Li Zexiang Backs Former DJI Engineer Kuang Zheng's Data Acquisition Venture

A data acquisition equipment venture founded by former DJI engineer Kuang Zheng has drawn investment from Li Zexiang, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology professor who was among the earliest backers of DJI, according to 36Kr.

The size of the investment, the funding round, and the post-money valuation were not disclosed in 36Kr's report. The publication did not name the company, specify its product line, or identify other backers in the deal.

Kuang Zheng previously worked at DJI, the Shenzhen-headquartered drone maker. His tenure, role, and departure date from the company were not detailed in the available reporting.

What is the venture building?

The company is developing data acquisition equipment. Data acquisition refers to the category of sensors, signal conditioners, data loggers, and the software used to capture, record, and transmit operational data from industrial systems, vehicles, energy infrastructure, and laboratory instruments. 36Kr did not specify which subcategories Kuang Zheng's company targets, what specifications its products will offer, or which customers it has signed.

Hardware in the category typically includes printed circuit boards, analog-to-digital converters, and connectivity modules that allow physical assets to be monitored and controlled. Software components increasingly include edge analytics, which processes data at the point of collection before forwarding selected signals to centralized systems.

Who is the investor?

36Kr identifies Li Zexiang as an investor in the business. The publication did not disclose the investment vehicle, the round size, or whether other institutional backers participated. Li is a professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and is widely credited as one of the earliest backers of DJI, the drone maker that has become one of China's most valuable hardware companies. His current institutional affiliation and the specific fund vehicle for the reported investment were not named in 36Kr's coverage.

Why does the DJI connection matter?

DJI has produced a steady stream of engineer-founders since scaling its consumer and commercial drone operations in the 2010s. Several of those engineers have gone on to start robotics, autonomous driving, and component companies across the Greater Bay Area. 36Kr's report places Kuang Zheng in that lineage.

The connection matters because DJI alumni typically carry experience in embedded systems, sensor integration, and high-volume hardware manufacturing — capabilities that translate directly into the data acquisition equipment market, where reliability, calibration, and signal integrity are decisive factors in industrial procurement.

How big is the addressable market?

China's data acquisition and test-and-measurement instrument market has historically been served by Japanese, U.S., and European suppliers, including Yokogawa, Keysight Technologies, and National Instruments, the test-and-measurement business now owned by Emerson. Chinese industrial policy has aimed to build out domestic capacity in instrumentation, with subsidies and procurement preferences supporting local players. 36Kr did not provide market sizing or competitive analysis for the segment in which Kuang Zheng is building.

What does Li Zexiang's involvement typically signal?

Li's backing typically signals access to a network of Greater Bay Area suppliers, contract manufacturers, and engineering talent. 36Kr did not specify what role Li will play beyond capital, whether that includes board representation, or whether Li's affiliated investment entities are leading the round.

What's next?

36Kr did not publish a launch timeline, first-customer milestone, or revenue figure for the company. The venture's path to revenue — direct sales, system integrators, or licensing — remains unspecified in the available reporting. Li's involvement points to a hardware venture seeking commercial traction in mainland China's industrial market, but key details about the company itself, its products, and the terms of the investment have yet to be disclosed.