February: Returning to Our Imagination of the World | 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 on funding, IPOs, strategic partnerships, breakthroughs, and new product launches from 5Y portfolio companies.
02 5Y Capital Updates
News on awards, investor interviews, and thought leadership.
Note: Companies are listed in alphabetical order by pinyin.
01
Portfolio Company Highlights
PAM2L Biotechnologies Closes Pre-A Round of Over RMB 100 Million
PAM2L Biotechnologies, an innovative biomaterials R&D and application company, today announced it has completed a Pre-A round of over RMB 100 million, co-led by Voyong Fund, Yunqi Capital, and GRC, with Cornerstone Capital and Yael Capital participating. Following this round, PAM2L will further strengthen its R&D platform upgrades and production capacity expansion. Founded in March 2021 by Dr. Chao Zhong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and his university classmate Junfeng Cui, the company leverages synthetic biology and machine learning (BT-IT) as dual core drivers for bio-based materials and product development. Read more
Horizon Robotics and GAC Enter Strategic Partnership
On January 17, Horizon Robotics and premium intelligent EV brand GAC Aion signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement in Guangzhou. Under the agreement, Aion will develop industry-leading intelligent products based on Horizon's Journey series chips, focusing on intelligent driving and smart cockpit interaction platforms, to deliver users "smarter companionship." Aion models equipped with Journey 2 chips are already in mass production; the two parties are now exploring cooperation across the full Journey series, including Journey 5. Read more
Deepexi Partners with Pudo Credit
In January, Pudo Credit and Deepexi entered into deep cooperation. The two sides will build out infrastructure for data collection, integration, and application, enhancing data warehouse service capabilities. For deeper data application needs such as data processing, they will establish data standards and improve data quality, providing indicator data services through an indicator management platform to enable data visualization at the application layer and drive business value. Read more
Moore Threads and 21Vianet NET Enter Strategic Partnership
On January 10, Moore Threads and 21Vianet NET, a wholly-owned sub-brand of 21Vianet and full-service managed cloud provider, signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement in Beijing. Jianzhong Zhang, founder and CEO of Moore Threads, and Sheng Chen, founder of 21Vianet and executive chairman of 21Vianet NET, attended the signing ceremony. Going forward, the two sides will follow "dual carbon" goals as their guiding principle and technological innovation as their driving force, leveraging their respective strengths in technology innovation, ecosystem, and industrial resources to build advanced IDC infrastructure supported by intelligent computing power for the metaverse and next-generation internet, boldly pioneering new opportunities. Read more
Qingtian Truck and Windrose Technology Enter Strategic Partnership
Windrose Technology, a rising player in new energy heavy-duty trucks, and Qingtian Truck, a pioneer in L4 autonomous heavy-duty trucking solutions, formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Hefei, Anhui. Qingtian Truck has been selected by Windrose as a designated supplier and will provide a "one-stop mass-production autonomous driving solution" for Windrose's new energy heavy-duty truck models, covering all vehicle classes from L2, L2++, L3, and L4. The two sides will collaborate deeply on heavy-duty truck intelligent driving technology, commercialization services and applications, and new energy intelligent heavy-duty truck R&D, jointly advancing the application and deployment of new energy intelligent heavy-duty trucks in China. The first batch of vehicles is planned for mass production in 2024. Read more
PingCAP Establishes Research Collaboration with University of Wisconsin-Madison
On January 4, PingCAP, an enterprise-grade open-source distributed database company, announced a research collaboration with the renowned American public university University of Wisconsin-Madison. PingCAP will work with Professor Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, chair of the university's Department of Computer, Data & Information Sciences, on intelligent multi-level cache management in key-value storage systems and automatic runtime health tuning, exploring how to ensure complex systems maintain optimal performance over extended periods.
