Tianjin University makes a splash in the VC circle.
In October, the Haihe River sparkles under the autumn sun; the sycamore leaves on Weijin Road rustle, telling the stories of the years.
On October 2nd, Tianjin University, a prestigious institution that has witnessed the glory of modern higher education in China, celebrated its 130th anniversary. Since its establishment as the Peiyang University in 1895 by Sheng Xuanhuai, this "first modern university in China" has always been driven by the spirit of "promoting education for national prosperity". It has spread the seeds of science during the war - torn years and nurtured talents for national construction, writing an epic of moving forward with the nation with the spirit of "seeking truth from facts".
When it comes to business tycoons, Tianjin University may not be as well - known as some other universities. There are few legends about the "richest alumnus" on campus, and the "Tianjin University - related capital" is rarely highly exposed in the financial section. However, few people know that this low - key university is deeply involved in the era's transformation in another way: when "the transformation of scientific and technological achievements" becomes a key national strategic term and "hard - tech entrepreneurship" becomes a new engine for economic growth, Tianjin University is quietly weaving a network for innovation services in the venture capital field, becoming an important force in promoting the in - depth integration of science and technology with industries among universities.
In 2024, this "low - key progress" is particularly prominent. In this year alone, Tianjin University, with the cooperation between the university and local governments and the linkage among alumni, has made two significant moves in the venture capital track: In September, it jointly launched the "Tiankai Jiuan Haihe Haitang 5 - billion - yuan Science and Technology Innovation Mother Fund" with Jiuan Medical, Haihe Industrial Fund, etc., focusing on hard - tech fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and high - end equipment, and mainly supporting the incubation of early - stage projects in the Tiankai High - tech and Education Innovation Park; In November, it jointly established a 1 - billion - yuan special fund with the Haihe Laboratory of Brain - Computer Interaction and Human - Machine Integration, targeting cutting - edge fields such as brain - computer interfaces and neural engineering, and promoting the transformation of scientific research results from "laboratory samples" to "market products". Behind these two funds, there is not only the technical support from Tianjin University's scientific research teams, but also the industrial resources from alumni - owned enterprises, and the high expectations of local governments for the "university + capital + industry" model.
From "cultivating engineers" to "incubating entrepreneurs", from "outputting scientific research results" to "cultivating an innovation ecosystem", Tianjin University's venture capital layout is by no means accidental.
Tianjin University Alumni Queuing for IPO
Over the past 130 years, Tianjin University has always been driven by the spirit of "promoting education for national prosperity" and has nurtured generations of students with the spirit of "seeking truth from facts". Now, in the IPO track of the capital market, the "Tianjin University - related group" is emerging in a low - key but firm manner. From artificial intelligence to intelligent manufacturing, from industrial software to big - data services, many enterprises led by Tianjin University alumni are queuing up to enter the stock market, writing their capital stories with hard - tech strength.
On June 5th, an announcement on the official website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange attracted attention: the application for the listing of Easy Vision (Hangzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. on the Science and Technology Innovation Board was accepted, with Guotou Securities as the sponsor. This enterprise, focusing on industrial visual intelligent inspection, has its core technology originating from the scientific research accumulation of the Precision Instrument discipline at Tianjin University, and many key members of the founder team are Tianjin University alumni. Coincidentally, in May this year, Deep Intelligence Technology, a provider of large - model artificial intelligence application solutions, submitted its prospectus to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This enterprise, jointly founded by Zhao Jiehui, an alumnus with both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Tianjin University, and his former colleagues at Huawei, has seen its valuation soar to 6.8 billion yuan within four years of its establishment, and is backed by more than a dozen top - tier institutions such as Hillhouse Capital, IDG Capital, and Wuyuan Capital.
After graduating with both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Electrical Engineering and Automation from Tianjin University, Zhao Jiehui worked as the head of the core router team at Huawei and then transferred to Alibaba Cloud, serving as a senior technical expert and the general manager of the enterprise business department, experiencing the implementation of the "data middle - platform" from concept to reality. In 2018, Zhao Jiehui and his former Huawei colleague Yang Lei jointly founded Deep Intelligence Technology, with the mission of "making technology accessible to all".
After its establishment, Deep Intelligence Technology quickly focused on the "full - link data intelligence" track, providing full - cycle services from data collection, governance to analysis and application for enterprises in the manufacturing, retail and other industries. Based on its revenue in 2024, Deep Intelligence Technology ranks among the top in the Chinese enterprise - level large - model artificial intelligence application solution market. Its self - developed large model is the first general enterprise operation decision - making large model in the industry to complete dual regulatory filings for deep - synthesis algorithms and generative artificial intelligence services. Currently, the company has initially started its global layout, with its business covering multiple vertical fields such as consumption, manufacturing, medical care, and transportation, and has established a subsidiary in Hong Kong, planning to expand to important regions along the "Belt and Road" such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East in a structured way.
Now, Deep Intelligence Technology has initiated its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is just one step away from entering the capital market.
If Deep Intelligence Technology represents Tianjin University alumni in the field of AI applications, then Easy Vision demonstrates the core strength of Tianjin University's "Precision Instrument" discipline.
