Six AI tigers
| Formation | 2023–2024 (industry designation) |
|---|---|
| Type | Unicorn startups |
| Legal status | Active |
| Purpose | Artificial intelligence development |
Region | China |
| Products | Large language models, Generative AI |
Key people |
|
The Six AI Tigers (Chinese: 大模型六小虎; pinyin: Dà móxíng liù xiǎohǔ; lit. 'Six Little Tigers of Large Models') is a collective designation for six China-based artificial intelligence startup companies established or rising to prominence between 2021 and 2024.[1] The group consists of Zhipu AI, Moonshot AI, MiniMax, Baichuan AI, 01.AI, and StepFun.[2]
The term is modeled after the Four Asian Tigers and refers to these companies' status as the leading domestic challengers to global AI firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic. All six companies reached "unicorn" status (valuations exceeding US$1 billion) by early 2024, backed by significant investments from Chinese tech giants including Alibaba Group, Tencent, Meituan, and Xiaomi.[3]
Members
| Company | Headquarters | Notable Founder(s) | Major Models/Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhipu AI | Beijing | Tang Jie, Zhang Peng | GLM-4, ChatGLM, AutoGLM |
| Moonshot AI | Beijing | Yang Zhilin | Kimi (chatbot) |
| MiniMax | Shanghai | Yan Junjie | abab series, Hailuo AI, Talkie |
| Baichuan AI | Beijing | Wang Xiaochuan | Baichuan-4, Baixiaoying |
| 01.AI | Beijing | Kai-Fu Lee | Yi series (Yi-Large, Yi-Lightning) |
| StepFun | Shanghai | Jiang Daxin | Step series |
History and context
The emergence of the six AI tigers followed a period of intense development in the China AI sector often referred to as the "War of a Hundred Models" (Chinese: 百模大战).[1] Unlike established tech giants like Baidu or ByteDance, these startups were founded or pivoted specifically to develop large language models (LLMs) and generative AI.
By 2025, several members of the group began diverging in strategy. While Zhipu AI and MiniMax pursued public listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, others like Moonshot AI focused on specific consumer applications or remained private with significant cash reserves.[5][6]
Funding and valuation
The group has attracted capital from both private venture capital and state-backed industrial funds. By mid-2024, the combined valuation of the companies was estimated to exceed RMB 100 billion.[2] Key investors across the group include:
- Cloud Providers: Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud, providing both capital and compute resources.
- Venture Capital: HongShan (formerly Sequoia China), IDG Capital, and Sinovation Ventures.
- Government Funds: Hangzhou City Investment Industry Fund and various Shanghai state-owned assets.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b Liu, Peilin (6 January 2025). "Cover Story: Chinese AI Startups Make Gains in Challenge to U.S.-based OpenAI". Caixin Global. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Two of China's "AI tigers" abandon pre-trained models to pursue app-driven growth". KrASIA. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b Liao, Rita (3 March 2025). "Chinese AI startup Zhipu secures over $140 million in new strategic funding". TechNode. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "China's (literal) AI race". Caro Robson. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Lv, Qian (8 January 2026). "Zhipu AI Soars in Hong Kong Stock Market Debut as Chinese Startup Becomes World's First LLM Firm to Go Public". Yicai Global. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Liu, Peilin (1 January 2026). "Moonshot AI Rules Out Quick IPO After Raising $500 Million". Caixin Global. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
External links
- China's Six AI Tigers: Who They Are and What They Do, Growth Dragons Substack, Alvin Chow