Chinese startup Unitree Robotics has become a star on the emerging humanoid robot stage over the past two years, after a dancing performance by its products on China’s widely watched Lunar New Year’s Eve Gala went viral in January. The company vaulted to additional fame at the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing last month, where it dominated nearly every racing event, including the 100-meter obstacle race, the 4x100 meter relay, and the 1,500 meter race. Unitree was also the star of boxing, providing all the models for those competitions as its rivals could only watch.

Seizing on the heightened attention, the company now plans to take its rising star to the capital markets, announcing last week that it intends to file for an IPO on an unspecified stock exchange by the end of this year. The pronouncement officially confirms months of media speculation about such a listing, with Reuters reporting Unitree is aiming for an IPO valuation of $7 billion.

Such a listing would mark a major milestone for Unitree, which undoubtedly needs additional capital as it ramps up its product development and commercialization efforts. It will also serve as a test case about investor appetite for China's vibrant humanoid robot industry — a sector that has received heavy government support as Beijing seeks to lead this emerging field amid its intensifying rivalry with the U.S.