The core team of Easy Vision comes from the State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments at Tianjin University. The founder, Guo Yin, and the core technical members have all been deeply involved in the field of machine vision for many years. Among them, Guo Yin holds a doctoral degree from Tianjin University and has served as a lecturer and a master's supervisor at the School of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering of Tianjin University.
The prospectus shows that Easy Vision focuses on the R & D, production, and sales of machine vision equipment for automobile manufacturing, providing machine vision solutions for various technological processes in the manufacturing of automobile vehicles and parts. After years of in - depth development, the company has developed more than a dozen products, achieving large - scale and systematic applications in six major technological processes including stamping, welding, painting, assembly, battery production, and die - casting, and has become a supplier to most domestic vehicle and parts manufacturers. In this attempt to list on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, Easy Vision plans to raise 1.2 billion yuan for the construction of an industrialization base for industrial visual intelligent equipment and the upgrade of its R & D center.
Through the Tianjin University alumni - owned enterprises queuing for IPO, it is not difficult to see Tianjin University's long - term efforts in the transformation of scientific research results and the cultivation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Looking back at the 130 - year milestone, the "alumni IPO group" of Tianjin University may not have the aura of Internet giants, but they have the down - to - earth attitude of hard - tech entrepreneurs.
Tianjin University Enters the VC Field
When "the transformation of scientific and technological achievements" becomes a key national strategic term and "hard - tech entrepreneurship" becomes a new engine for economic growth, Tianjin University, well - known for its spirit of "seeking truth from facts", is also entering the venture capital field in a low - key but firm manner.
From the "Beiyang Haitang Fund" spontaneously initiated by alumni in 2017 to the "Brain - Computer Haihe Laboratory Fund" led by the university in 2024, from the 5 - billion - yuan science and technology innovation mother fund to the special fund focusing on new energy, Tianjin University is using the power of capital to connect laboratories, enterprises, and industries, becoming a "pragmatic school" with distinct engineering characteristics in the wave of university venture capital in China.
The story dates back to 2017. That autumn, the 11th World Alumni Congress of Tianjin University was held in Changsha. Alumni gathered at the 1895 Coffee Shop to discuss innovation and entrepreneurship. Liu Yi, then the president of the Tianjin Alumni Association and the chairman of Jiuan Medical, put forward a proposal: "Can we set up an alumni fund? Support the entrepreneurship of Tianjin University teachers and students when they are in great need of funds, resources, and connections. Every year, there are many hard - tech entrepreneurship projects at Tianjin University. It's not easy at the beginning. Are you willing to support them together?"
This proposal was quickly responded to. Wei Hongkun from Tianchuang Capital, Yang Xiaofeng from Fruit Technology, Su Zhen from Siwen Technology, and He Yongjun from the Science and Technology Innovation Center were the first to respond. Soon, well - known alumni such as Ma Ruren from Ren'ai Group, Li Haiping from Lianlong, and Wang Renda from Jiuan Medical also joined in... The Beiyang Haitang Venture Capital Fund was thus established.
As stated on its official website, the Beiyang Haitang Fund is a venture capital fund mainly established by Tianjin University alumni entrepreneurs in Tianjin, in cooperation with other alumni entrepreneurs. It focuses on investing in hard - tech projects of, but not limited to, Tianjin University teachers, alumni, and students. The Beiyang Haitang Fund is committed to promoting the construction of an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem through the fund, discovering, empowering, and investing in a number of scientific research results with industrial and commercial value, helping the industrialization of scientific research results into products that meet market demand, and promoting the formation of the "Stanford + Silicon Valley" model in Tianjin.
Currently, the total management scale of the fund exceeds 7.5 billion yuan, and its investment fields include hard - tech, artificial intelligence, biological manufacturing, new energy, new materials, and medical and health - care sectors. It has invested in more than 50 hard - tech projects mainly founded by Tianjin University teachers, students, and alumni, with direct investment and driven investment totaling nearly 5 billion yuan.
On January 20, 2024, the 5 - billion - yuan science and technology innovation mother fund jointly established by Tiankai Group, Jiuan Medical, Haihe Industrial Fund, the Tianjin University Beiyang Education Development Foundation, and the Beiyang Haitang Fund was officially launched.
It is understood that the Beiyang Haitang Fund will closely cooperate with the advantageous disciplines of various universities in Tianjin, select well - known venture capital institutions at different stages and in different fields across the country to set up seed, angel, science and technology innovation, and growth sub - funds, and form a fund group with a scale of 15 billion yuan through capital allocation, playing a significant role in raising funds, discovering projects, nurturing projects, attracting projects, and promoting innovation.
Regarding its future blueprint, the fund stated that "in the next five years, we will strive to build an innovation and entrepreneurship carrier of no less than 400,000 square meters, attract 500 science and technology innovation enterprises to settle in, attract and incubate 30 growth - type science and technology enterprises, incubate 10 unicorn enterprises, and gather more than 10,000 young students with dreams and aspirations to start businesses in Tianjin, creating an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem model with Tianjin University's characteristics."
