Shunwei, Legend Capital, Xiaomi and others invest in the AI intelligent imaging track, and "hohem" has obtained over 100 million yuan in Series B financing | Exclusive by HardcoreTech.

Author｜Huang Nan

Editor｜Yuan Silai

HardcoreTech exclusively learned that the intelligent imaging pioneer brand "hohem" has recently completed a Series B financing of over 100 million yuan, jointly led by Shunwei Capital and Legend Capital, with Xiaomi Ventures, Yunqi Partners, Cowin Capital, Yunmu Capital as co-investors, and Gengxin Capital as the exclusive financial advisor for this round. This round of funds will be used for the company's product technology research and development, market promotion, and channel layout.

Shenzhen Haohan Zhuoyue Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "hohem") was founded in 2014, focusing on the field of AI intelligent imaging equipment. As the pioneer of AI follow-up stabilizers, "hohem" is user-oriented and is committed to bringing users more relaxed and efficient intelligent shooting experiences by integrating intelligent technology into image shooting.

In the past, most users' perception of handheld stabilizer products remained at the level of professional film and television production tools. Except for the category of photographers, consumers' perception of the playability of handheld stabilizers is limited. However, with the continuous improvement of the photography function of smart phones, consumers' demand for high-quality video content is growing rapidly.

In today's image content production process, in addition to ensuring excellent shooting stability during high-speed movement, "hohem" has insight that with the accelerated development of scenes such as live broadcasts, short videos, and travel, users need a traveling photographer to free their hands, make themselves the protagonist, and record the beautiful moments in life.

Hohem Product Matrix (Image Source/Official)

In January 2016, "hohem" took the lead in launching the world's first mobile phone stabilizer with an App-integrated face-tracking feature at the CES in the United States, thus creating the category of AI follow-up stabilizers. Handheld stabilizers have gradually entered the vision of the general user group from the professional and niche photography crowd.

With continuous investment in the technical field, in 2021, "hohem" innovatively empowered intelligent image shooting with edge-side AI capabilities and released the world's first mobile phone stabilizer equipped with an edge-side AI tracking module, enabling portrait tracking shooting in any App without the need to connect to Bluetooth. In October this year, based on the new generation of AI technology application, "hohem" launched the world's first AI touch-control mobile phone stabilizer M7, integrating three functions: AI image preview, visual parameter adjustment, and remote touch control.

The Hohem M7 innovatively adopts a split touch-screen controller, equipped with the edge-side AI tracking module independently developed by "hohem", and pioneers the AI visual preview touch-control interactive visual follow-up system. Just by framing the target object or person, it can achieve rapid recognition and intelligent follow-up shooting, greatly expanding the possibilities of creation and improving the shooting efficiency and content quality of independent creative groups such as Vloggers and live-streaming experts.

Hohem M7 (Image Source/Official)

In addition to professional-level mobile phone stabilizers, for ordinary photography enthusiasts, "hohem" has simultaneously launched the lightweight and inclusive X series and V series stabilizers. Their lightweight and portable folding design greatly improves the convenience of user use, while retaining the professional-level anti-shake performance and intelligent interaction functions, further lowering the use threshold and making high-quality video creation easier.

Chen Min, the founder of "hohem", told HardcoreTech, "The mobile phone stabilizer is a typical tool-type device. From providing a productivity tool for professional photographers and enthusiast users to becoming a daily shooting 'companion' for the general consumers, from being compact, convenient, simple and easy to use to the integration and innovation of edge-side AI, in this process, as an industry pioneer, hohem continuously promotes the stabilizer category to be more intelligent and consumer-oriented through continuous technological innovation and product optimization. Under the current social attribute change of the streaming media platform and the broader communication trend, we firmly believe that the AI stabilizer category will enter a new growth stage of rapid expansion."

Hohem V Series Products (Image Source/Official)

Currently, "hohem" has consecutively ranked first in the Douyin gimbal category for three years. During the just-ended Double Eleven promotion period, the sales volume reached a new high, winning the first place in the store, live-streaming room, and product categories of the Douyin 3C digital accessories category, and the sales volume and sales amount double champion of the Tmall Double Eleven Early Purchase gimbal category.

In terms of going global, "hohem" currently accounts for more than 60% of the total revenue in the overseas market. Many of its AI follow-up stabilizer products have entered more than 50 countries and regions around the world, and have become the top brand in multiple platform categories such as Amazon overseas.

After this round of financing, the company will increase its R & D investment in AI technology, imaging technology, and high-precision automatic control technology, continuously improve product innovation, and implement more diverse application scenarios. With innovative product experiences and excellent product quality, it will promote the global development of intelligent imaging technology.

Hohem at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, USA (Image Source/Official)

Investors' Views:

Shunwei Capital Partner Cheng Tian said that the current AI technology is enabling the rapid development of the intelligent imaging track, which is widely used in multiple industries such as live broadcasts, short videos, entertainment, and education, and the future application scenarios will be more diversified. The "hohem" team has demonstrated excellent strength with its deep R & D accumulation in intelligent imaging products and innovative exploration of multi-scenario applications. We believe that "hohem" will bring users a more intelligent and convenient shooting experience with its leading technical strength and keen market insight, and grow into a leading brand in the intelligent imaging field.

Legend Capital Executive Director Ji Haiquan said that AI is constantly changing people's lives. "hohem" helps users better record and share their lives through technological investment in AI intelligent imaging. More importantly, we are optimistic about the company's young and energetic team and its internationalization ability. We believe that they will win a place in the broad market in the future and bring users a more amazing intelligent shooting interaction experience.

Xiaomi Group Strategic Investment Department Partner Jiang Wen said, "As a productivity tool and professional accessory for photography shooting, the "hohem" team has been deeply engaged in this field for many years, with deep technical accumulation and product innovation capabilities. We look forward to the team being able to provide a new generation of shooting experiences for the majority of mobile phone and imaging users in the future."

Yunqi Partners Partner Chen Yu said that the demand for video shooting is growing rapidly along with the demand for shooting short videos and live broadcasts. The "hohem" team has long focused on user needs and continuously innovated in product definition. It not only introduced the independent edge-side AI tracking module earliest, but also will further improve the intelligent level of AI shooting in the future, leading intelligent shooting hardware from the niche to the mass population.

Cowin Capital Intelligent Terminal Head Wang Jing said that Chen Min is the more comprehensive product manager-type founder we have been looking for. He is very sensitive to product definition and user demand insight, and also has a great talent in operation management. We recognize his ten-year persistence and look forward to the "hohem" team seizing this opportunity of AI empowering intelligent hardware to achieve true technological inclusiveness.