Shukun Technology and Eastern Theater Command General Hospital Establish Joint Digital Human Heart-Brain AI Strategic Cooperation Lab
On January 13, Shukun Technology and the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command General Hospital announced the signing and establishment of a Digital Human Heart-Brain AI Strategic Cooperation Lab. Building on their previous collaboration to create the nation's largest CT-FFR multi-center study, this partnership will advance cardiovascular and cerebrovascular imaging technology R&D and application into a new phase of digital development, promoting smart discipline construction and high-quality hospital development. The two sides will leverage the lab for close industry-university-research-application collaboration, not only setting a new industry benchmark for deep medical-engineering integration but also greatly driving disciplinary development and scientific innovation in "cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease + AI," radiating breakthroughs in heart-brain AI applications across the entire industry from the lab as a central node, and providing innovative solutions for clinical diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Read more
Pony.ai and Horizon Robotics Enter Strategic Partnership
On January 9, Pony.ai announced a comprehensive strategic partnership with Horizon Robotics, a provider of intelligent driving computing solutions. Based on its self-developed integrated driving-parking intelligent driving algorithms and Horizon's Journey series of in-vehicle intelligent chips, Pony.ai will develop mass-production-grade intelligent driving solutions that combine high performance with cost-effectiveness, driving large-scale pre-installed application of autonomous driving technology achievements and facilitating intelligent upgrading in the automotive industry. Read more
Xpeng Motors' AeroHT Unit Announces China's First Special Flight Certificate
On January 30, Xpeng AeroHT announced that its fully self-developed X2 air vehicle has officially received a special flight certificate from the Central and Southern Regional Administration of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, becoming the first manned eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) product in China to apply for and successfully obtain such certification. Xpeng AeroHT stated that the administration conducted its certification of the X2 under relevant provisions of the CCAR-21 Certification Regulations for Civil Aviation Products and Parts, recognizing that the X2 can safely conduct flight activities under special conditions, and issued the special flight certificate. Read more
WeDoctor and AstraZeneca Launch Evusheld Hong Kong Injection Booking
On January 16, WeDoctor became among the first in mainland China to launch booking for AstraZeneca's Evusheld, a long-acting antibody combination for COVID-19, for administration in Hong Kong, offering a new prevention option for immunocompromised individuals, those with weakened immunity, frequent business travelers, and others at higher risk of reinfection. Users can book online through the WeDoctor mini-program on WeChat or the WeDoctor app, and upon successful booking travel to Hong Kong independently to receive Evusheld at WeDoctor partner medical institutions. The first designated partner institution, Hong Kong Maxima Medical Center, has begun offering this service. Read more
Unknown and Peking University Cancer Hospital Collaborate on First Use of Healthy Donor FMT Capsules to Reverse Gastric Cancer PD-1 Antibody Resistance
Fecal Microbiome Transplantation (FMT) to reverse anti-PD-1 resistance was first published in the top journal Science in 2021. Two separate teams transplanted gut microbiota from melanoma patients who responded to anti-PD-1 therapy into melanoma patients resistant to anti-PD-1 treatment, finding that FMT could restore response to anti-PD-1 therapy in resistant patients. Now, research from Peking University Cancer Hospital in collaboration with Shenzhen Unknown Technology Co., Ltd. ("Unknown") has found that FMT may also reverse anti-PD-1 resistance in gastric cancer patients. This research was accepted by the field's top academic conference, the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GI), and first publicly presented in abstract form on January 19, 2023, U.S. local time. The FMT capsules using specially selected healthy donors were provided by Unknown. Read more
02
5Y Capital Updates
5Y Capital Wins Multiple Awards from CVCRI, Rongzhong, and Qimingpian
On January 10, the CVCRI 2022 China Venture Capital Industry Annual List — Golden Investment Awards — Year-End List was unveiled. The list comprehensively evaluates fundraising, investment, portfolio management, exits, and overall influence, recognizing investment institutions with outstanding achievements and contributions in China's venture capital industry over the past year, as well as those creating social value. 5Y Capital was named to the 2022 China Most Influential VC Investment Institutions TOP50, and Qin Liu, founding partner of 5Y Capital, was named to the 2022 China Most Influential VC Investors TOP50. Read more
In January, Rongzhong released its 2022 China Equity Investment Rankings. 5Y Capital was named to Rongzhong 2022 China Top 30 Venture Capital Institutions, and 5Y portfolio companies Horizon Robotics, HAI ROBOTICS, Silicon Integrated, and Sensors Data were named to Rongzhong 2022 Top 30 New Economy Companies Most Followed by PE Institutions. Read more
In January, Qimingpian released its China Equity Investment Annual Rankings, compiled through rigorous research methods including data capture, survey research, and data validation, aiming to comprehensively reflect the state of China's equity investment market. 5Y Capital was named to the 2022 China Best Venture Capital Institutions Comprehensive List TOP10, 2022 China Best Venture Capital Institutions Active List TOP10, 2022 China Best AI Sector Investment Institutions TOP20, and 2022 China Best Metaverse Sector Investment Institutions TOP20. Read more
A New Cycle in the Making | 5Y Annual Sharing
At the 2022 5Y Capital Partner Meeting, Qin Liu, founding partner of 5Y Capital, delivered a speech titled "A New Cycle in the Making." The past year left many with doubts and confusion about the market, but a cyclical perspective can help us understand the present more clearly.
