2 Chinese legend professor lizexiang , The unicorn is being manufactured in batches

source ：IT orange （ID：itjuzi521） author ： Wu Meimei edit ：Judy

Li Zexiang ： A professor who can't start a business is not a good investor

Speaking of Li Zexiang , Readers who may not understand the situation will confuse his name with Richard Li , After all, they are only one word away —— however , Richard Li is the son of Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka Shing , Li Zexiang is a university professor .

Today, we encourage scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurship , University professors go into business 、 Investing is no longer uncommon . The magic of Li Zexiang is that he has assembled university professors 、 Entrepreneur 、 Three identities of investors , In College 「 Ivory tower 」 And the business world , Fully combine theoretical research with practice .

Li Zexiang is probably the most knowledgeable venture capitalist in the professor circle , He created something close to 「 Fiefdom 」 The achievement of —— Not only founded solid high technology （ Proposed GEM Listing ）、 Liqun automation, etc 「 success 」 The enterprise , It also invested and incubated Dajiang 、 Three robot Unicorn companies, Yunjing intelligence and Hairou innovation, as well as several quasi Unicorn enterprises .

01 Education changes destiny , Li Zexiang, a professor who returned from studying abroad to devote himself to education

1961 year , Lizexiang was born in Lanshan County, Hunan Province ,18 Years later, he was admitted to Central South Institute of mining and metallurgy （ Now Central South University of technology ）. Before that, he was a lathe worker in a school run factory . It is this examination and the continued study after that , Changed the fate of Li Zexiang .

At that time, China and the United States had just established diplomatic relations , Alcoa visited China and offered to help train Chinese talents . Li Zexiang was lucky to be one of the first public undergraduate students in China , Go to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh （CMU） To study abroad . in the meantime , He studied hard , It has not only overcome the difficulties of English , I also got a double bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and economics .

Then he went to the University of California at Berkeley to continue his study , On 1986 Years and 1989 Master of mathematics in 、 Master degree and doctor degree in electrical engineering and computer . After graduation, , Li Zexiang has successively served at the Massachusetts Institute of technology （MIT） Artificial intelligence lab （AI Lab） researcher , New York University （NYU）Courant Assistant professor of the computer department of the Institute .

1992 year ,31 Li Zexiang, 19, made the decision to return home with a desire to serve the motherland , And accept the appointment of the newly established Hong Kong University of science and technology , Professor of electronic and computer engineering , Then he founded the automation technology research center and the Robotics Research Institute , Serve as director .

In the years that followed , He has not only served as a part-time professor in many well-known engineering colleges , It also established the Discipline Department of control and electromechanical engineering of Shenzhen Graduate School of Harbin Institute of technology , Guangdong Hong Kong Institute of robotics was established in cooperation with Guangdong University of technology , The Institute of robotics of Hunan University was established in cooperation with Hunan University , Take an active part in robot education .

02 Continuous business success , Li Zexiang, an entrepreneur competing for capital

since 1992 After working at HKUST in , Li Zexiang's views on the domestic university system 「 Repeat the thesis , Light practice 」 There is a certain dissatisfaction with the practice of . To 1999 year , A good opportunity for entrepreneurial practice is coming —— Shenzhen Municipal Government 、 Peking University, 、 The Hong Kong University of science and technology has joined hands to create a Shenzhen Hong Kong industry university research base .

At that time, Li Zexiang took advantage of the situation to unite with colleagues at HKUST 、 Gaobingqiang, who is also an expert Professor 、 Wuhong founded Gu hi tech , Hope based on their understanding of motion control technology 、 Servo drive technology 、 Machine vision technology 、 Long term systematic research in five directions of network technology and mechanical optimization design , Engaged in the research and development of motion control and intelligent manufacturing core technology .

So far, , Close to high technology 60 Industries 、2000 Multiple customers 、200 A number of system integrators have completed the deployment of motion control systems for more than 50 Thousands of sets of .2021 year 8 month , Gu hi tech signed a listing guidance agreement with CSC , Prepare to launch on the domestic growth enterprise market IPO list .

Information display ,2018-2020 Years and 2021 In the first half of , The operating revenues realized by Gu hi tech are 2.99 One hundred million yuan 、2.48 One hundred million yuan 、2.83 Million dollars 1.81 One hundred million yuan .

