March, Into the Realm of Hope | 5Y News Monthly
The big news from last month.
5Y News Monthly
"5Y News Monthly" is a recurring column from 5Y Capital. At the start of each month, we look back at the past month's news from 5Y and our portfolio companies, sharing it with friends who follow us — we hope it helps you get to know us better.
01 Portfolio Company Highlights
Major news about funding, IPOs, strategic partnerships, breakthroughs, and new product launches from 5Y portfolio companies.
02 5Y Capital Updates
News about 5Y honors, investor interviews, and thought leadership.
Note: Companies are listed in alphabetical order by pinyin.
01
Portfolio Company Highlights
Bota Bio Enters Five-Year Strategic Partnership with Syensqo
On February 10, Bota Bio announced a five-year strategic partnership with Syensqo. A science-driven company, Syensqo develops breakthrough solutions that improve how we live, work, move, and play. The collaboration will combine Bota's leading functional protein technology platform with Syensqo's deep expertise in hair and scalp care, delivering high-performance, sustainable solutions and products to the global market. Read more
Horizon Robotics Partners with FAW Bestune
On February 21, Horizon Robotics formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement with FAW Bestune, a mainstream passenger vehicle brand under FAW Group. The two sides will deepen collaboration in intelligent driving solutions, accelerating the democratization of smart driving technology and creating safer, more efficient mobility experiences for users. Under the agreement, both parties will leverage their respective strengths in industrial resources, technology, and capital operations through multi-domain business integration, cooperating closely in intelligent vehicle R&D, product development, and mass production. Horizon Robotics and FAW Bestune have already achieved mass production partnerships based on the Journey 2 and Journey 3 platforms, with successful deployments on models including the Bestune T90 and B70. Read more
XtalPi Partners with Guangdong Hengjian to Support Greater Bay Area AI Infrastructure
XtalPi (2228.HK) and Guangdong Hengjian Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. plan to jointly select a site to launch the Greater Bay Area "AI+" Technology and Industry Integration Innovation Consortium project. The initiative responds to China's national "innovation consortium" strategy, leveraging "AI + robotic automation" technology to unite multiple sources of capital and leading enterprises across the industrial chain. The goal is to build world-class R&D innovation infrastructure and an industrial incubation ecosystem, promote the clustered development of strategic industries, and accelerate digital and intelligent transformation in the Greater Bay Area and globally. It will also help the region develop world-class AI research infrastructure and lead the future development of AI-driven pharmaceuticals, new materials, new energy, and robotics. Read more
StepFun, Geely Auto Group, and Qianli Technology Deepen Technical Collaboration
On February 21, StepFun held its inaugural Step UP Ecosystem Open Day in Shanghai, joining forces with numerous partners to showcase a rich array of large model application scenarios and innovative experiences. The company emphasized that intelligent terminal agents represent a critical focus for deploying large model technology. The event was also a key component of the 2025 Global Developer Pioneer Conference. During the conference, Geely Auto Group, Qianli Technology, and StepFun jointly announced they would further strengthen their existing technical partnership to advance the deep integration of "AI + vehicles" and usher in a new era of comprehensive vehicle intelligence. Read more
Vastai Technologies and China Unicom Jointly Launch Domestic GPU Cloud Phone
At China Unicom's 2025 5G-A Action Plan launch event on February 10, the company announced it would fully leverage 5G-A's advantages in higher speeds, greater connectivity, and lower latency. By introducing cutting-edge technologies such as integrated sensing and communication, integrated communication and intelligence, and integrated space and terrestrial networks, China Unicom aims to further expand 5G's capabilities. As a key component of this action plan, domestic high-end GPU chip provider Vastai Technologies and China Unicom jointly launched a cloud phone product powered by Vastai's GPU. With high performance, full-scenario coverage, and low power consumption as core strengths, the product is designed to deliver smooth cloud-based mobile applications and gaming experiences, marking a breakthrough in large-scale commercial deployment of domestic GPUs in mobile cloud computing. Read more
SenseTime Builds Smart Foundation for Kunming
