The global AI wave is sweeping across the world, and China’s large-scale AI model companies are flourishing. Although Chinese AI enterprises started later compared to international giants like NVIDIA and Intel, they are making continuous breakthroughs as they grow. Companies like Infinigence AI and lisuantech have developed rapidly, while others such as VastaiTech, Birentech, Zhipuai, Moore Threads, and Enflame have secured investments from several state-backed funds.

China Internet Investment Fund Invests in Domestic GPU Maker VastaiTech

Recently, VastaiTech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. underwent a corporate restructuring, with new shareholders including the China Internet Investment Fund (Limited Partnership), Guoshou (Shenzhen) Technology Innovation Private Equity Fund (Limited Partnership) under China Life, and Qingdao Yidun New Industry Investment Fund (Limited Partnership). At the same time, VastaiTech’s registered capital increased from approximately RMB 470 million to around RMB 520 million.

VastaiTech is a high-end GPU chip provider, offering full-stack chip solutions for core AI computing power, graphics rendering, content generation, and AI-generated content (AIGC).

Birentech Prepares for IPO, Backed by China Ping An and China Merchants Capital

On September 12, Shanghai-based Birentech released its “Initial Public Offering and Listing Counseling Report,” signaling its intention to go public. Birentech has completed its Series B funding round, raising over RMB 5 billion. Investors include Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Group, Gree Ventures, China Ping An, New World Group, Country Garden Ventures, Qiming Venture Partners, IDG Capital, among others.

Birentech’s focus is on general-purpose GPU (GPGPU) computing systems. The company launched the BR100 GPGPU chip, built on a 7nm process, and introduced a proprietary heterogeneous GPU co-training solution, which allows Chinese GPUs to coexist with NVIDIA GPUs.

State Capital Invests Again as ZhipuAI Completes New Round of Multi-Billion-Yuan Financing

In early September, ZhipuAI, a large AI model company founded only five years ago, announced the completion of a new financing round, raising several billion yuan. The lead investor is Zhongguancun Science City, a platform established by the Haidian District Government of Beijing.

ZhipuAI has completed 11 rounds of financing and is currently the highest-valued AI large-model unicorn in China. Its investors include well-known institutions such as Hillhouse Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, and Junlian Capital, alongside internet giants like Meituan, Alibaba, Tencent, and Xiaomi.

Enflame Initiates IPO Counseling, Backed by National IC Fund Phase II

On August 23, 2024, Shanghai-based Enflame signed an IPO counseling agreement with China International Capital Corporation, formally launching its A-share IPO process.

Enflame specializes in AI training and inference products. The company has developed the Suisi series of chips, Yunsui training and inference acceleration cards, and Yunsui intelligent computing systems, providing computing power support to internet companies, cloud service providers, network operators, research institutions, and local intelligent computing centers.

Infinigence AI Raises Nearly RMB 500 Million in Series A Funding

On September 2, Infinigence AI announced it had raised nearly RMB 500 million in its Series A funding round, marking the largest single financing record for a startup in China’s AI infrastructure sector. The round was co-led by the Social Security Fund’s Zhongguancun Innovation Fund, Qiming Venture Partners, and Hongtai Fund, with additional participation from Lenovo Ventures, Xiaomi, and other strategic investors.

According to public information, Infinigence AI, founded just 16 months ago, has raised nearly RMB 1 billion in total. Past investors include Sequoia China, Baidu, ZhipuAI, and Tongge Ventures.

Lisuantech Secures RMB 200 Million Investment from Dongxin Semiconductor

On August 19, Dongxin Semiconductor announced an external investment, stating it would use RMB 200 million of its own funds to increase its stake in Shanghai-based GPU company Lisuantech by subscribing to RMB 5 million in additional registered capital. After this capital injection, Dongxin Semiconductor will hold about 37.88% of Lisuantech’s equity.

Lisuantech is dedicated to developing scalable chip designs for multi-layer graphics rendering, meeting the chip and computing power needs in various scenarios such as digital content creation, gaming, animation, film production, AR/VR, digital twin cities and factories, cloud desktops, intelligent cockpits, AI, and large models.

Moore Threads Expands to Wuxi, Attracting Market Attention

Over the past two months, Moore Threads has drawn significant attention for two reasons. First, in September, the company announced plans to “focus on Wuxi strategically” and to establish a manufacturing headquarters for AI SoC chips and intelligent terminal manufacturing, as well as a headquarters for intelligent computing cluster business in Wuxi’s Huishan District.

In terms of financing, Moore Threads has already secured investments from government funds, leading venture capital firms, and capital across the industry chain, including Guosheng Capital, China Mobile, Shenzhen Capital Group, Sequoia China, Five Source Capital, GGV Capital, ByteDance, and Tencent.

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(Photo credit: Birentech)