Alibaba Group Holding is making waves in China’s AI scene, transforming the landscape by harnessing technology to drive innovation and support former employees in launching their own ventures. Take Misa Zhu Mingming, for instance. He’s a former Alibaba engineer who founded Rokid back in 2014. With the backing of Vision Plus Capital, co-founded by Eddie Wu Yongming before he became Alibaba’s CEO in 2023, Rokid has emerged as a key player in Hangzhou’s tech sector. Their AI-driven augmented reality glasses are gaining traction both on social media and in the stock market.
Rokid is now known as the “seventh little dragon” of Hangzhou, joining the ranks of other exciting start-ups like DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics. Zhu credits his time at Alibaba for filling crucial knowledge gaps. “I filled most of my knowledge gaps during my four years as an engineer at Alibaba,” he says, pointing out the comprehensive skills he picked up, including marketing, operations, and finance.
Zhu’s journey is a testament to how Alibaba is nurturing China’s AI sector, particularly through its alumni network in Hangzhou. By late 2024, 85 AI start-ups had been launched by former Alibaba staff, with nearly half of them based in Hangzhou, according to ITJuzi. While Alibaba’s core revenue still comes from e-commerce giants like Taobao and Tmall, the company—founded by Jack Ma in 1999 and headquartered in Hangzhou—is increasingly recognized for promoting entrepreneurship through its AI initiatives.
DeepSeek, led by Liang Wenfeng, is noteworthy for its cost-effective, high-performance models. However, it faces some challenges in educating users due to its research-heavy approach. Alibaba’s ecosystem is clearly transformative, positioning the company as a key player in advancing technology in China.
For those interested in the intersection of AI and entrepreneurship, Alibaba’s journey offers valuable insights. It’s a fascinating example of how a company can leverage its resources and network to foster innovation and support its former employees in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
