T-Chef
About
About T-Chef
Zhigu Tianchu’s T-Chef range automates wok-based cooking through electromagnetic heat, programmable recipes, automated seasoning and driven stirring mechanisms. Product sizes extend from the TC-40EA, which handles batches up to 4 kg with 15 kW heating, to the TC-100EA, a fixed 21 kW system for batches up to 10 kg. Automated discharge completes the cooking cycle without the operator manually tipping the pan.
A kitchen prepares and loads ingredients, selects a stored recipe and lets the machine execute the defined temperature, timing, mixing and dosing sequence. Zhigu Tianchu also provides recipe digitisation, kitchen software and operating data so restaurant chains, hotels, canteens and central kitchens can repeat the same process across cooks and sites. The company supplies a range of batch capacities, allowing customers to match throughput and menu requirements while retaining a common digital-recipe workflow.
Articles
Products
- TC-100EA Large Cooking Robot
T-Chef intelligent cooking
- TC-E40A
T-Chef intelligent cooking
Funding
- 2026-07-27 - Strategic financing - Zhigu Tianchu closes near-RMB100 million strategic financing
Zhigu Tianchu completed a strategic financing described as nearly RMB 100 million, led by China Merchants Venture Capital. - source: eu.36kr.com
- 2025-12-16 - Series A - Zhigu Tianchu closes tens-of-millions-RMB Series A
Zhigu Tianchu completed a Series A financing described as tens of millions of RMB from Qifu Capital to expand cooking-robot R&D and commercialization. - source: m.pedaily.cn
Investors
- Qifu Capital - Lead - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2025-12-16 - latest 2026-07-27
- China Merchants Venture Capital - Lead - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-27
- Yueqian Capital - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-27
- Yunqi Capital - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-27
Timeline
Events
- 2026-07-27 - Funding - Zhigu Tianchu closes near-RMB100 million strategic financing
Yueqian Capital participated, while existing shareholders Yunqi Capital and Qifu Capital made follow-on investments. Capital is allocated to physical-AI R&D and international deployment of Chinese and pan-Asian cooking systems. The amount is stated as nearly RMB 100 million rather than exact proceeds.
Source - 2026-05-26 - Product Launch - T-Chef details TC-100EA automated large-batch cooking system
The 1,465 × 1,230 × 1,640 mm stainless-steel system combines modular ingredient boxes with 14 seasoning channels. Its programmed workflow automates dosing, induction cooking, discharge and washing around a recommended 6–8 kg batch. Multi-point temperature sensing and a library of more than 2,000 standardized recipes support repeatable institutional catering.
Source - 2026-04-15 - Demonstration - Zhigu Tianchu and SoftBank Robotics jointly demonstrate an integrated restaurant-automation stack
The joint display ran from April 15 to 17, 2026. Zhigu Tianchu supplied cooking automation while SoftBank Robotics contributed delivery and cleaning systems. This was a demonstrated integrated workflow, not a disclosed customer deployment.
Source - 2026-03-18 - Product Launch - Zhigu Tianchu launches TC-40EA-US for North America
The North American variant adds English, Chinese and Spanish interfaces. The company describes barcode-driven recipe loading and visual operating-state feedback. The release presents TC-XaaS as a combined hardware, software, recipe-development and ingredient-service model.
Source - 2025-12-16 - Funding - Zhigu Tianchu closes tens-of-millions-RMB Series A
Qifu Capital was the Series A investor. Capital supports R&D, manufacturing scale and market expansion for intelligent cooking systems.
Source - 2025-10-31 - Regulatory - Zhigu Tianchu helps draft China's commercial smart cooking-machine standard
The standard was issued on October 31, 2025 and is scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2026. It covers terminology, classification, technical requirements and testing methods. Zhigu Tianchu says it contributed to the framework and performance, safety and scenario-adaptation criteria.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- SoftBank Robotics
Japan Market Solution Partner - Zhigu Tianchu and SoftBank Robotics jointly presented an integrated cooking, serving and cleaning solution at FABEX Tokyo 2026.