(06-June-2022, Shenzhen, China) AlpsenTek, a pioneer in advanced AI machine vision sensor technology, announced today it has completed a Series A funding round totaling nearly 200 million RMB. The round was co-led by Xunxing Investment (the investment arm of OPPO) and Cowin Capital. The funding round saw significant participation from a consortium of strategic industry giants and venture firms, including ArcSoft, Sunny Optical Industry Investment Fund, Glory Ventures, Shenzhen Angel FOF, Lenovo Capital, and Zero2IPO Ventures.
Jian Deng, founder and CEO of AlpsenTek, stated that the fresh fund will be deployed to accelerate the vertical integration and horizontal expansion of the company’s vision solutions across the Internet of Things (IoT) sector, while driving continuous product R&D and iteration.
Revolutionizing Vision for the IoT Era
Moving beyond the limitations of traditional Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CIS) and standalone Event-Based Vision (EVS) sensors, AlpsenTek utilizes a proprietary, industry-leading pixel structure. In September 2021, the company debuted the ALPIX-Pilatus™, the world’s first sensor powered by its signature Hybrid Vision™ technology.
By merging traditional imaging with event-based sensing, the chip delivers high frame rates, high dynamic range, and low power consumption with minimal data redundancy. This allows machines to “see” with greater intelligence while reducing system costs for mobile handsets, security systems, and automotive applications.
“With our robust R&D and supply chain capabilities, we are on track to begin small-batch production of two hybrid vision chips by the end of 2022,” said Deng. “These will target high-end mobile imaging and the IoT space. We also plan to expand our market reach through IP licensing and total vision solutions.”
Industry Giants Signal Strong Support
Strategic investors view AlpsenTek’s approach as a solution to long-standing industry hurdles. Qiao Yuting, head of Xunxing Investment, noted that the Hybrid Vision™ solution effectively solves the registration challenges of cross-modal imaging.
“AlpsenTek’s fusion of CIS and EVS represents the future of event-based sensing—combining low latency and low power with inherent privacy protection,” Qiao said.
Hu Qingping, Managing Director of Cowin Capital, added: “EVS technology is a sensor born for machine vision. With a team that bridges high-end chip design and AI, AlpsenTek is uniquely positioned for the IoT and automotive markets.”
The sentiment was echoed by Xiao Chaojun, General Manager of Sunny Optical Industry Investment Fund, who emphasized the importance of ecosystem collaboration. “As early researchers in EVS, the AlpsenTek team has a profound understanding of circuit design and manufacturing processes. They are a vital force in the industrialization of EVS across AR/VR and automotive sensing.”
ArcSoft, a global leader in computer vision software, also highlighted the hardware-level innovation. “This hybrid technology provides a new problem-solving logic for the entire computer vision industry,” the company stated in a release.
Scaling for Global Growth
This latest round follows previous backing from industry heavyweights including Hikvision, Lenovo Capital, and iFLYTEK. According to AlpsenTek COO Kuang Shan, the company’s R&D presence across Shenzhen, Zurich, Beijing, and Nanjing is expected to exceed 100 employees this year.
AlpsenTek also confirmed that a new flagship product designed for high-end imaging terminals is currently in the final stages of its launch countdown.
