- Hangzhou-based firm targets “computing-electricity coordination” in next-generation grid infrastructure
- Raise ropes in a consortium of backers including Vision Plus Capital, Zheshang Venture Capital and others
Tpson (拓深科技), a Hangzhou-based specialist in AI power digitalization and edge computing, has raised several hundred million yuan in a Series D financing round as investors bet on technologies linking AI with next-generation energy infrastructure.
The round, announced on May 19, was jointly led by Vision Plus Capital, Zheshang Venture Capital, Nuotie Capital, Oriental Renaissance Capital, China Securities Capital, Shangcheng Capital, Far East Horizon Ventures and existing investor Bojiang Capital.
Tpson said proceeds will be used to advance research and deployment of AI-based power digitalization technologies within emerging distributed and green-energy-driven power systems, as it expands into what it calls the “computing-electricity coordination” sector.
Founded in 2015 and based in Hangzhou’s Binjiang district, the company is a nationally recognized “Little Giant” specializing in device-level AI power monitoring and is considered a quasi-unicorn in China’s industrial AI sector, valued between $100 million and $1 billion.
Tpson developed what it calls Elect AI, a so-called “current fingerprint” technology it describes as a third major AI sensing modality alongside vision and speech.
The system uses non-intrusive current analysis to detect the operating status and safety risks of electrical equipment. The company operates across three fast-growing sectors — smart fire protection, AI-enabled power infrastructure and renewable energy operations.
Industry forecasts cited by the company suggest China’s smart fire protection market exceeds 80 billion yuan (11.76 billion), while AI-driven power digitalization is above 120 billion yuan and renewable energy-related services exceed 500 billion yuan.
“The explosion of large multi-modal models has shown the power of computing, but the electricity systems that drive that computing are facing unprecedented challenges,” Vision Plus Capital said in a press release. “Tpson is redefining how power is sensed and controlled using modern computing approaches.”
The company’s founder, Zhang Xuanming, previously worked at video surveillance and security giant Hikvision, while co-founder Liang Kun previously worked at Qualcomm and OPPO Research Institute. Co-founder Wang Liqiang formerly worked at industrial automation firm Supcon Technology.
