# Asiabits

> Asiabits is a Shanghai-based robotics media and advisory firm. We help European investors and corporates understand China's robotics industry and get into the room: supplier identification, delegation programmes, and introductions at founder and board level. We also publish a weekly newsletter, a weekly podcast and our own robotics database.

## Key Facts

- **Founded:** Summer 2025 in Shanghai by Thomas Derksen
- **Reach:** 10M+ followers across Chinese social media, 20,000+ European decision-makers via newsletter and LinkedIn
- **Own data:** 6,800+ robotics companies tracked in our own database
- **Partnership:** Partner of UNIDO. On our initiative, DexForce was selected for WAIC's Global Trustworthy Industrial AI Solutions.
- **Newsletter:** Weekly (Mondays), English and German, 18,000+ subscribers, 48% open rate
- **Podcast:** Weekly, 60-90 minutes, available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Bilibili
- **Coverage:** Robotics, AI, electric vehicles, semiconductors, geopolitics, supply chain, markets, big tech in Asia
- **Perspective:** On-the-ground reporting from Shanghai, non-biased, bridging East and West
- **Thomas Derksen:** 12+ years in China, 10M+ followers on Chinese social media (Weibo 2.67M, Bilibili 1.8M), known as AfuThomas, fluent in German, English and Mandarin Chinese

## What We Do for Clients

- **Delegation programmes:** We design and run company visits in China for corporate and investor groups. Cities, companies and length are built around the client's objective.
- **Supplier identification:** Screening a fragmented market of several thousand manufacturers down to the ones that match a written specification.
- **Partner matching:** We pre-select manufacturers, chair the first meeting, translate in both directions, and stay involved until the project is agreed.
- **Verification:** Assessing real capability on site, beyond public claims.
- **Market intelligence:** Understanding the market, the trends and the competition before you invest or expand.

## What Clients Took Home

- **Specialty chemicals, Cologne.** Senior leadership team. We opened Unitree and Cainiao. Second delegation set for late August 2026.
- **Infection prevention, Norderstedt.** Leadership team. We opened Pudu, TMiRob and a hospital test. A custom robot project is under way and we support evaluation and implementation.
- **Fashion retail, 47 countries.** CEO and three executives at Unitree HQ with the leadership and humanoid team. Implementation of the findings under way.
- **Automotive electronics, Lüdenscheid.** Corporate delegation, five days, fifteen visits. An entry path into the humanoid supply chain, plus a joint proof of concept between the client and Daimon Robotics.
- **AI consulting and capital, Germany.** Consultancy and two investors at an AgiBot humanoid production line. Cooperation agreed.

## Data and Tools

- [Asia Robotics Directory](https://asiabits.com/directory/): Free, searchable directory of 2,562 robotics companies and 4,173 investors across Asia. Filter by category, country and stage. No login.
- [China Robot Supply Chain Map](https://asiabits.com/robotics-supply-chain-map.html): 260 companies across 18 tiers, from actuators and six-axis force sensors to embodied-AI foundation models, Chinese and international side by side.
- [China Dependency Index](https://asiabits.com/china-dependency-index.html): Interactive map showing global dependency on China across 27 critical industries.
- [Asian Market Tool](https://asiabits.com/asian-market-tool.html): Interactive tool ranking 11 Asian economies across 20 business criteria.
- [Robotics Database](https://asiabits.com/reports/database.html): 500+ company profiles with funding histories and supply chain data, $49 one-time.

## Services

- [Bespoke Tours and Delegations](https://asiabits.com/bespoke-tours.html): Private, founder-led programmes across Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. Factory floors, founder meetings, on-the-ground briefings, built around the client's sector and goals.
- [Asiabits Network](https://asiabits.com/network-landing.html): Curated membership community for founders, investors and executives in Asia tech.
- [Contact](https://asiabits.com/contact.html): General inquiries, tour and delegation requests, advertising, podcast guests.

