Asia tech going-global forum at the XIN Summit: The global expansion of Chinese startups is influenced by AI devices, robotics, and market suitability.

      Credit: TechNode

      At today's XIN Summit, experts from Asia's tech-globalization ecosystem convened to explore how Chinese tech companies can effectively expand internationally. The discussions spanned various topics, including AI devices, robotics, and markets from Southeast Asia to Europe and the US. Drawing on their expertise in investment, venture building, crowdfunding, and industrial operations, the speakers provided a practical and actionable guide for founders from China and the Greater Bay Area who seek to globalize their businesses.

      The forum titled From Local Champion to Global Disruptor: Scaling Asian Tech Beyond Home Markets was moderated by Jay Ian Birbeck, Founder and CEO of Bold Nation. After visiting several startup projects during the media open day, Jay remarked, “Many teams evidently possess global potential, and what they require most is guidance and experience.”

      Panelists included Xu Chen, Managing Partner at Gobi Partners; Betty Lam, Head of China Marketing at TCF; Ryan Jang, Head of Global Business at Wadiz; and Huang Jiasong, Managing Director at Ansbo Investment. The discussion delved into how Asian tech companies can surpass their domestic markets and achieve scalable international growth.

      AI hardware and robotics are seen as China's most disruptive forces for the next 5–10 years.

      When asked which technology sectors Chinese companies are likely to lead globally in the future, the panel's responses were notably concentrated: AI devices and robotics. Xu Chen stated that China has already built a world-leading advantage in robotic technology systems and supply chain capabilities. He emphasized that China's abilities in both industrial and service robots will be exported globally in various forms.

      Betty mentioned that Embodied AI and multimodal intelligent devices are likely to be the next significant trends. She referenced recent crowdfunding successes involving AI translators and AI accessory products: “AI devices will not only diversify further, but the underlying models will also become more localized and multi-agent. These innovations will generate substantial potential.”

      From an ecosystem standpoint, Huang pointed out that the focus should not only be on hardware innovation but also on establishing a synergy ecosystem between hardware and software in robotics—akin to the past relationship of Windows + Intel or today's NVIDIA CUDA. “Whoever can accomplish this might become the next giant in robotics,” he noted.

      Choosing your first international market: know yourself and the market

      For startups from the Greater Bay Area interested in entering international markets, Xu Chen provided practical insights. He stressed that market size, cultural nuances, local regulations, and payment and logistics infrastructure are all crucial factors to consider together. “Expanding internationally isn't merely about selling your product; it's a complex system,” he explained.

      He highlighted that Western markets present significant entry barriers and limited room for mistakes, meaning a single failure could lead to a permanent lost opportunity. Japan and South Korea are better suited for teams that are well-prepared, while Southeast Asia is more accommodating to early-stage startups, offering lower risks of failure and easier opportunities for testing.

      The most frequent mistake is disconnecting from real users.

      For consumer electronics companies, Betty cited the primary error as overlooking genuine users and their needs. Historically, companies often depended on feedback from distributors; however, today, data, reviews, social media, and crowdfunding platforms enable brands to engage with real consumers directly, according to her.

      She reiterated that achieving product-market fit (PMF) is the first critical milestone for success and that an inaccurate user profile can lead directly to development errors and marketing failures.

      The Korean market presents high barriers but also high rewards.

      Ryan discussed the experiences of Chinese brands crowdfunding in Korea. He acknowledged that Korea often ranks lower on the list of overseas priorities for many brands. “However, in reality, Korean users are among the most discerning globally, with the highest standards for both aesthetics and functionality. Consequently, success in Korea frequently indicates that a product can compete strongly in other markets,” he stated.

      He also shared that Wadiz has rolled out a multilingual platform and plans to introduce its own AI model to assist global hardware teams, including Chinese manufacturers, in creating effective localization strategies.

      The primary challenge for robotics companies in international markets is uncertainty and local partnerships.

      In discussing robotics, Huang noted that one of the overlooked risks involves uncertainty related to policies and geopolitics. Some countries may not welcome the success of Chinese robotics companies, making the identification of a genuine local partner critical. He advised against vague partnership notions and encouraged entrepreneurs to seek partners who truly share risks, whether through equity or collaboration channels.

      Jessie Wu is a tech reporter based in Shanghai. She covers consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. You can contact her via e-mail: [email protected].