On February 19, SenseTime won the bid for the "Kunming AI Empowerment Center Construction and Operation Integration Project," with a contract value exceeding RMB 200 million. As Yunnan Province's first AI empowerment center, the project positions artificial intelligence as a benchmark for new quality productive forces, with "AI-empowered scenario applications" as its core objective. Through a build-and-operate model, it organically integrates AI infrastructure capabilities with scenario-based empowerment applications, injecting powerful momentum into the digital transformation of Kunming and the entire province. This milestone demonstrates that SenseTime, as an established AI enterprise, continues to maintain strong growth potential amid the new wave of large model technology. Read more
GalaxySpace Partners with Thai Operator on Satellite Internet
On February 11, Chinese commercial aerospace company GalaxySpace reached a cooperation agreement with True Corporation, a major Thai operator. The two sides will collaborate deeply in low-orbit satellite communications technology, integrated space-ground network solutions, and direct-to-cell satellite communications technology. Together they will advance related technology R&D and validation, explore more satellite application scenarios, and jointly build future-oriented digital infrastructure. Read more
Xiaomi Officially Launches 15 Ultra and SU7 Ultra
On February 27, Xiaomi held a launch event to officially unveil the 15 Ultra and SU7 Ultra — the two most premium products in the company's fifteen-year history. At the event, Lei Jun noted that 2025 marks Xiaomi's 15th anniversary, and at this milestone the company has clarified its long-term strategy of "human × car × home" full ecosystem integration. "Ultra," he said, represents the ultimate pursuit and pure aspiration — it is the culmination of Xiaomi's five-year exploration of the premium segment and the beginning of its push into the ultra-premium tier. By March 2, locked orders for the SU7 Ultra had surpassed 10,000 units, achieving the full-year target ahead of schedule. Read more
Xpeng Aeroht Partners with Sunriver Culture & Tourism to Pioneer Low-Altitude Economy Ecosystem
On February 26, Sunriver Culture & Tourism (600576.SH) and Xpeng Aeroht, Asia's largest flying car company, formally signed a cooperation agreement. The two sides will use flying car/eVTOL technology as a lever to deepen collaboration in low-altitude tourism scenario development and integrated business operations, jointly exploring innovative pathways for integrating the low-altitude economy with the cultural tourism industry. At the signing ceremony, Liu Jiangtao, Chairman of Sunriver General Aviation, and Qiu Mingquan, Vice President of Xpeng Aeroht, signed the agreement, witnessed by Wang Heng, Chairman of Sunriver Culture & Tourism, and Zhao Deli, Founder of Xpeng Aeroht.
Xpeng Motors Enters Europe's Largest New Energy Vehicle Market
On February 14, Xpeng Motors reached a milestone in its globalization strategy. The company held its UK launch event on the banks of the Thames, adjacent to the iconic London Bridge, and announced that its first right-hand-drive model, the Xpeng G6, had officially opened for pre-order in the UK. The new vehicle is priced from £39,990 (approximately RMB 364,000), with deliveries expected to begin in March 2025. This move marks Xpeng Motors' official entry into the UK market, not only demonstrating brand strength but also opening up vast space for future development. Read more
5Y Capital Updates
Robot Vacuums, AI Glasses, Companion Robots… Is This Generation of AI Hardware Actually Viable? | 5Y Tavern Vol. 25
This episode of 5Y Tavern explores AI hardware. Several guests started with today's hottest AI hardware products, sharing their product and technology observations and what directions are worth watching in 2025. You'll hear about diverse application scenarios from robot vacuums with robotic arms to AI glasses, with analysis of existing products' market potential, observations on technical bottlenecks, and imagination about future directions. They also discussed the fusion of emotion and function in robotics products, and how to meet users' emotional needs through technology innovation and product design — we hope this episode offers you some inspiration too. Read more
How Is AI Reshaping Gaming and Creation? We Talked with Over a Dozen Industry Founders | 5Y Tavern Vol. 26
AI is unprecedentedly transforming the nature of content creation, gaming, and entertainment, and reshaping where these industries are headed. In content creation, AI has sparked concerns about "whether it will replace creators" and reflections on the essence of creation itself. In gaming and entertainment, AI creates new possibilities for player experiences, interaction models, and game development paradigms. This episode of 5Y Tavern gathered multiple founders and industry leaders in AI content creation, gaming, and entertainment. They shared their experiences, reflections, and insights on "How AI is reshaping content, gaming, and entertainment" — we hope you find it helpful. Read more
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