Unicorn Companies in Chengdu in 2024
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is becoming a major spot for unicorn companies—startups valued at over $1 billion. This city, famous for its spicy food and rich culture, is now also known for its tech growth. It all began in 2017 when Xinchao Media Group became Chengdu’s first unicorn with a value of $1.5 billion. By 2024, the city is home to five unicorns: Medlinker, Xinchao Media, Xianshenghuo, Juma Peisong, and Fiture.
While Chengdu’s number of unicorns is smaller compared to Beijing or Shanghai, it’s growing quickly, ranking 8th in China’s startup scene. The city excels in areas like Foodtech, Transportation, and E-commerce, with about 15% of its startups in these industries. The local government supports this growth with projects like Unicorn Island and various helpful policies, making Chengdu a great place for new businesses.
Here are the Unicorn Companies in Chengdu leading the way in the city's exciting startup world.
Rundown
Serial Number |
Name |
Valuation |
Unicorn Milestone Date |
Industry |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Medlinker |
$3.92 |
07-31-2018 |
Healthcare & Life Sciences |
2 |
Xinchao Media |
$2 |
09-04-2018 |
Media & Entertainment |
3 |
ChaBaiDao |
$2.52 |
09-06-2023 |
Consumer & Retail |
4 |
Fresh Life Style Supply Chain Management |
$1.57 |
11-03-2022 |
Consumer & Retail |
5 |
Juma Peisong |
$1.45 |
11-26-2018 |
Industrials |
6 |
Fiture |
$1 |
04-14-2021 |
Healthcare & Life Sciences |
Unicorn Companies in Chengdu
Medlinker
- Valuation: $3.92B
- Industry: Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Investors: China Health Industry Investment Fund, China Renaissance, and Sequoia Capital China
- Unicorn Milestone Date: 7/31/2018
About
Medlinker one of the notable unicorn companies in Chengdu, is a Chinese health technology firm that operates an online medical community. Founded in 2014, Medlinker aims to make medical products and services more accessible to average Chinese consumers through web-based technology.
Target Audience
Medlinker primarily targets Chinese consumers seeking medical services and products. This includes patients, medical product and service providers, and insurance companies. The platform also engages with healthcare professionals, such as doctors and medical device sellers.
Business Model
Medlinker operates a virtual network of verified-identity doctors, connecting them with patients and medical product and service providers. The platform generates revenue by charging clients for various medical services and products. It also earns income from partnerships with medical companies and insurance providers.
Key Offerings
- Online Medical Community: Medlinker provides an online platform for patients to access medical services and products.
- Verified-Identity Doctors: The platform connects patients with verified doctors, enhancing trust and quality of care.
- Medical Products and Services: Medlinker offers a range of medical products and services, including those from drugmakers and medical-device sellers.
Key Management
- Wang Shirui: Founder and CEO of Medlinker, also CEO of Tencent Doctorwork, a combination of real-world clinics and virtually based medical services owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd.
Investment Timeline
- 2015: Tencent led a 40 million yuan funding round for Medlinker.
- 2018: Medlinker raised 1 billion yuan ($147 million) in its D-round funding, led by China Investment Corp. (CIC) and including previous investor Sequoia Capital and China Renaissance. This valuation placed Medlinker over $1 billion, making it a unicorn.
Xinchao Media
- Valuation: $2B
- Industry: Media & Entertainment
- Investors: JD.com, Baidu, Vision Plus Capital
- Unicorn Milestone Date: 9/4/2018
About
Xinchao Media officially known as Chengdu Xinchao Media Group Co. Ltd., is a leading community technology media innovation company based in Chengdu, China. Founded in 2007, the company specialises in integrating traditional media with internet technology to provide advanced advertising solutions. Xinchao Media is renowned for its extensive network of digital elevator screens, which are strategically placed in residential and commercial buildings across China. The company has a significant presence in over 110 cities, operating around 700,000 screens that reach approximately 200 million households daily.
Target Audience
Xinchao Media primarily targets businesses looking to increase brand visibility and reach a wider audience through strategic advertising placements. This includes companies in various sectors such as retail, finance, and technology.
Business Model
Xinchao Media operates on a business model that focuses on creating immersive brand experiences by placing advertisements in high-traffic areas, such as shopping malls, airports, and public transportation hubs. This approach allows brands to effectively reach their target audience and build brand awareness.
Key Offerings
- Strategic Advertising Placements: Xinchao Media places advertisements in high-traffic areas to maximise brand visibility and reach.
- Brand Building: The company helps businesses build their brand by creating immersive experiences that engage with the target audience.
ChaBaiDao
- Valuation: $2.52B
- Industry: Consumer & Retail
- Investors: JD.com, Baidu, Vision Plus Capital
- Unicorn Milestone Date: 9/6/2023
About
ChaBaiDao is a Chinese bubble tea chain based in Chengdu that has achieved unicorn status, making it one of the notable Unicorn Companies in Chengdu, with a valuation of around $2.5 billion. Founded in 2008, the company offers a variety of tea and coffee beverages, including popular flavours like poplar nectar, taro ball milk tea, and fresh mango green tea.
Target Audience
ChaBaiDao primarily caters to retail customers, offering its products through a network of franchised retail outlets across China.
