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从大厂离职创业做硬件,真值那么多钱?
暗涌Waves· 2025-09-16 05:31
Core Insights - The investment landscape for AI hardware is being reshaped by founders from major tech companies, with nearly 70% of AI hardware entrepreneurs coming from firms like Xiaomi, DJI, and others [2][3] - In the first half of 2025, there were 114 financing events related to embodied intelligence and AI hardware, totaling over 14.5 billion yuan, compared to only 92 events and 9.8 billion yuan in 2024 [2] - The trend of former executives from large companies starting their own ventures in AI hardware is intensifying, with 13 former executives choosing to start businesses in 2024, five of whom focused on AI hardware [2] Investment Trends - High-profile financing cases are often linked to the "halo effect" of large companies, with examples like Guangfan Technology and Looki achieving significant funding due to their founders' backgrounds [3] - The valuation premium for founders from large companies has increased by 2-3 times compared to the previous year, with early-stage valuations for similar profiles rising from under 10 million USD to nearly 30 million USD [5][6] - Some founders, like Xiaomi's former VP Ma Ji, are seeing valuations approach 100 million USD, a significant increase from previous years [6] Market Dynamics - Investors are increasingly focused on the "people" aspect in early-stage AI hardware investments, as many projects lack fully developed products [8] - The growth curve for hardware companies is steep, requiring a long ramp-up period, which makes early-stage funding crucial for survival and development [10] - The market is characterized by a mix of emotional valuation and future certainty, with many investors willing to pay higher prices based on the potential of the founders rather than traditional financial metrics [8][21] Founder Attributes - Founders from large companies are valued for their ability to scale production and their experience in bringing products to market [11][12] - Successful examples include companies like Havivi, where the founder's experience in mass production led to rapid sales growth [12][13] - The ideal founder profile includes those with 0 to 1 entrepreneurial experience or those who have held high-level positions in large firms, as they understand the complete business cycle [14][15] Future Outlook - The market for embodied AI is projected to reach 23 billion USD by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 39% [23] - The transition from traditional hardware to embodied intelligence represents a significant evolution in the industry, with hardware serving as a gateway to more advanced AI applications [23] - Despite the current enthusiasm, the AI hardware sector is still in its infancy, with challenges in technology and market acceptance that need to be addressed before reaching maturity [24][26]