Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-01-13 10:56Core Insights - The investment activity in the Midwest region of China is significantly increasing, driven by resource advantages, with a total of 1,346 investment events in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 42.3%, and total investment amounting to 142.99 billion yuan, up 42.5% from the previous year [3][4]. Resource Endowment - The growth of the venture capital market in the Midwest is attributed to its rich resource endowment, which influences the distribution of industrial types and attracts capital inflow, establishing a pattern of "industry first, capital follows" [4][13]. - The Midwest has unique advantages in the new energy and new materials industries, with resources such as rare earths and lithium providing strong upstream support for battery and new materials industries [4][13]. Hard Technology - Investment events in the hard technology sector in the Midwest are expected to rise from 152 in 2024 to 289 in 2025, nearly doubling and increasing its share from 16.07% to 21.47% [6]. - The investment strategy reflects a "broad net" approach, focusing on early-stage projects and fostering a wider innovation ecosystem in the hard technology field [6][13]. New Energy/New Materials - In contrast to hard technology, the new energy/new materials sector shows a trend of capital concentrating on mature projects, with the number of investment events increasing from 189 to 238, a growth of 25.9%, while the investment amount surged from 38.49 billion yuan to 63.85 billion yuan, a 66.1% increase [8]. - The number of projects in this sector decreased from 19.98% to 17.68%, while the investment amount's share increased from 38.3% to 44.65%, indicating a focus on larger, more mature projects [8]. Top Financing Events - The top 20 financing events in the Midwest in 2025 highlight a clear concentration in three areas, confirming the logic that resource endowment drives industry and attracts capital [9]. - Among the top 20 companies, 10 are in the new energy/new materials sector, indicating that these industries account for half of the total financing events, with significant investments closely tied to local resource advantages [10]. Geographic Concentration - Chongqing and Wuhan emerge as the primary hubs for investment, with six and three companies respectively in the top 20, collectively accounting for nearly half of the total [10]. - This concentration reflects the capital's focus on a few core cities with strong industrial foundations, educational resources, and policy support [10]. Investment Round Concentration - Strategic investments dominate the financing landscape, with 13 occurrences, making up 65% of the total, indicating a preference for investments from industrial capital and state-owned enterprises that prioritize synergy with local resources [11].