Lead Healthcare.AI Completes Nearly RMB 100 Million Angel Financing to Pioneer AI-Driven Life Science Instruments and Biomanufacturing Equipment

VCBeat: Lead Healthcare Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. (“Lead Healthcare”) has successfully completed an angel round of financing amounting to nearly RMB 100 million.

According to statistics from the VCBeat database, this financing round represents the largest angel investment in the field of life science instruments and bio-intelligent manufacturing equipment over the past three years! Led by Jiadao Private Capital, with participation from Qiji Investment, CASSTAR, Juke Emerging Industry Venture Capital, Insight Capital, and Jiuzhou Xinnuo, the funds will be used to accelerate technological R&D, product industrialization, and market expansion.

Lead Healthcare.AI was established in October 2023 and is located on Guangzhou International Bio Island, serving as a benchmark hard-tech startup for the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements from Guangzhou Laboratory. The company focuses on the independent R&D of AI-integrated high-end life science instruments and bio-manufacturing equipment, while building a supporting ecosystem encompassing artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm systems, biochips, and reagents/consumables. It is committed to providing microfluidic, automated, intelligent, and system-level solutions for fields such as life science instrumentation, biopharmaceuticals, and synthetic biology, aiming to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in areas including biopharmaceuticals (such as antibody drugs and cell and gene therapies) for oncology/cancer treatment and anti-aging, life science research, synthetic biology, and biosafety.

The company’s founding core team is led by CEO Zhang Feng, former R&D Director at Huawei and medical device technology expert at United Imaging Healthcare, as well as a serial entrepreneur. The CTO is Cao Xiaobao, a scholar under the National Major Talent Program (Young Scholars), researcher at Guangzhou Laboratory, and former Senior Scientist at ETH Zurich. The team is advised by world-renowned experts and scholars, including Professor Andrew deMello of ETH Zurich. Comprising outstanding PhDs and master’s graduates from prestigious institutions worldwide—such as ETH Zurich, Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, and the National University of Singapore—the team also brings together industry elites from the fields of life science instrumentation and biopharmaceuticals. With years of deep expertise in microfluidic chips, life sciences, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, robotic automation, and artificial intelligence, the team possesses substantial accumulated knowledge and extensive experience spanning all segments of the industry chain, including technological research, innovation incubation, product development, clinical translation, and market promotion.

The company officially commenced operations on March 18, 2024, and was included in the first batch of Guangdong Province’s 2024 Technology-Based Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in September 2024, achieving remarkable “acceleration”:

As the only hard-tech startup selected as a case study for intellectual property creation and application cooperation achievements in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Lead Healthcare.AI signed an agreement on the conversion and application of intellectual property with Guangzhou Laboratory in March 2024. Through this partnership, the company converted 22 patents from Guangzhou Laboratory’s scientific research outcomes, including multiple PCT international patents and invention patents. In addition, the company has independently filed 57 patent applications and 10 computer software copyrights, comprising 19 invention patents and 3 PCT international patents. By strategically deploying nearly one hundred intellectual property assets, including patents, software copyrights, and trademarks, the company has established an IP barrier covering its entire product line and successfullySelected as one of the first batch of excellent cases for patent transformation and application by the China National Intellectual Property Administration in 2025 (with only 20 entities selected nationwide), it stands as the sole case from Guangdong Province, providing an innovative model for the industrialization of patents by scientific research institutions across China.

Lead Healthcare.AI Signs Cooperation Agreement on Intellectual Property Transformation and Application with Guangzhou Laboratory

Lead Healthcare.AI has rapidly assembled a fully integrated, multidisciplinary industrialization team. Its R&D scope encompasses the cross-disciplinary integration of optics, mechanics, electronics, computing, software, chips, biology, chemistry, environmental science, and materials science, while its operational scope covers the entire industry chain, including marketing, R&D, production, quality control, sales, service, and operations. The team currently comprises over 100 members, with product R&D personnel accounting for approximately 70%.