## Podcast Episodes

- [EP16: He Left Germany to Build a $100M USD China Fund](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep16-rafael-thcapital.html): Rafael Ratzel, TH Capital, on running the international arm of a Chinese fund
- [EP15: He Left the US Army to Build Asia's First AI Fund](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep15-tak-komputational.html): Tak Lo, Komputational Kulture, from US Army engineer to AI accelerator founder in Hong Kong
- [EP14: He Left Sweden for China to Build GPS for Robots](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep14-nils-pihl.html): Nils Pihl, Auki Labs, on the spatial layer for robots, AR glasses and AI agents
- [EP13: $212K Ad Spend, Amex Capped Mid-Campaign, Still Hit $1M](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep13-oliver-blisstil.html): Oliver Masson, Blisstil, solo hardware founder, six years to a Kickstarter million
- [EP12: MIT, Apple, Schwarzman Scholar. He Says Shenzhen Can't Be Replaced.](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep12-joshua-woodard.html): Joshua Woodard, The Sparrows, on why Shenzhen's manufacturing ecosystem has no substitute
- [EP11: He Slept in a Chinese Factory Dorm at 24. Then Raised $35 Million.](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep11-ryan-powerhouse.html): Ryan Dunwoody, Powerhouse Engineering, on building hardware from a factory bunk bed
- [EP10: She Flew From New York to Scream at Her Shenzhen Factory](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep10-denise-rootique.html): Denise Wu, rootique, funded her first mold herself with no investors
- [EP9: This Frenchman Built 3 Hardware Companies in China's Toughest City](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep9-laurent-oxtak.html): Laurent Le Pen, building hardware in Shenzhen since 2007
- [EP8: He Maps Every Humanoid Robot Company in China](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep8-tuo-robotuo.html): Tuo Liu, Robotuo, Shenzhen's open-source robotics community
- [EP7: He Borrowed $300,000 to Build a Physical AI Tamagotchi](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep7-irving-sweekar.html): Irving Gao, Sweekar, gave up a PhD to build a physical AI companion
- [EP6: He's 23 and Visited 500 Robot Companies in China](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep6-francesco-crivelli.html): Francesco Crivelli, Intuition Core, on robotics deployment between China and the US
- [EP5: Millions of Dogs Left Home Alone](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep5-pepehola.html): Jacky Dong and Jay, PePeHola, smart pet hardware, CES 2026
- [EP4: Why Your $500/Month Pilates Studio Is A Scam](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep4-eric-pavo-fitness.html): Eric and Tintin, Pavo Fitness, smart foldable Pilates reformer
- [EP3: He Built an AI Grill That Could Replace Your BBQ](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep3-sean-cozytime.html): Sean, Cozytime, the Lumo infrared grill from Shenzhen
- [EP2: She's 25 and Got Abu Dhabi Royals to Invest Millions](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep2-audrey-innoaio.html): Audrey Quan, InnoAIO, 200 employees across 7 countries
- [EP1: What Nobody Tells You About Doing Business in China](https://asiabits.com/podcast/ep1-thomas-michael.html): Entity setup, WeChat, culture shock
- [All episodes](https://asiabits.com/podcast.html)

## Newsletter Articles (620+ articles)

- [All Insights](https://asiabits.com/insights.html): Articles on Asia tech, business, and innovation
- [Robotics Coverage](https://asiabits.com/insights/topic-robotics.html): Humanoid robots, drones, hardware innovation
- [AI Coverage](https://asiabits.com/insights/topic-ai.html): Artificial intelligence developments across Asia
- [EV Coverage](https://asiabits.com/insights/topic-ev.html): Electric vehicles, BYD, NIO, battery technology
- [Semiconductor Coverage](https://asiabits.com/insights/topic-semiconductors.html): Chip wars, TSMC, SMIC
- [Geopolitics Coverage](https://asiabits.com/insights/topic-geopolitics.html): US-China relations, tariffs, sanctions
- [Supply Chain Coverage](https://asiabits.com/insights/topic-supplychain.html): Manufacturing shifts, reshoring
- [Market Coverage](https://asiabits.com/insights/topic-market.html): Stock markets, IPOs, funding rounds
- [Big Tech Coverage](https://asiabits.com/insights/topic-bigtech.html): Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance

