DEMO CHINA panel: AI lets startups go global from day one, say VCs and founders
创业邦 · wechat · 2026-10-13
At the 2026 DEMO CHINA conference in Hangzhou, Qiming Venture Partners' Shen Jin, former Xiaomi president Wang Xiang, Shihe Robotics' Pu Xiao and TOTWOO founder Wang Jieming debated how AI is rewriting globalization rules for Chinese companies.
Key points: Wang argued AI levels the playing field for SMEs by slashing information and market-entry costs, enabling globalization from day one. Shen noted AI is currently compute-bound, favoring infrastructure-heavy players, and suggested China 'export tokens' via open-source models while targeting the under-served US consumer market with AI toys, wearables and embodied products. Pu said Chinese product strength now leads globally — Shihe's high-altitude robots claim the world's largest shipments with no foreign benchmark needed. Wang shared concrete cases: AI-driven multi-country pricing and AI flagging that pearl accents hurt the brand in Western mid-to-high-end markets.
On cross-cultural teams, Wang stressed unifying company culture and respecting local social norms; Shen urged humility and deep local immersion. Both advised AI hardware founders to prioritize insight and leverage China's supply chain.
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