Robotics startup Proception has settled a trade secret lawsuit filed by Tesla and announced an $11 million funding round. Tesla had accused its former engineer, Jay Li, and his subsequent startup, Proception, of stealing confidential information related to the Optimus humanoid robot's hand technology.
The lawsuit, filed in June 2025, alleged that Li downloaded sensitive files before his resignation and used them to accelerate Proception's development of a similar robotic hand. The settlement and new funding allow the venture-backed startup to move forward with its plans to develop and ship its humanoid robotic hands for research and industrial applications.