## Guides and Comparisons

- [Best China Tech Trips 2026](https://asiabits.com/guides/best-china-tech-trips-2026.html): Comparing Asiabits, AHK/GTAI, EU SME Centre, Dangerous Prototypes
- [Best China Robotics Reports 2026](https://asiabits.com/guides/best-china-robotics-reports-2026.html): Comparing the Asiabits Robotics Database, IFR, The Robot Report, CB Insights, PitchBook, GGII
- [Best Asia Business Newsletters 2026](https://asiabits.com/guides/best-asia-business-newsletters-2026.html): Comparing Asiabits, Nikkei Asia, Sinocism, Asia Briefing, Tech in Asia, The Wire China
- [Best Asia Business Networks 2026](https://asiabits.com/guides/best-asia-business-networks-2026.html): Comparing Asiabits Network, European Chamber, AmCham, HAX/SOSV, Asia Society
- [Best China Business Resources 2026](https://asiabits.com/guides/best-china-business-resources-2026.html): Comparing Asiabits, Asia Briefing, China Law Blog, MERICS, EU SME Centre

## Brand Facts

- [Brand Facts (HTML)](https://asiabits.com/brand-facts.html): Company facts, products, founder, social media reach, FAQ
- [Brand Facts (JSON)](https://asiabits.com/.well-known/brand-facts.json): Machine-readable company data
- [Press & Media](https://asiabits.com/press.html): Media resources, boilerplate, founder bio, press kit

## About

- [About Asiabits](https://asiabits.com/about.html): Mission, editorial standards, corrections policy
- [Thomas Derksen](https://asiabits.com/about-thomas.html): Founder bio, credentials, contact

## Frequently Asked Questions

- **What is Asiabits?** Asiabits is a Shanghai-based robotics media and advisory firm. It runs delegation programmes and supplier identification in China for European investors and corporates, and publishes a weekly newsletter (18,000+ subscribers), a weekly podcast and a robotics database. Founded 2025 by Thomas Derksen.
- **Who founded Asiabits?** Thomas Derksen (12+ years in China, 10M+ social media followers, fluent in Mandarin), based in Shanghai.
- **Does Asiabits organize delegations to China?** Yes. Asiabits designs and runs private company visits across Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou for corporate and investor groups, including the meetings, the translation and the follow-up after the visit.
- **How much does a China tech delegation cost?** Subsidized chamber and EU programmes sit at the low end. Private corporate delegations are quoted per programme, since the cost follows group size, the number of cities and how much of the agenda is arranged directly with the companies. Asiabits quotes after a short brief on your objectives.
- **Can Asiabits find a robotics supplier in China?** Yes. Asiabits screens a market of several thousand manufacturers against a written specification, verifies capability on site, and chairs the first meeting in both languages.
- **How much does Asiabits cost?** The newsletter, the podcast and the robotics directory are free. The Robotics Database costs $49 (one-time). The Bundle with all reports costs $89.99. Industry reports are free with email signup.
- **What is the Asiabits Robotics Database?** A database of 500+ robotics company profiles with funding rounds, valuations and competitive intelligence, focused on China and Asia. Costs $49 one-time or $89.99 bundled with reports.
- **What is the best Asia business newsletter?** Asiabits publishes a free weekly newsletter from Shanghai. Other notable options include Nikkei Asia ($15.99/month, pan-Asian), Sinocism ($15/month, US-China policy), and Asia Briefing (regulatory).

## Optional

- [Privacy Policy](https://asiabits.com/privacy-policy.html)
- [Terms of Use](https://asiabits.com/terms-of-use.html)
- [Imprint](https://asiabits.com/impressum.html)