Wang Xingxing Leaves DJI After Two Months to Found Robotics Startup

Wang Xingxing, founder of Unitree Robotics, explained in an interview the reasons he left DJI just two months after his graduation in 2016. According to Shanghai Securities News, the decision was driven by his genuine passion for robotics and the opportunity to industrialize a technology he was developing. Wang completed his master's degree in mechanical engineering at Shanghai University, having previously studied the same field at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. During his academic years, he participated in a project involving quadruped robots, which inspired him to develop his own design. The result was the XDog, a compact, low-cost quadruped robot powered by outrunner brushless motors. In 2015, while still pursuing his master's degree, Wang presented the XDog at an international innovation competition, winning second place and eight thousand yuan in prize money—his first significant capital. After graduating in June 2016, he joined DJI. However, a month later, demonstration videos of the XDog gained international visibility, attracting interest from both media and potential investors. Recognizing this opportunity materializing, Wang left DJI in August of the same year. After receiving seed-round funding, he founded Unitree Robotics. When questioned about the company's reputation as a price killer, Wang rejected the characterization, stating that it maintains healthy margins while focusing on financial sustainability and industry-wide growth.