2017 year , Li Zexiang starts again , Changsha intelligent driving research institute was established in his hometown Hunan （ Shidi Zhijia ）, This time he stepped on the artificial intelligence 、 On the air outlet of the auto driving industry , Plus the professor's IP、 Hatching ability . Sidi Zhijia has obtained the support of more than one capital , Sequoia China is invested in the angel round , State owned background institutions such as Hunan Zhuzhou state-owned investment venture capital have also invested .

2022 year 5 month , Sidi Zhijia has just completed a sum of money 3 One hundred million yuan C Round of funding , The investor is Chengdu Industrial Investment Co., Ltd , Post investment valuation 42 One hundred million yuan .

03 To fame , Lizexiang, the tutor behind the unicorn Dajiang

In addition to solid high-tech and Sidi Zhijia , In Dajiang, co founded by Li Zexiang 、 In Lie group automation , His identity is more of a mentor behind the scenes 、 adviser , Mentoring helps entrepreneurs , He is also an angel investor .

Wang Tao, the founder of Unicorn enterprise Dajiang, is a student brought out by Li Zexiang at HKUST .

2003 year , Wang Tao entered the Hong Kong University of science and technology for his undergraduate study . Because I like model aircraft since childhood , His undergraduate thesis is the research on unmanned aerial vehicles . But when I defend my thesis , Wang Tao's UAV failed to fly , The result was judged to be unqualified , His wish to go abroad for further study after graduation has also come to naught .

But Li Zexiang likes Wang Tao very much , And recruit him as his graduate student , Because Wang Tao took his motion control course twice , Regardless of interest or R & D ability , Far more than other students .

From entrepreneurial experience 、 Choice of place of incorporation , To the research and development of flight control system , Li Zexiang gave Wang Tao a lot of help .

For example, Li Zexiang suggested that Wang Tao start a business in Shenzhen —— Because he discovered through long-term observation , As the largest and most complete OEM base in China, the Pearl River Delta has a complete manufacturing system in the world . Whether buying parts or opening moulds , It is more efficient and labor-saving than European and American countries .

in addition , He also suggested that Dajiang first win the foreign market and then return to China ; At the same time, outside the consumer market , Expand more application scenarios , Especially in the field of agricultural plant protection .

from 2012 In, Li Zexiang participated in the angel round financing of Dajiang , Dajiang subsequently obtained several rounds of financing , And become a unicorn enterprise , Valuation reached 220 Billion dollars .

2011 year , Li Zexiang supported shijinbo, a student, to establish Liqun automation /QKM, The core business is the production and R & D of industrial robots . Liqun automation in 2015 In, he obtained the investment of Sequoia Capital in China A round , So far, it has completed the financing of more than 100 million yuan , With the power of capital , The company is growing rapidly . It is said that Liqun automation is the second company in the world with a full range of industrial robot products .

so , Professor Li Zexiang not only has strong academic research ability , Gain a certain reputation in the scientific research circle ; At the same time, it also has strong entrepreneurial financing ability , Become a group of professors who compete for venture capital and capital .

04 Set up investment institutions , The leader of entrepreneurial projects 、 Incubator lizexiang

Dajiang 、 The success of Liqun automation makes lizexiang see the significance of angel investment and incubation , It also prompted him to build a bridge to transform academic theory into business practice .

As early as 2014 year , Li Zexiang founded Qingshuiwan venture capital , It is intended to deeply incubate the student entrepreneurship team in hand , However, no suitable R & D base for the robot industry has been found .

stay 2015 year , The Dongguan municipal government invited Li Zexiang to establish a robot industry base in Songshan Lake , Not only provide space , Some start-up funds were also provided , Help Li Zexiang and his student entrepreneurship team start the project . To this end, Li Zexiang first invited Professor gaobingqiang, the former dean of the Institute of technology of Hong Kong University of science and technology 、 Professor Ganjie, vice president of Cheung Kong business school, joined us , Then he looked for suitable robotics projects and teams nationwide .

For six years , Songshan Lake robot base has been settled 50 A number of domestic robot start-up companies and teams . according to IT Orange data , There are robot projects incubated by Songshan Lake fund 37 home , Including robot companies that do smart racing 「 Unknown planet 」、 Research and development of light powered exoskeleton robot 「 English and Chinese thinking power 」、 Focusing on the research and development of oil electric hybrid plant protection UAV products 「 Muqin intelligence 」, Focus on water service robots 「ORCA  Oka Zhibo 」 wait .

