BeyondSemi Co-Founder Huang Xiaohui: Stay Grounded, Yet Reach for the 'Chip' Sky

Busy.

This isZhixin Semiconductor (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.(hereinafter referred to as "Zhixin Semiconductor")Co-founder Huang Xiaohui...the norm of his workday. At 8:30 a.m., Huang Xiaohui had already switched into work mode, busy with interviews, business trips, and meetings, while also dedicating his efforts to Zhixin Semiconductor.Series A Financingliaison.

Huang Xiaohui toldVBInsight, in Zhixin Semiconductor's Series A financing plan, theirThe target amount is RMB 50 million, with a post-money valuation reaching RMB 500 million., the team is currently in active discussions with multiple investment institutions and aims to finalize this matter within two months.

In fact, this company focuses onDeep Ultraviolet Semiconductor Materials: Creating Three Chips—Emission Chip, Detection Chip, and Communication ChipThe startup has already outpaced most of its peers, yet it continues to carefully plan each step as it advances toward its ultimate goal.

So, how was ZX Semiconductor founded? And how did it chart its course? In an interview with co-founder Huang Xiaohui, we may find some answers. VCBeat has compiled and edited the interview transcript to help readers understand the original aspirations, dreams, and growth journey of this startup. Enjoy:

The entrepreneurial story begins with Huang Xiaohui’s academic journey.

Huang Xiaohui completed his undergraduate studies in Materials Physics at Sichuan University, where he took core courses including Introduction to Materials Science, Semiconductor Physics, and New Energy Materials. He subsequently earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from the Chinese Academy of Sciences with outstanding academic performance. During his tenure at the Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huang conducted systematic research on solid materials, with a particular focus on gallium nitride (GaN)-related topics.

It was precisely this experience that laid the R&D foundation for his subsequent establishment of a semiconductor company. Upon graduation, his first job was related to gallium nitride (GaN) production, where he was responsible for work involving visible-light materials and chips, including the research and development of products such as GaN lasers and GaN LEDs.

Pursuing a career in the semiconductor industry seems like a natural progression. From his academic studies to his professional work, Huang Xiaohui has built upon his existing expertise, further extending and expanding his knowledge in the fields of materials and chips.

Beyond personal experience, Huang Xiaohui clearly understands that entrepreneurship requires both an opportune moment and a team.

Let’s start with the catalyst, namelyIdentified Industry Pain Points。

During the ten years he worked in the corporate sector, Huang Xiaohui deeply feltDomestic semiconductor technology lags behind that of foreign counterparts.. The first pain point was equipment manufacturing. Huang Xiaohui candidly admitted that most of the R&D equipment at the time was procured from abroad, which led to lagging raw material development—the second pain point—and contributed to a shortage in semiconductor material supply, with chip fabrication materials heavily reliant on imports. This vicious cycle fueled Huang Xiaohui’s entrepreneurial drive and his aspiration to change this status quo.

And aSupport from a Specialized Team"Gave his entrepreneurial idea confidence."

“At the very beginning, we assembled a group of like-minded industry experts specializing in semiconductor materials and chip devices,” said Huang Xiaohui proudly. In fact, the founding team of Zhixin Semiconductor was a specialized, cross-disciplinary mix, comprising not only R&D scientists focused on materials and chips but also business professionals overseeing product operations, finance, and other areas.

Such a relatively complete entrepreneurial team, with its rational division of labor, effectively spares R&D personnel from the “awkwardness” of navigating the commercial realm, enabling professionals to maximize their value within their respective domains.

Consequently, within one month of the official establishment of Zhixin Semiconductor Co., Ltd. in July 2020, the team gained recognition from numerous investors by leveraging its accumulated experience and entrepreneurial vision, andSecured a total of RMB 90 million in co-investment from Mulinsen, BBK Electronics, and Keyu Shengda Fund, successfully achieving the angel round financing target.

“Keep the company alive first.” is the true sentiment in every founder’s heart.

Following the company's establishment,Exporting products has become the top priority., which involves product portfolio strategy, namely achieving a balance between R&D and revenue. In other words, in the early stage, Zhixin Semiconductor first launched cost-effective chips such as transmit and receive chips to the market, providing strong support for the company’s subsequent R&D activities and normal operations. In the later stage, high-quality R&D efforts would facilitate product updates and iterations, thereby significantly boosting revenue.

Having secured their right to survive, the team began to further contemplate the question of “how to live better,” with the only answer being to deliver more high-quality products to society.

It is reported that the UV chip market exceeded RMB 3 billion in 2021 and is projected to surpass RMB 10 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33%. This highlights the substantial market size for ultraviolet technology and creates favorable trends for corporate development. In response to this momentum, Zhixin Semiconductor has carefully developed five product lines targeting the UV market, namelyUltraviolet Communication Product Line, Sterilization and Disinfection Product Line, Ultraviolet Signal Detection Product Line, Sunshine Vitamin Product Line, and Gas and Liquid Sensor Product Line.