Business Model
The company's business model revolves around operating a chain of tea and coffee shops, with a focus on providing high-quality, handcrafted beverages made with natural ingredients. ChaBaiDao has completed two funding rounds and plans to use the proceeds from its recent Hong Kong IPO to expand its operations and strengthen its supply chain.
Key Offerings
ChaBaiDao's key offerings include a diverse range of tea and coffee-based drinks, as well as some snack items. The company aims to promote Chinese tea culture and provide a unique tea drinking experience for its customers.
Key Management
ChaBaiDao is owned by Sichuan Baicha Baidao Industrial Co. Ltd. and has several prominent investors, including Orchid Asia, Loyal Valley Capital, New Hope Group, and China International Capital Co. Ltd.
Investment Timeline
ChaBaiDao was founded in 2008 and has since completed two funding rounds, with a valuation of around 17.5 billion yuan ($2.4 billion). The company recently went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising approximately $330 million in its IPO.
Fresh Life Style Supply Chain Management
- Valuation: $1.57B
- Industry: Consumer & Retail
- Investors: Guiyang Venture Capital, Longfor Capital, CAOGENZHIBEN GROUP
- Unicorn Milestone Date: 11/3/2022
About
Fresh Life Style Supply Chain Management is a Chinese unicorn startup founded in 2016, operating in the logistics and supply chain industry. As one of the prominent Unicorn Companies in Chengdu, it offers a range of services including cold chain warehousing and distribution, integrated commercial logistics, supply chain SaaS services, drop-shipping, and asset operation management services.
Target Audience
Fresh Life Style Supply Chain Management primarily serves sectors such as restaurant chains, fresh retail, and food production and trade. Its services cater to the needs of food producers, distributors, and retailers who require efficient and reliable cold chain management to ensure the quality and safety of their products.
Business Model
The company operates as a subsidiary of New Hope Group and leverages technology to manage the entire supply chain process. It uses IoT-enabled devices to monitor temperatures, humidity, and other environmental factors, reducing food waste and spoilage while ensuring the quality of the products.
Key Offerings
- Cold Chain Warehousing and Distribution: Fresh Life Style Supply Chain Management provides specialised warehousing and distribution services for perishable goods, ensuring they remain at optimal temperatures throughout the supply chain.
- Integrated Commercial Logistics: The company offers comprehensive logistics solutions, including transportation, storage, and delivery, to manage the entire supply chain process.
- Supply Chain SaaS Services: Fresh Life Style Supply Chain Management provides software solutions to manage and optimise supply chain operations, including inventory management and tracking.
- Drop-Shipping and Asset Operation Management: The company offers drop-shipping services for e-commerce businesses and asset operation management services for managing inventory and logistics.
Investment Timeline
Fresh Life Style Supply Chain Management raised a total of $92.61 million in its Series B - II funding round in February 2021.
Juma Peisong
- Valuation: $1.45B
- Industry: Industrials
- Investors: Ding Xiang Capital, New Hope Fund, Sino-Ocean Capital
- Unicorn Milestone Date: 11/26/2018
About
Juma Peisong is a logistics and delivery service company that has achieved unicorn status, meaning it has a valuation of over $1 billion. Founded in 2011, Juma Peisong operates an urban delivery service through 137 offices in 61 Chinese cities, providing a comprehensive logistics solution to its customers.
Target Audience
Juma Peisong primarily targets individuals and businesses in urban areas, offering a range of services including vehicle rental and delivery solutions. Its services cater to the growing demand for efficient and reliable logistics in urban environments.
Business Model
Juma Peisong operates on a business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) model. It generates revenue through the rental of vehicles and the provision of delivery services to customers. The company's business model focuses on leveraging its extensive network of offices and vehicles to provide quick and efficient delivery solutions to its clients.
Key Offerings
- Vehicle Rental Services: Juma Peisong offers a wide range of vehicles for rent, catering to various customer needs.
- Urban Delivery Services: The company provides a comprehensive delivery service, ensuring timely and reliable delivery of goods to customers.
- Operational Efficiency: Juma Peisong's extensive network of offices and vehicles enables it to manage logistics efficiently, reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction.
Fiture
- Valuation: $1B
- Industry: Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Investors: Bertelsmann Asia Investments, Sequoia Capital China, NIO Capital
- Unicorn Milestone Date: 4/14/2021
About
Fiture is a startup that focuses on creating innovative products designed to help individuals manage stress, improve focus, and enhance relaxation. As part of the rapidly growing Unicorn Companies in Chengdu, their primary product is the fidget spinner, a handheld device that can be spun with the fingers to provide a calming and soothing experience.
Target Audience
Fiture's target audience includes individuals who struggle with stress, anxiety, or ADHD, as well as those who simply enjoy fidgeting as a way to relax. This includes both children and adults who may benefit from the calming effects of the fidget spinner.
Business Model
Fiture operates primarily through online sales, offering a range of fidget spinners at various price points. They also provide a 14-day return policy, ensuring customer satisfaction. The company aims to generate revenue through the sale of their products, with a focus on quality and durability to maintain customer loyalty.
Key Offerings
- Orrby Fidget Spinner: A high-quality metal fidget toy designed to spin in the hand, available in a clear plastic case.
- Leeds Autism Services Fidget Spinner: A pocket-sized metal fidget toy designed to help individuals with autism manage stress and anxiety.
- Fidget Spinner by The Branded Company: A basic, affordable fidget spinner made from plastic and metal.