By comprehensively laying out core technologies, components, and system-level solutions across the cellular industry chain, the company has developed ten products and services, including single-cell multi-omics systems (such as single-cell transcriptomics and spatial transcriptomics), high-throughput microfluidic droplet sorting systems (for antibody drug screening, synthetic biology strain sorting, and directed enzyme evolution), high-throughput AI imaging flow cytometers (for intelligent analysis of cell morphology and mechanics), fully automated cell culture and preparation systems (for stem cells and immune cells), fully automated protein purification systems, and microfluidic system equipment. Approximately 80% of the core technologies, components, and modules are shared among these offerings, forming a product portfolio that integrates “AI + life science instruments + precision diagnostic medical devices + biopharmaceutical equipment + synthetic biology equipment.” Beyond existing product solutions, the company continues to invest in R&D for next-generation technologies, mass-producing Generation N products, developing Generation N+1 prototypes, and conducting pre-research on Generation N+2 new technologies. This approach enables rapid development and launch of new products in response to market demands, thereby better achieving serialized product solutions and platform-based scale effects.

Currently, Lead Healthcare.AI has signed technical service contracts with top-tier (Grade A tertiary) hospitals, including West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Jiangsu Province People’s Hospital, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Affiliated Hospitals of Sun Yat-sen University, Affiliated Hospitals of Guangzhou Medical University, and Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine. Additionally, the company has executed equipment procurement contracts with leading universities and research institutes—such as Northwestern Polytechnical University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Wuhan University, Zhejiang University, Southern University of Science and Technology, and the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences—as well as with publicly listed leading biopharmaceutical companies like GenScript Biotech. In 2024, the company secured commercial orders exceeding RMB 10 million from key clients, rapidly achieving the industrialization of its technological achievements, establishing deep collaborations with industry leaders, and participating in the formulation of industry standards.

The company’s independently developed active single-cell sequencing system, the first of its kind in the industry, made its international debut at the 2024 Davos Science Summit in Switzerland. Leveraging leading active encoding and sorting technology, superior sample compatibility, and efficient background noise removal, this system sets a new benchmark in the field of single-cell sequencing. In particular, it has achieved breakthrough progress in transitioning single-cell sequencing technology from scientific research to the analysis of real-world clinical samples. This advancement will enhance the efficiency and accuracy of real-world clinical sample studies, further lower the threshold for clinical application of single-cell sequencing, and inject new vitality into the rapid development of the life sciences sector.

Swiss Davos Science Summit: Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Professor Jean-Marie Lehn, Visits Lead Healthcare.AI Booth for Exchange

Industry’s First Active Single-Cell Sequencing System

Lead Healthcare.AI’s high-throughput AI imaging flow cytometer is an intelligent analysis system for high-throughput cell morphological and mechanical characterization, combining high-speed cellular imaging with microfluidic chip technology. It features sub-micron resolution and high-speed image acquisition and intelligent analysis capabilities at a frame rate of approximately 20,000 frames per second. By integrating technologies such as viscoelastic fluid focusing, high-speed stroboscopic illumination, microfluidic chips, micro-nano optics, and high-speed image processing, the system enables high-throughput image acquisition and intelligent analysis of cells. Furthermore, equipped with proprietary large AI model algorithms, the product efficiently analyzes cellular morphological features, providing researchers with a precise tool for high-throughput intelligent cell image analysis. Its advantages lie in the combination of high resolution and high throughput, intelligent analysis powered by AI algorithms, and deep mining capabilities for characteristics such as cell morphology, mechanics, and protein spatial localization. It is applicable to fields including drug discovery, drug delivery, cell therapy, and cellular biomedical research. The high-throughput AI imaging flow cytometer can serve both the scientific research market and the biopharmaceutical R&D market as a high-end life science instrument, as well as the hospital clinical diagnostics market as a medical device for disease diagnosis. Currently, the company is collaborating with Grade IIIA hospitals to conduct clinical studies on the rapid diagnosis of sepsis based on this high-throughput AI imaging flow cytometer.

High-Throughput AI Imaging Flow Cytometer

In the fields of synthetic biology and biopharmaceutical equipment, Lead Healthcare.AI has independently developed a series of product solutions. Its high-throughput microfluidic droplet sorting system significantly shortens the time required for monoclonal antibody screening, offering rapid sorting speeds and high throughput to substantially enhance antibody screening efficiency. This system can be applied to optimize cell therapy targets, establish novel platforms for drug delivery and release, conduct enzyme engineering and evolution, and perform microbial and strain screening for synthetic biology, recombinant proteins, antibiotics, and other applications. It provides an efficient and reliable cell sorting solution for the biopharmaceutical and synthetic biology industries.