Technological innovation plays a crucial role in cycle transitions. Looking at the four key elements of technological innovation — scientific knowledge, engineering, business models, and capital market validation — China's entire innovation ecosystem shows an unstoppable trajectory of development. The growth of the last cycle is no longer sustainable, while in the next cycle, innovative companies are springing up and growing rapidly. China's technology talent dividend and entrepreneurs are the sources of our confidence. Read more
Finding True Non-Consensus: Time as a Moat | 5Y Capital Partner Meeting Recap
The past year was unforgettable for everyone, but entrepreneurs faced even more changes. Now entering a new beginning, how should entrepreneurs grow, evolve, and narrow the boundaries of uncertainty?
At the 5Y Capital Partner Meeting, founders from portfolio companies across artificial intelligence, ITBT, robotics, enterprise services, consumer, and other sectors engaged in conversations with 5Y investors. They shared their entrepreneurial journeys, personal growth, and insights on industries and society. We've excerpted some of these conversations, hoping they offer you inspiration. Read more
2023 Spring Supersonic Plan Recruitment Opens: Stay True to Your Mission, Grow Against the Tide
Over the past year, the Supersonic Plan jointly launched by Agora and 5Y Capital provided comprehensive support to over 40 real-time interaction entrepreneurs and companies, including 104 one-on-one VC consultations and technical product coaching sessions, and 142 business demand, government resource, and media connection services. In 2023, we continue to accompany you on the entrepreneurial journey — the Spring 2023 Supersonic Plan recruitment is now officially open! We welcome real-time interaction entrepreneurs to join. Read more
Medicine Is the Science of Uncertainty, and the Art of Possibility | 5Y Talk x MedSci Founder Xuguang Ma
How do we understand disease? How do we understand medicine? Xuguang Ma, founder of MedSci Healthcare, shared his perspective — drugs are part of treatment, treatment is part of disease, disease is part of the person, and the person is part of society. When we view medicine and drugs through this broader lens, we better understand the value of MedSci's medical, pharmaceutical, and health insurance ecosystem.
In this edition of 5Y Talk, Xutian Jing, managing director at 5Y Capital, spoke with Xuguang Ma, chairman of the board, executive director, and CEO of MedSci Healthcare. They discussed the pivotal choices in MedSci's eight-year journey, the unique nature of the healthcare sector, and MedSci's mission. Read more
2023: Meet Vast Possibilities at the 5Y Tavern | Year in Review
At the start of 2022, we launched 5Y Tavern, attempting to see and record another side of entrepreneurs from a new perspective. Over the past year, 5Y Tavern produced 9 episodes, capturing moments from 15 entrepreneurs and 9 investors. Measured against the richness and complexity of what entrepreneurs experience, what a single column can capture in a year is arguably negligible. But we can never predict the value of a moment captured, just as we can never truly predict how much potential an entrepreneur might hold.
We've organized 5Y Tavern's content from the past year. Some pieces run a bit long, or aren't the easiest reads, but you'll see different facets of entrepreneurs. Language is impoverished compared to the complexity of the world, but we all strive to create more possibility. Read more
5Y Capital seeks out, supports, and inspires lone entrepreneurs, providing support from the spiritual to the operational. We believe that if the "crazy" you in others' eyes begins to be believed in, the world will become a different place.
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