What is even more noteworthy is the launch of the first domestic special fund focusing on the development of the brain - computer interface industry in 2024. This first domestic special fund for the development of the brain - computer interface industry was established by Tianjin University, in cooperation with multiple parties such as the Binhai High - tech Zone Management Committee, the Hexi District Government, China Electronics Data, and the Haihe Industrial Fund, aiming to establish an innovative investment model of "scientists + entrepreneurs + government + investors", leveraging social capital to support the development of the entire brain - computer industry chain and empowering the rapid growth of start - up enterprises.
Tianjin University's venture capital layout is never an isolated action but an organic part of the university's overall system for the transformation of scientific research results. As is well - known, the transformation of scientific research results is a long - term strategic investment. The breakthrough of bottleneck technologies requires the most patience and funds. Therefore, Tianjin University uses the Beiyang Haitang Fund as a link to connect the 5 - billion - yuan science and technology innovation mother fund and the 1 - billion - yuan brain - computer special fund, using "patient capital" to support the "slow growth" of technologies.
Why Tianjin University?
When it comes to the transformation of scientific research results of Tianjin universities, "Tiankai Park" is an inevitable topic. Its name is derived from taking one character from the names of Tianjin University and Nankai University, and it also implies the concept of "creation by nature".
This science and technology innovation carrier, officially opened on May 18, 2023, not only bears the strategic ambition of Tianjin to "develop new - quality productive forces" but also embodies the deep expectations of the city - university co - prosperity. It is not only a source of scientific and technological innovation and an incubator of scientific research results but also an agglomeration area of scientific and technological service resources, solving the "last - mile" problem of the transformation of university scientific research results with its "hard - core ecosystem".
In the past, the transformation of scientific research results of Tianjin universities faced practical difficulties: scattered scientific research platforms, difficulty in meeting enterprise demands, shortage of pilot - scale resources, and a lack of financial support... When planning Tiankai Park, the official pointed directly at the pain points: "Tianjin is rich in science and education resources, but the innovation and entrepreneurship platforms of universities are scattered, the science and technology innovation service resources are insufficient, and the combination of scientific research and industries is not close." The establishment of Tiankai Park is to reconstruct the innovation ecosystem with "physical space + institutional design".
Focusing on five major services of "government affairs, science and technology innovation, finance, business, and knowledge", Tiankai Park improves the support system of "laws + policies + supporting measures + detailed rules", relieving difficulties for many start - up enterprises and scientific research talents. At the same time, it has introduced well - known incubation institutions such as Tus - Star and Zhixin, incubating and cultivating more than 100 enterprises in fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, and medical devices.
Since its establishment in 2023, Tiankai Park has set up 41 funds with a total scale of 19.63 billion yuan, driving enterprises to obtain 2.427 billion yuan in investment and financing. With the support of financial "water", a number of science and technology innovation enterprises have accelerated their R & D and production.
Zhao Yulong, the director of the Tianjin Financial Regulatory Bureau, said that in the past two years, Tianjin has continuously guided financial institutions to closely align with the key industrial chains in Tianjin, focusing on scientific and technological self - reliance and self - strength, building a "1 + N" pilot radiation area centered around Tiankai Park, and promoting a positive cycle of "science and technology - industry - finance".
Now, a number of scientific research results are being rapidly transformed in Tiankai Park, and many Tianjin University students are involved. For example, Feiman Power, a technology - transfer enterprise of Tianjin University, has successfully completed multiple rounds of financing from institutions such as Hillhouse Capital. Relying on more than seven years of technological accumulation of the sustainable new materials R & D team at Tianjin University, Yongxu New Materials has currently built a food - grade nanocellulose production line with an annual output of 30,000 tons...
The "Tianjin University imprint" in Tiankai Park is deeply rooted in the genes of this century - old engineering - strong university.
In 1895, in the aftermath of the Sino - Japanese War, Sheng Xuanhuai proposed the establishment of the Peiyang University beside the Haihe River in Tianjin. As the first modern university in modern Chinese history, it was founded with the purpose of "the path to self - strength lies in cultivating talents; the first step in seeking talents is to establish schools", sowing the seeds of science during the war - torn years.
130 years later, the former Peiyang University, now known as Tianjin University, still uses the school motto of "seeking truth from facts" as a guiding light, writing a new legend of "strengthening the nation through engineering" in hard - tech fields such as new energy and new materials. When we wonder "why Tianjin University" can stand out in the transformation of scientific research results and the incubation of emerging industries, the answer is already written in its historical genes, disciplinary accumulation, and sense of responsibility in the era.
Tianjin University's confidence first comes from its 130 - year in - depth development in various disciplines. From the establishment of the first chemical engineering department in China in 1934 to the contribution to the higher education of New China during the department adjustment in 1952, from being included in the "211" and "985" projects after the reform and opening - up to now being firmly ranked among the Class A universities in the "Double First - Class" initiative, Tianjin University has always been the "ballast stone" of engineering education in China.
Now, with the wave of the transformation of scientific research results, the investment style in the primary market is shifting towards "investing in early - stage, small - scale, and technology - driven projects", and Chinese universities are getting closer to VC. Tianjin University, which has entered the VC field,