Vertilite closes new funding round worth hundreds of millions of RMB, solidifying its position in the top tier of VCSEL laser chip makers globally

Changzhou Zonghui Core Optoelectronics Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Zonghui"), an industry-leading laser chip company, recently completed the first close of its Series C4 funding round, raising several hundred million RMB. The round was led by China Development Bank Manufacturing Transformation and Upgrading Fund, with participation from LianDong FengYe, Suzhou Yongxin, and Hainan Xinhe. Gaorong Ventures participated in Zonghui's Series B round in 2018 and has continued to invest in subsequent rounds.

The proceeds will accelerate Zonghui's product R&D and optical communications production line buildout.

Solidifying Technical Strength and Product Advantages; Market Share Ranks Among Global Leaders

With the rapid development of 3D sensing, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and other fields, market demand for high-performance, high-reliability, high-speed VCSEL laser chips has surged. As a leading player in the industry, Zonghui has a comprehensive product portfolio spanning consumer electronics, automotive electronics, optical communications, and RF epitaxy. Leveraging its outstanding technical capabilities and product strengths, the company continues to provide domestic and international customers with premium VCSEL laser chips and modules, epitaxy products, and technical solutions.

As a Chinese本土 company, Zonghui ranks in the global first tier of the VCSEL laser chip industry, with its team, technology, and management earning recognition from multiple leading investment institutions and industry players.

In the consumer electronics sector, Zonghui holds the top domestic market share and ranks among the global leaders. Its products, known for leading performance and exceptional reliability, are widely adopted by top-tier smartphone brands. Zonghui has also expanded into additional VCSEL consumer applications, with its robotic vacuum, drone, and AR/VR businesses all holding leading global market positions.

In automotive electronics, Zonghui is collaborating with multiple domestic and international first-tier LiDAR manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, and OEMs to develop semi-solid-state and pure solid-state LiDAR solutions. Additionally, as a core component of sensing systems, VCSEL chips are widely used in automotive infrared night vision, driver monitoring systems (DMS), and occupant monitoring systems (OMS) — all of which Zonghui has already achieved mass production and shipment for. Zonghui's VCSEL products were the first globally to obtain third-party AEC-Q102 automotive certification in 2020, and the company passed IATF 16949 certification in early 2021. Currently, its core VCSEL products have achieved front-loading mass production in vehicles, with market share ranking among the top two globally.

In optical communications, Zonghui achieved sales of 50G PAM4 VCSEL chips in 2023. Its current 100G PAM4 VCSEL sample specifications are aligned with international leading manufacturers, with spectral width metrics that outperform them — enabling longer-distance signal transmission. The company expects to complete product validation by year-end and begin mass production in 2025 to meet rapidly growing AI market demand.

Breaking Into High-End Optical Communications Chips to Create New Growth Engines

Xiaochi Chen, General Manager of Zonghui, stated: "Since its founding, Zonghui has demonstrated remarkable technical strength and market expansion capabilities. The team brings extensive experience in technology R&D and product development, is customer-centric, and responds quickly to market demands — launching internationally competitive products. We shipped our first 100 million chips in seven years, and our second 100 million in just seven months. This first close of our Series C4 round, with the backing of a national flagship fund and optical communications industry-focused funds, further strengthens our confidence and resolve to build Zonghui into an internationally competitive optoelectronics chip company."

Over the next three years, Zonghui will continue to solidify its foundation in consumer and automotive electronics while concentrating resources to break into the high-end optical communications chip sector, making optical communications a new growth engine for the business.