The robot entrepreneurship team incubated by Li Zexiang has deepened the application of robots to AI Medical care 、 Maker Education 、 Smart home 、 Intelligent industry 、 Agricultural technology 、 Environmental Health 、 Home decoration 、 Logistics and other industries 、 Various fields .

among , The founders of many teams are college students' entrepreneurial groups , such as 「 Oka ocean intelligence ORCA」 Zhujiannan, the founder of, is a doctoral student in the school of navigation, Northwestern Polytechnic University , I started my own business when I was in school .

There are also a few college entrepreneurs who studied at the Hong Kong University of science and technology , He is also a student of Li Zexiang , Including focusing on direct drive precision power solutions 「 Science and technology 」 Founder Zhang Di , Automatic tile laying service robot on the ground 「 Nesting automation 」 Founder huyaoqing .

It is worth noting that , This fund has already captured 2 A robot Unicorn —— Cloud whale intelligence 、 Hai Rou innovation .

2015 year , Zhangjunbin, a graduate of Shanghai Jiaotong University, found lizexiang , Although Li Zexiang was not optimistic about his entrepreneurial ideas at that time , But he appreciates Zhang Junbin's passion and devotion , And support him to start a business . Zhangjunbin became the first entrepreneur to settle in Songshan Lake robot base .

later , He founded the cloud whale intelligence project , Focusing on production and R & D can 「 Wash your own mop 」 The robot that mops the floor . To 2020 year 6 month , Cloud whale intelligent completion C Round of funding , Valuation reached 10 Billion dollars , The new robot unicorn .

Hai Rou innovation is the team of Li Zexiang XBOTPARK fund （ Songshanhu Robot Research Institute ） stay 2017 The seed round at the beginning of the year was cast . Its founder, Chen Yuqi, received a bachelor's degree from the Department of electronics of the Hong Kong Polytechnic , I studied as a master of robotics at Zurich University of technology , On 2014 In, he started a business partnership with his alumnus xushengdong .

This company mainly makes intelligent storage robots for e-commerce warehouses , Brand is 「 Kubao KUBO」, It can help the warehouse to realize the automation of material handling and sorting .

After Li Zexiang's investment incubation , Kubo robot / Hairou innovation has subsequently entered into a number of new financing , The management team behind it is quite luxurious , Including the front line VC Sequoia Capital China 、 Today's capital 、 Lenovo star 、 Source capital 、 Wuyuan capital and industrial capital of listed companies Baishi logistics .

This year, 6 month , Hairou innovation has completed D+ A new round of financing worth hundreds of millions of dollars , Today's capital 、 Sequoia China and other old shareholders continue to overweight , The post investment valuation of Hairou innovation has reached 20.8 Billion dollars , Successfully become a unicorn .

Li Zexiang also copied this training model to Hong Kong , He teamed up with shennanpeng 、 Ma Huateng co founded 「 Hong Kong X Technology entrepreneurship platform 」, Carry out comprehensive projects and talent incubation in the whole Dawan District .

Lizexiang chose Dawan district for project incubation , It's because he knows 「 Hardware entrepreneurship is a lifetime 」, high-cost , Low efficiency is the fatal problem of high-tech hardware entrepreneurship , The only way to break through is to iterate quickly , The iteration speed here in Dawan district is not only ten times faster than that in Europe and the United States , The cost is only one tenth .

From an ordinary worker to a famous professor and entrepreneur 、 investors , Li Zexiang's growth experience tells us ： Personal effort and diligence are certainly important , But the power of choice and opportunity cannot be ignored . So-called 「 Time makes a hero 」, In this era of scientific and technological innovation , We need Li Zexiang to apply what he has learned 、 A hero who combines knowledge with action . His style is both classical and fashionable , Fully conform to the mainstream of current values .

The times need Li Zexiang to apply what he has learned 、 A science and technology entrepreneur who combines knowledge with practice , Li Zexiang and his students are catching up with a good era of scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurship , Li Zexiang will cultivate more 「 Li Zexiang 」 Do you ？