First,Exports of Sterilization and Disinfection Products, UV light has become a favored sterilization technology in the market due to its numerous advantages, including no side effects, non-selective sterilization, and no limitations on application scenarios. Especially in the post-pandemic era, Zhixin Semiconductor has developedEpidemic Prevention Chip – Deep UV Chip, Sterilization in Seconds, significantly improving the efficiency of disinfection and sterilization work for epidemic prevention personnel.

Test Report from Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Vertical Irradiation Distance of Zhixin Semiconductor UVC Chip20 cmLocation, Sample Sterilization Time10 secondsThe mean log10 reduction values for the inactivation of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) stained on glass slides were 4.22, respectively,The inactivation rate is as high as 99.994%.

Once the test report was released, it immediately became a highly sought-after product among major manufacturers. In the second half of 2021, chip output exceeded 50KK per month, and LED bead production capacity reached 10KK per month. CurrentlyOfficially launched in the market。

Additionally, Zhixin Semiconductor has also launchedPioneering the MESv Sterilization System, leveraging IoT modules to upgrade into an “inspection-disinfection-monitoring integrated” disinfection solution featuring real-time online monitoring, proactive early warning, high-efficiency sterilization, and visualized results.

Figure: Zhixin Semiconductor Pioneers MESv Disinfection System

Next isOutput of Sunshine Vitamin Products, the chip extracts the beneficial “sunshine vitamin” wavelengths from sunlight while filtering out harmful ones, enabling users to enjoy sun exposure at home. Huang Xiaohui revealed to Chengguo Bureau: “Currently, the Sunshine Vitamin productThe prototype is already available, and the device is undergoing testing and certification., only after this can the new product be officially launched on the market.”

Lastly,Ultraviolet Detection Chip (Sensor) Product output, which is primarily applied in three fields: the first is military detection, responsible for missile tracking; the second is civilian detection, involving ultraviolet (UV) index monitoring and industrial gas detection; and the third is medical testing, where UV light, in addition to sterilization, can be used for UVB phototherapy to treat psoriasis and vitiligo.

It is understood that ultraviolet detection chip (sensor) products are expected toCompleted R&D in Q3 2022, providing transmit and receive chips as well as complete module solutions.

Under Zhixin Semiconductor’s meticulous industrial line layout, its partners now span hospitals, enterprises, and government entities.

First, on the hospital side, Zhixin Semiconductor has partnered with institutions such as Beijing Anzhen Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, and Guiyang No. 2 People’s Hospital. Second, on the corporate side, major enterprises including Honor, Mulinsen, and Huawei have become key clients. Finally, on the government side, the Ji’an Municipal Government in Jiangxi Province and the Qiantang District Government in Zhejiang Province are actively piloting the products.

These products, distributed through various partners, have entered multiple industries—including white goods, water purification, maternal and infant care, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), healthcare, detection, and communications—and have become part of everyday life for the general public.

When VCBeat asked Zhixin Semiconductor what preparations it had made for its planned IPO in 2024, Huang Xiaohui responded, “Our goal is not necessarily to go public; rather, we aim to excel in product R&D and strengthen our corporate operations. Once the company becomes sufficiently strong, an IPO will naturally follow.”

In fact, since its inception, Zhixin has operated in accordance with the standards of a publicly listed company, both in product development and corporate management. The most critical—and fundamental—logic underlying this approach isR&D: Driving Product Performance to New Depths.

As a technology-driven enterprise, Zhixin Semiconductor aims to build a world-class third-generation semiconductor empire. Huang Xiaohui believes that talent, equipment, and patents are the three key elements that can help them achieve this goal.

Talent is the Primary Factor, recognizing that researchers are the source of all technological innovation. Therefore, Zhixin Semiconductor has assembled an R&D team of nearly 100 members, comprising PhDs, postdoctoral fellows, senior engineers, and experienced technical professionals. The company is deeply committed to the ultraviolet industry and has accumulated extensive practical experience in the research, development, and production of deep ultraviolet technologies.

“Even the most clever housewife cannot cook without rice.” If there are only technical personnel but no advanced equipment to support them, R&D work cannot be carried out effectively. Therefore, in December 2020,Zhixin Semiconductor Laboratory Established, the laboratory, managed by the R&D Director, comprises the Epitaxial Material Growth Research Center, the Chip Structure Research Center, and the LED Package Research Center, and is equipped with advanced instruments such as bond pull/shear testers, plasma cleaners, programmable constant temperature and humidity chambers, and thermal shock chambers.

To date, Zhixin Semiconductor has been granted more than 70 patents, including 27 invention patents—a remarkable achievement for a startup.

This is certainly especially related to Zhixin Semiconductor.EmphasisIntellectual Property Protection Is Highly Relevant, offering two primary benefits: first, it safeguards the product by preventing patent infringement and plagiarism; second, it serves as a testament to the company’s technological prowess, facilitating the demonstration of its capabilities within the industry.

“Only after laying a solid foundation can we build upward step by step, carrying out corporate operations, finance, sales, and other functions, thereby positioning Zhixin Semiconductor as a world-class semiconductor company,” Huang Xiaohui told VCBeat.