About Deep Tech sector in China
The Deep Tech sector in China comprises 7.14K companies, including 2.46K funded companies having collectively raised $104B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 1.12K are Series A+ funded, and 46 have achieved unicorn status.
Deep Tech sector in China has seen 46 acquisitions and 136 IPOs.
This sector includes companies that are developing products based on innovative technology and scientific developments such as blockchain, AI, advanced robotics, IoT , etc.
Includes companies implementing technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, computer vision, robotics, nanotechnology, IoT into their products. Also includes companies providing infrastructure to develop blockchain, AI, IoT technology such as development tools, smart contracts, and sensor technology, among others. Excludes companies developing products of conventional technology (Shallow Tech) such as conventional digital platforms, conventional robotics in industrial automation, among others.
Top Deep Tech Companies in China
There are 7,144 Deep Tech startups in China which include DJI, Ehang, Animoca Brands, A123 Systems, BITMAIN. Out of these, 2,459 startups are funded, with 1,115 having secured Series A+ funding, and 46 achieving unicorn status.
Over the past 10 years, an average of 322 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of Tsinghua University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Stanford University.
Here is the list of top Deep Tech startups in China
1. DJI
Developer of multi-utility drones. Its product portfolio includes cinematic drones, foldable drones, aerial imaging drones, educational robots, and camera stabilizers. It caters to agriculture, filmmaking and cinematography, safety and surveillance monitoring, and other industrial sectors.
Key facts about DJI
2. Ehang
Developer of autonomous aerial vehicles and related command and control systems. It focuses on providing solutions for aerial transportation and related applications. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and operates these systems. It also offers services related to the operation and maintenance of its products.
Key facts about Ehang
- Founded Year: 2014
- Location: Guangzhou (China)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $52M
- Investors: GGV Capital, GP Capital and 13 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Nov 14, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 77/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 267 Competitors
Developer of blockchain-based PC and mobile games. It develops and publishes blockchain games, traditional games, and other products. The company focuses on the development of racing and strategy-based NFT games which includes the sandbox, crazy kings, and crazy defense heroes. It also provides cloud authentication services and collaborate with formula one to develop blockchain games.
Key facts about Animoca Brands
- Founded Year: 2006
- Location: Kowloon (China)
- Stage: Series C
- Total Funding till date: $880M
- Investors: Liberty City Ventures, Octava and 119 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series C, Nov 11, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 77/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 3 of 1,347 Competitors
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4. A123 Systems
Manufacturer of automotive lithium-ion batteries. Its products include lithium-ion batteries for motorsports & commercial vehicles. It also provides services to industrial sectors.
Key facts about A123 Systems
- Founded Year: 2001
- Location: Hangzhou (China)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $201M
- Investors: General Electric, Alliance Capital Ventures and 19 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, May 24, 2012, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 76/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 1,150 Competitors
5. BITMAIN
Developer of hardware solutions for crypto mining. It provides users with a platform that is based on the application-specific integrated chip miner technology for Bitcoin mining. It also offers cloud solutions, for blockchain and artificial intelligence applications.
Key facts about BITMAIN
- Founded Year: 2013
- Location: Beijing (China)
- Stage: Series C
- Total Funding till date: $950M
- Investors: Sequoia Capital, IDG Capital and 25 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series C, Aug 13, 2018, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 75/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 381 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Deep Tech sector in China
613 Deep Tech startups in China were founded in 2016 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2025 | 32 |
2024 | 88 |
2023 | 247 |
2022 | 249 |
2021 | 301 |
2020 | 250 |
2019 | 401 |
2018 | 483 |
2017 | 561 |
2016 | 613 |
Stage-wise distribution of Deep Tech sector companies in China
Out of the total 7,144 Deep Tech companies in China, 2,459 have secured funding. Among them, 1,115 have reached Series A or higher, and 672 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 7,144
Funded - 2,459
Series A+ - 1,115
Series B+ - 672
Series C+ - 390
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 7,144 |
Funded | 2,459 |
Series A+ | 1,115 |
Series B+ | 672 |
Series C+ | 390 |
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Funding Trends in the Deep Tech sector in China
Total funding year-on-year in the Deep Tech sector in China
The Deep Tech sector in China saw a total funding of more than $102B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2021 at more than $19.7B.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2025 | $6.06B |
2024 | $6.3B |
2023 | $6.59B |
2022 | $19.4B |
2021 | $19.7B |
2020 | $13.9B |
2019 | $6.21B |
2018 | $18B |
2017 | $4.49B |
Recent Funding Rounds in Deep Tech in China
In the year 2025, till December 2025, Deep Tech companies in China have raised $4.57B in equity funding across 128 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till December 2024), Deep Tech companies in China had raised $6.19B across 241 rounds.
