applications, AI hardware and embodied intelligence, robotics, new energy and materials, and biomedicine. It has backed embodied AI and robotics teams such as TARS and Agile Robots, and AI applications such as Mindverse and Final Round AI. Third-party trackers report that it invests in China, Silicon Valley and Southeast Asia, and that it made 8 investments in 2024. A founder with hardware or robotics needs may find its mix of software and manufacturing-linked portfolio companies relevant.
Waveup lists the firm as active at pre-seed, seed and Series A. It shows two typical check bands, US$1M to US$3M and US$3M to US$10M, with a historical maximum of US$10M. Linear does not publish a formal check-size policy on its site. These figures come from third-party databases. Founders can pitch through linear.vc.
- TARS: embodied AI and general-purpose robotics company founded in 2025. It raised a reported US$122M seed round in July 2025 led by Meituan, with Linear as an investor. The Lounge deals desk lists a TARS Seed of US$513M in April 2026.
- Mindverse: AI company. Crunchbase lists Linear in its seed round. The Lounge deals desk lists a US$20M Seed in January 2026.
- Sonata: listed on the Lounge deals desk with a US$7M Seed in July 2026. Public detail on the company is limited.
- Final Round AI: Waveup lists it as a 2025 investment.
- Horizon Robotics: supplier of advanced driver-assistance and autonomous driving solutions.
- Agile Robots: intelligent robotics company.
- Manycore Tech (Kujiale): spatial intelligence and design software.
Investing activity
Linear Capital appears in 3 AI deals tracked by the Lounge deals desk, rounds totalling $533M, and led 1 of them. The rounds are mostly Seed, with a median round size of $20M and the largest at $513M. The most recent are Sonata (Seed, $7M, Jul 2026), TARS (Seed, $513M, Apr 2026) and Mindverse (Seed, $20M, Jan 2026).
Linear Capital most often invests alongside Lux Capital, Sunflower Capital, BoxGroup and Hillhouse Capital, and the companies it backs on Lounge are mostly in AI and Manufacturing.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Linear Capital
Who founded Linear Capital?
Harry Wang and Michael Zhang founded it in 2014. Wang is a former early Facebook employee, and Zhang is a former JD.com and Alibaba Tmall executive.
Does Linear Capital invest in AI startups at seed stage?
Yes. Third-party data lists pre-seed, seed and Series A. Recent examples include Mindverse and TARS seed rounds.
How big are Linear Capital's checks?
Waveup shows typical checks of US$1M to US$3M and US$3M to US$10M, with a historical maximum of US$10M. The firm does not publish an official policy.
Does Linear Capital invest in robotics and embodied AI?
Yes. Its portfolio includes TARS, Agile Robots and Horizon Robotics, and it names AI hardware and embodied intelligence as core sectors.
How do I pitch Linear Capital?
The firm points founders to its website, linear.vc. It does not publish a named contact for AI deals, so a clear deck is the usual starting point.
What AI companies has Linear Capital invested in?
Linear Capital's AI investments include Sonata, TARS and Mindverse. The 3 rounds on Lounge are listed on this page with amounts, dates and co-investors.
Where is Linear Capital based?
Linear Capital is based in Shang Hai Shi, China.
What stage does Linear Capital invest at?
In the rounds tracked on Lounge, Linear Capital has invested at Seed, with a median round of $20M. Linear Capital led 1 of those rounds.
Who does Linear Capital co-invest with?
Linear Capital's most frequent co-investors on Lounge are Lux Capital (1 deal), Sunflower Capital (1 deal), BoxGroup (1 deal), Hillhouse Capital (1 deal) and HSG (1 deal).
How can founders reach Linear Capital?
Founders on Lounge can see Linear Capital's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with the firm under Warm Paths, and add Linear Capital to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.