A Chinese Industrial AI Company Is Going Global — and Mining Is the Battleground When an industrial AI hardware company closes a Series C, the story is rarely just about the money. HORIS's $28 million round, announced on 7 April 2026, signals something more specific: that AI-driven ore sorting — long a niche, capital-intensive corner of the mining industry — is entering a phase of commercial maturity and international expansion. This is not a research bet. This is a company that has already built and shipped physical equipment, and is now raising to sell it beyond its home market. For European founders and investors working across critical minerals, mining technology, or industrial AI hardware, that distinction matters enormously. ## What HORIS Actually Does HORIS develops X-ray and AI-based dry sorting equipment for the mining and minerals processing sector. The core product sits at the intersection of industrial hardware and…