So, 2025 has seen a 26.16% drop in funding in Deep Tech companies in China as compared to 2024.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Deep Tech companies in China:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series C | 3314 | Dec 24, 2025 | ||
Series A | 4116 | Dec 24, 2025 | ||
Seed | 5413 | Dec 22, 2025 | - | |
Series B | 5328 | Dec 22, 2025 | ||
Series D | 6971 | Dec 22, 2025 |
Top Investors in Deep Tech in China
Plug and Play Tech Center is the top investor in Deep Tech companies in China based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Deep Tech companies in China:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Sunnyvale (United States) | ||
Cork (Ireland) | ||
Singapore (Singapore) | ||
Menlo Park (United States) | ||
San Diego (United States) |
M&A activity in Deep Tech sector in China
In the year 2025, till December 2025, 4 acquisitions happened in Deep Tech sector in China. Last year, in 2024, a total of 5 acquisitions happened in Deep Tech sector in China.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Deep Tech sector in China:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Dec 30, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Dec 19, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Nov 18, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jul 28, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | May 21, 2024 |
Acquisition trends in Deep Tech sector in China
Here are the acquisition trends in Deep Tech sector in China:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | - |
2025 | 4 |
2024 | 5 |
2023 | 6 |
2022 | 8 |
2021 | 2 |
2020 | 4 |
2019 | 4 |
2018 | 2 |
2017 | 4 |
IPOs in Deep Tech in China
In the year 2025, till December 2025, 14 IPOs happened in Deep Tech sector in China.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Deep Tech sector in China:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Dec 19, 2025 | Hong Kong Exchanges (HKG) | |
Dec 03, 2025 | Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) | |
Nov 06, 2025 | Hong Kong Exchanges (HKG) | |
Oct 28, 2025 | Hong Kong Exchanges (HKG) | |
Oct 22, 2025 | Hong Kong Exchanges (HKG) |
Colleges which produce the most Deep Tech companies in China
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Deep Tech in China
Most number of Deep Tech startups in China have been founded by alumni from Tsinghua University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Stanford University.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Tsinghua University | 58 |
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) | 24 |
Stanford University | 15 |
Carnegie Mellon University | 11 |
Columbia University | 10 |
Harvard University | 9 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 8 |
University of California (Berkeley) | 8 |
University of Pennsylvania | 8 |
University of Cambridge | 7 |
Total funding in Deep Tech companies founded by alumni from top colleges in China
In the last 10 years, Tsinghua University graduates' Deep Tech companies in China have raised the most funding among top colleges. Columbia University alumni are second, and Carnegie Mellon University alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
Tsinghua University | $7.31B |
Columbia University | $3.5B |
Carnegie Mellon University | $1.42B |
The University of Tokyo | $850M |
University of Toronto | $750M |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $698M |
Stanford University | $679M |
Cornell University | $657M |
Wharton School | $625M |
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) | $413M |
Top News in Deep Tech in China
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Sweetener maker Manus democratizes monk fruit availability with fermentation in Augusta, Ga.FoodNavigator-USA•Jan 06, 2026•Manus
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Unisoc's T9300 Chip Brings 200MP Cameras & Satellite Comms to Mid-Range 5G PhonesNotebookcheck Publishing GmbH•Nov 17, 2025•Unisoc
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Ribo Receives EMA Orphan Drug Designation for siRNA Therapeutic RBD1016Europa Press•Oct 25, 2025•Souzhou Ribo Life Science
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Imerys and Shanghai ShanShan partner to supply Europe’s battery anode marketBatteriesnews•Oct 14, 2025•Imerys, Shanshan Technology
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KraneShares Launches Humanoid & Embodied Intelligence Index UCITS ETF (KOID) on the London Stock ExchangeGlobeNewswire•Oct 09, 2025•Horizon, UBTECH, KraneShares, RoboSense and 4 others
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Quectel Partners with Future Electronics as New Distribution Partner in North AmericaBusiness Wire•Sep 29, 2025•Future Electronics, Quectel
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Clou unveils latest energy storage innovations at Solar & Storage Live UKPR Newswire•Sep 26, 2025•Shenzhen Clou Electronics
