HEAD OF THE DAY
🧠 The quiet high flyer of China’s tech scene
As a teenager Chen Tianshi and his brother were accepted into the elite program of the University of Science and Technology. While others studied for exams, the two were building early prototypes of AI chips in a lab that looked more like a storage room.
Headwind instead of a head start
Despite impressive research, their idea was dismissed for years.
An application for 200.000 RMB in funding was rejected
Colleagues called their vision “fantasy”
The technology was simply far ahead of its time
Chen’s net worth is about 23 billion USD according to Forbes. He owns roughly 30% of Cambricon and is seen as one of the most visible figures of a new generation of Chinese chip makers.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
