Meta has partnered with Shanghai-based startup Fourier to develop a humanoid robot named Max. The prototype, which stands 1.5 meters tall and weighs 48 kilograms, was built in approximately three months. It is powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Thor platform and features five-fingered hands capable of grasping objects and displaying facial expressions.
The collaboration focuses on research and experimentation rather than commercial sales. Development of a successor, Max 2, began in September. Meta’s robotics product vice president, Li-Chen Miller, spent nearly two months at the Fourier factory in Shanghai to oversee the project. The partnership leverages Fourier’s established supply chain and expertise in motion control.
Fourier was founded in 2015 by Gu Jie and initially specialized in rehabilitation robotics. The company began its humanoid project in 2019, reaching a milestone in 2022 when a prototype walked untethered. It has since released several models, including the GR-1, GR-2, and the 2025 open-source N1 and GR-3, the latter featuring 55 degrees of freedom.
The company has attracted significant venture capital, including a RMB 400 million Series D round in 2022 led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. By January 2025, Series E funding reached nearly RMB 800 million. Later that year, Runyang Technology invested RMB 300 million in an E3 round, valuing the company at RMB 8 billion before the investment.
According to Omdia, Fourier ranked sixth globally in humanoid robot shipments in 2025, with 300 units delivered. The startup’s background in rehabilitation and human-machine interaction supports Meta’s requirements for robots that can recognize voices, interpret gestures, and maintain eye contact.
