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Xingshi (Ningbo) Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Xingshi Technology") recently completed consecutive angel+ and angel++ funding rounds, with cumulative financing reaching tens of millions of RMB. The two rounds were led by Gaofeng Patient Capital, affiliated with Professor Ping Ko, and BlueRun Ventures, with Pine VC as co-investor. Existing shareholders Clear Water Bay Phase II Fund and MiraclePlus continued to increase their stakes. The proceeds will be mainly used for R&D of core intelligent imaging technologies, development of new product matrices and iterative optimization of product experience, as well as building out production systems and supply chain capabilities. Previously, the company had received seed and angel round investments from Ningbo Institute of Intelligent Technology, affiliated with Professor Zexiang Li, Clear Water Bay Phase II Fund, and MiraclePlus.

Xingshi Technology is a company focused on intelligent imaging technology R&D and hardware manufacturing, targeting long-distance observation scenarios as its entry point. It previously launched the Vizta smart telescope with integrated AI features, which has raised several million RMB through crowdfunding on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The telescope market, long dominated by traditional optical giants, is being pried open by a new generation of entrepreneurs with consumer-grade intelligent products. Xingshi Technology cleverly uses structural design and AI algorithm innovations to turn smartphones into smart telescopes, achieving low-cost, efficient integration of long-distance observation and photography. AI features further lower the operational barrier and enrich the product's playability and fun factor. This software-hardware fusion innovation addresses the needs of hundreds of millions of long-distance observation users globally. According to the Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis report released by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in November 2024, approximately 96 million people participate in birdwatching annually in the United States alone, with outdoor birdwatchers averaging 34 days per year. As the outdoor sports wave sweeps the globe, the population with long-distance observation and photography needs — including birdwatching and stargazing — is growing rapidly.

"Among them, many are not professional industry users, but rather ordinary consumers for whom long-distance observation is a hobby and who pursue the experience of 'seeing farther,'" said Zhixin Xie, founder and CEO of Xingshi Technology. "Beyond astronomical observation and wildlife photography, they also use telescopes and long-zoom imaging equipment for outdoor sports, concert fandom, and landscape and portrait photography."

Xingshi Technology's first product, the Vizta smart telescope, stands out as somewhat "alternative" compared to most products on the market. First, it subtracts from the typical hardware form factor: no built-in screen, battery, or processor — just a pure, lightweight optical telephoto lens that works with smartphones, compatible with most models currently on sale.

Light enough to slip into a pocket and carry anywhere (Source: Company)

The product weighs only 290 grams — about half a bottle of mineral water — and can easily fit in a pocket for portable carry. Users can capture stylized, high-quality imaging content without learning complex parameters or post-processing, solving the pain points of traditional "big gun" equipment that's expensive, bulky, and cumbersome. With an AI assistant built in, it creates an entirely new photography interaction experience, allowing ordinary smartphones to output professional-grade telephoto images.

Currently, the Vizta smart telescope has been sold to multiple countries and regions, targeting consumer-grade imaging enthusiasts and covering diverse scenarios including birdwatching, astrophotography, outdoor sports recording, concerts, and landscape and portrait photography, extending to students and families as entry-level users. Zhixin Xie told Hard Kraken that this product has considerable gross margin space and has achieved positive cash flow — uncommon among early-stage consumer hardware companies.

"We chose to first run through the loop with a small, beautiful single product. It helps us get real user feedback while generating cash flow. Self-sustaining is the top priority; financing is for amplifying what's already validated," Xie said.

Building on the massive user data accumulated from its first product and validation of the long-distance imaging market, Xingshi Technology is now developing a new standalone imaging device that shifts focus from tool to AI experience, embedding the image production workflow into users' creative ecosystems.

Vizta smart telescope (Source: Company)

On one side, professional equipment growth is slowing and struggling to break out of niche markets. On the other, general users' demands continue to expand from "being able to shoot" to "shooting well" to "shooting meaningfully." "To satisfy this leap, devices need the ability to understand environments and spaces, and proactively offer suggestions," Xie said. "It's not about piling up technical specs one by one, but the most direct response to users' real needs and long-term industry pain points."

Based on this judgment, Xingshi Technology has chosen a differentiated, gradual path. Rather than rushing to build a "big and comprehensive" all-in-one machine, it first uses a small, beautiful single product to run through the complete closed loop from user insight, product definition, mass production and delivery, to positive cash flow, accumulating real user data and scenario understanding in this process, then gradually iterating toward more advanced standalone intelligent terminals.

Vizta smart telescope (Source: Company)

Currently, the long-zoom observation track is undergoing a paradigm shift from professional tool to mass consumer product. Traditional optical giants defend the high-end market through brand and channel barriers, while emerging startups切入 from different angles of form factor, interaction, and AI capabilities, committed to truly solving the core demand of entry-level users for "pick up and play, and actually have fun."

From simplifying form factors and lowering barriers, to activating ordinary users' creativity and exploration through AI interaction and professional imaging capabilities, the industry is moving beyond the parameter-stacking, professional-spec arms race toward truly mass-market appeal: "easy to carry, easy to use, fun to play with." Behind this lies the user leap from "being able to shoot" to "shooting well" to "shooting meaningfully" — precisely the opportunity Xingshi Technology hopes to capture in the next phase of intelligent imaging.

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