High-Throughput Microfluidic Droplet Sorter

Fully Automated Cell Culture Preparation and Drug Screening PlatformThe Fully Automated Cell Culture Preparation and Drug Screening Platform is developed to achieve an efficient, automated production workflow for cell culture preparation. It integrates core process steps—including cell thawing, intelligent detection, automated media exchange, stable passaging, and high-efficiency harvesting—to form a comprehensive and highly automated solution for cell culture preparation. Designed for applications in cell therapy, cell preparation centers, cell banks, biological laboratories at research institutes and universities, P3/P4 biosafety laboratories, customs inspection and quarantine facilities, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this product is widely applicable to the static culture preparation of various adherent and suspension cells, as well as organoid-based drug screening platforms. By combining user-defined cell culture preparation protocols with advanced artificial intelligence technologies, the platform intelligently analyzes cell status, enabling real-time monitoring of the culture environment and process optimization to ensure cell growth under optimal conditions. Furthermore, it establishes a safe and reliable environment for cell culture preparation, significantly enhancing the level of automation, consistency, quality control, safety, and production efficiency in both cell culture preparation and drug screening. This addresses the limitations of traditional manual laboratory operations, substantially reduces production costs, and contributes to increased efficiency, cost reduction, and quality improvement in the field of cell therapy, thereby improving the accessibility of cell-based drugs.

Fully Automated Cell Culture Preparation and Drug Screening Platform

Fully Automated Protein Purification SystemThe fully automated protein purification system employs 8-channel parallel chromatography purification technology, enabling fully automated and efficient purification of various proteins. The instrument features a built-in bubble detector that automatically controls sample flow direction, effectively preventing air ingress into the chromatography column, sample loss, and contamination. Real-time pressure monitoring and high-pressure warning functions ensure operational safety. The system supports multi-gradient elution concentration settings to accommodate purification requirements for proteins with diverse characteristics. It automatically collects eluted proteins, minimizing manual intervention and significantly enhancing purification efficiency. Equipped with independently developed 8-channel independent UV280 detection sensors, the instrument supports collection based on thresholds, slopes, and other parameters. Through its fully automated operational workflow, it substantially improves the purification efficiency for multiple types of proteins.

Fully Automated Protein Purification System

The global market for scientific instruments and biopharmaceutical equipment is vast. However, China faces a predicament in the high-end segment of this industry, with a domestic production rate of less than 20%. The sector has long been monopolized by foreign giants; all of the top 20 global companies in scientific instruments and biopharmaceutical equipment are foreign firms, with no Chinese enterprises making the list. This leaves China’s supply chain in these fields extremely vulnerable to risks, facing severe “chokehold” challenges, and underscoring an urgent need for breakthroughs in domestic capabilities.

The Chinese government places high priority on the domestic production of scientific instruments. The 14th Five-Year Plan explicitly calls for strengthening the research, development, and manufacturing of high-end scientific instruments to promote self-reliance and controllability. With the rapid development of domestic scientific research and industry, there is strong demand for the upgrading of scientific instruments and biopharmaceutical equipment, creating vast market opportunities and bringing a golden historical development opportunity for Chinese enterprises. In recent years, a number of outstanding domestic life science instrument companies have been emerging, achieving certain results in technological research and product development, mastering some core key technologies of life science instruments, and rapidly advancing towards domestic substitution and independent innovation.

For this round of financing,Zhang Feng, Founder and CEO of Lead Healthcare.AI, stated: We extend our sincere gratitude to all investors for their trust and support! Completing this angel financing round during the capital winter holds significant importance for Lead Healthcare.AI. It not only injects ample funding into our technological R&D and product industrialization but also represents a strong endorsement from the capital market of Lead Healthcare.AI’s strategic direction in the fields of life science instruments and bio-intelligent manufacturing equipment.Lead Healthcare.AI adheres to and practices its vision of “Empowering Human Health and Longevity,” its mission of “Great Chivalry, Benefiting the Nation and People, Lead Healthcare.AI, Promoting Well-being and Longevity,” and its values of “Mutual Achievement, Win-Win Cooperation, Fulfillment in Success, and Inclusiveness.” Remaining true to our original aspiration and keeping our mission firmly in mind, Lead Healthcare.AI is fully committed to advancing the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, reinvesting in scientific research, fostering win-win cooperation with upstream and downstream partners across the industry chain, and striving to overcome critical bottlenecks in life science instruments and biopharmaceutical equipment, thereby contributing to human health and longevity.Looking ahead, Lead Healthcare.AI has outlined a clear and ambitious development blueprint. In terms of technological R&D, the company will continue to increase investment, deepening the integrated innovative application of “AI + Life Sciences + Biopharmaceuticals + Bio-Intelligent Manufacturing + High-End Equipment.” This aims to provide new-quality productive force solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce costs for sectors such as life sciences, biopharmaceuticals, synthetic biology, and biosafety. Regarding market expansion, the company will implement its strategy of “Rooted in China, Facing the World,” by consolidating its presence in the domestic market while actively exploring international opportunities, with the goal of becoming a leading technology innovator in the field of life science instruments and bio-intelligent manufacturing equipment.

