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§ Public · Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong
SenseTime is a technology company.
SenseTime develops and deploys a broad portfolio of artificial intelligence software across various industry verticals. The company focuses on foundational AI research in areas such as computer vision, natural language processing, decision intelligence, and generative AI, translating these into practical solutions. Its core offerings include SenseCore AI Cloud, intelligent automotive platforms, smart city management systems, and a range of AI-powered applications for enterprise and consumer sectors.
The company was co-founded in 2014 by Professor Tang Xiao’ou, Dr. Xu Li, Dr. Wang Xiaogang, and Dr. Lin Dahua. SenseTime emerged from Professor Tang Xiao’ou’s extensive research at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, driven by the insight to commercialize advanced deep learning and computer vision technologies. This strong academic heritage provided a robust foundation for developing scalable and innovative AI solutions.
SenseTime’s products serve a diverse customer base spanning smart business, smart city, smart life (including healthcare and education), and smart auto sectors. The company’s long-term vision is to advance the state of artificial intelligence, creating a better, AI-empowered future by continuously innovating and deploying its technologies ethically and responsibly across a wide array of applications and global markets.
SenseTime has raised $1.1B across 3 funding rounds.
Key people at SenseTime.
SenseTime was founded in 2014 by Xiaogang Wang (Co-founder and Chief Scientist) and Bing Xu (Co-founder) and Tang Xiao'ou Xu Li) (Co-Founder) and Li Xu (Co-founder and CEO).
SenseTime has raised $1.1B in total across 3 funding rounds.
SenseTime is a leading artificial intelligence software company specializing in computer vision, generative AI, and autonomous driving technologies, serving over 660 customers across industries like security, healthcare, finance, smart cities, and retail.[2][4] Headquartered in Hong Kong and partly state-owned, it develops facial recognition, object detection, medical image analysis, video analysis, and remote sensing solutions, powering applications from criminal tracking to traffic management and ride-hailing safety.[1][3] With strong growth momentum, SenseTime reported 36% revenue growth to RMB 2.4 billion in the first half of 2025, driven by 73% generative AI revenue increase and narrowed losses, while maintaining RMB 13.2 billion in cash reserves and top market share in China's computer vision for nine years.[2][4]
SenseTime emerged as an academic project in China around 2014, rapidly scaling to become the world's most valuable AI startup by 2018 with a $4.5 billion valuation.[1] Founded by AI researchers from institutions like the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Peking University, it leveraged breakthroughs in machine vision and deep learning to attract partners such as MIT, Qualcomm, Alibaba, and Honda within four years.[1] Key early traction came from deploying technologies in security (e.g., SenseTotem and SenseFace for police video analysis) and consumer apps like Meitu, while aligning with China's Made in China 2025 initiative for economic autonomy.[1][3] It went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2021 (Stock Code: 0020) despite U.S. sanctions over alleged surveillance uses.[3]
SenseTime rides the global AI surge, particularly in computer vision and multimodal generative models, fueling China's push for tech self-reliance via Made in China 2025 amid U.S.-China tensions.[1] Its timing aligns with explosive demand for AI in smart cities, security, healthcare, and autonomous systems, where it powers public safety (e.g., drowsy driver detection, traffic incident alerts) and influences ecosystems through 700+ clients.[1][2] As the largest algorithm provider in China and fifth-largest AI platform, it shapes industry standards, drives intelligent transformation, and sets benchmarks in responsible AI with decarbonization goals (carbon peak by 2025, neutrality by 2030).[1][5] U.S. sanctions since 2019 highlight geopolitical frictions over surveillance tech, yet it expands internationally via hubs like Singapore.[3]
SenseTime's trajectory points to AGI advancement via SenseCore and large models, with "Re-CoFound" restructuring fostering entrepreneurial teams for "1" (core AI) and "X" (innovative) businesses to boost vitality and market appeal.[2][6] Trends like multimodal AI integration, overseas expansion (growing pipelines), and sustainability (net-zero by 2050) will propel it, potentially solidifying global leadership despite sanctions if it navigates ethics and geopolitics.[2][5] Its evolution from academic roots to revenue powerhouse underscores AI's power to redefine industries, positioning SenseTime to empower greener, smarter futures.
Key people at SenseTime.
SenseTime has raised $1.1B across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $70.4M Pre-Series A in November 2025.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 2018 | Terminus Technologies | $172.8M Series B | China Everbright, IDG Capital, SenseTime | — |
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2025 | $70.4M Seed Plus | — | — | Announced |
| May 1, 2018 | $620M Series C | Joseph Tsai | 5Y Capital, Qualcomm, Suning, Temasek | Announced |
| Dec 11, 2017 | $410M Series B | — | CDH Investments, China Everbright, China Renaissance, CICC Capital, Sailing Capital | Announced |
SenseTime was founded in 2014 by Xiaogang Wang (Co-founder and Chief Scientist) and Bing Xu (Co-founder) and Tang Xiao'ou Xu Li) (Co-Founder) and Li Xu (Co-founder and CEO).
SenseTime has raised $1.1B in total across 3 funding rounds.
SenseTime's investors include Joseph Tsai, 5Y Capital, Qualcomm, Suning, Temasek, CDH Investments, China Everbright, China Renaissance, CICC Capital, Sailing Capital.