Gong Hongjia, Founder of Jiadao Capital, Co-founder of Hikvision, and Chairman of Vcanbio, stated: “Lead Healthcare.AI has demonstrated remarkable technical strength and innovation potential in the fields of life science instruments and intelligent bio-manufacturing equipment. We believe that, through this investment, Lead Healthcare.AI will continue to deepen its presence in the industry and create greater value. We also look forward to close collaboration between Lead Healthcare.AI and Jiadao Private Capital with enterprises across the biopharmaceutical ecosystem, jointly driving technological advancements and industrial development in the field of biopharmaceuticals.”

Zhang Li, Founding Managing Partner of Qiji Investment, stated“Lead Healthcare.AI has achieved remarkable technological innovations in the fields of life science instruments and intelligent biomanufacturing equipment, demonstrating significant growth potential. Its R&D capabilities, team expertise, and precise grasp of industry trends align closely with our investment philosophy in the healthcare sector. We believe that this investment will further enhance Lead Healthcare.AI’s R&D and industrialization capabilities, accelerate market expansion, and drive the development of the life sciences industry.”

Mi Lei, Founding Partner of CASSTAR, stated“As a hard-tech enterprise in the fields of life science instruments and intelligent biomanufacturing equipment, Lead Healthcare.AI aligns closely with our philosophy and strategic layout in the hard-tech sector. Its exceptional team and ownership of key core technologies demonstrate strong development potential. We aim to invest in Lead Healthcare.AI to accelerate the translation of its technological achievements, contribute to the advancement of hard-tech in life sciences, and jointly drive and witness breakthroughs and technological innovations in China’s high-end life science instrument sector.”

Jiadao Capital was founded by Mr. Gong Hongjia, a renowned angel investor. A graduate of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Mr. Gong is a distinguished tech entrepreneur and angel investor. As an early investor in Hikvision (002415), a publicly listed company, he achieved an investment miracle by turning a RMB 2.45 million investment into a RMB 50 billion return, earning him the title of China’s most successful angel investor with a 20,000-fold return on investment. To date, seven companies within Mr. Gong’s and his family’s investment portfolio have successfully gone public. In 2022, with a net worth of USD 13.2 billion, he ranked 138th on the Forbes Global Billionaires List and 32nd on the Forbes China Rich List. Mr. Gong has invested in or founded over 100 high-tech enterprises, including Desheng Technology, Watchdata, Funian Technology, AsiaInfo, Union Optech, Fullhan Microelectronics, and Vcanbio, establishing himself as one of China’s most insightful and visionary investors. Jiadao Capital focuses its investments on life sciences, educational technology, traditional Chinese medicine and general health, and green ecological agriculture.

Qiji Investment was established in late 2020 as a professional investment firm specializing in early-stage and growth-stage investments in the healthcare sector. With years of deep engagement in the medical and biotechnology fields, the firm boasts extensive experience in healthcare investment with top-tier domestic funds, as well as over a decade of full-industry-chain experience at leading global multinational pharmaceutical companies. Qiji Investment primarily seeks high-quality investment opportunities in technology-driven sectors such as biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and in vitro diagnostics (IVD), focusing on niche segments with significant competitive advantages. The firm places particular emphasis on addressing “unmet needs” of patients within the global healthcare market. Committed to empowering portfolio companies and creating synergistic value, Qiji Investment works collaboratively to advance medical innovation and generate social value.

CASSTAR, established in 2013, is an early-stage investment firm specializing in the “hard tech” sector and serves as the originator and pioneer of the “hard tech” concept. It is committed to building a hard-tech entrepreneurial ecosystem that integrates “research institutions + early-stage investment + entrepreneurship platforms + post-investment services.” Focusing on key areas such as optoelectronic chips, artificial intelligence, aerospace, biotechnology, information technology, new materials, new energy, and intelligent manufacturing, CASSTAR invests in high-growth potential startups and early-stage technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises.