Westwell Secures Series A Funding from Fosun Tonghao and Unveils Two Breakthrough Neuromorphic AI Products Ahead of IPO Filing

VCBeat has learned that,China’s leading brain-inspired AI startup Westwell announced the completion of its Series A financing, with investment from Fosun Tonghao, a subsidiary of Fosun Group.。

Westwell Technology was founded in January 2016, focusing on the platform research and commercial application development of brain-inspired artificial intelligence chips and algorithms.Its core business involves the research, development, and sales of artificial intelligence (AI) brain-inspired chips, as well as the provision of AI software and hardware solutions for related fields.。

WestWell Technology is committed to developing a neuromorphic chip architecture that completely breaks away from the von Neumann structure—chips manufactured by simulating the working principles of human brain neurons. These chips possess both the learning capabilities of the human brain and powerful specialized computing power. A single chip, no larger than a postage stamp, can mimic the human brain’s ability to process massive amounts of sensory information in a short period. These brain-inspired chips can transform mobile living through sensing and intelligent applications on handheld devices, and they do not require Wi-Fi.

Tan Limin, Founder and CEO of Westwell Lab, stated that the company has established a 40-member technical team composed of postdoctoral fellows, PhDs, and master’s graduates specializing in artificial intelligence from prestigious institutions such as Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, École Centrale de Marseille, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Currently at the chip level,Westwell has built a hardware and software platform for Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) and deep learning—Westwell Brain. Its first deep learning processor, Deepwell, is arguably the world’s only artificial brain-inspired chip that achieves on-chip learning. It operates without internet connectivity, delivers fast local computation, and consumes only 1/10 to 1/100 of the power of conventional chips. In application, it can help accelerate computational genomic sequencing.。

Westwell Brain can process medical data on neuronal pulse discharges in the brain to present human brain pulse patterns in a more intuitive manner, thereby facilitating clearer and more intuitive research into neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, it collects pharmacological and therapeutic regimen data, feeding it back into the brain simulation emulator to evaluate the target regions and efficacy of drugs and treatments. Currently, it has established a strategic partnership with ABR, a biological reagent supplier.

Domestic companies such as Cambricon and Horizon Robotics are also developing neuromorphic chip products.。

Liu Qikai, Founding Partner of Fosun Tonghao Capital, stated that the strategic importance of AI chips, as a critical underlying infrastructure for the artificial intelligence industry, cannot be overstated. Neuromorphic chips, represented by Westwell Lab, are applicable to nearly all AI domains—including precision medicine, smart terminals, financial security, autonomous vehicles and drones, and Industry 4.0—offering vast market space and tremendous potential.

In January 2016, Westwell Lab secured an angel round of financing amounting to several million yuan from PreAngel and WoYing Capital; in November of the same year, it raised RMB 10 million in a pre-A round from Yuanzheng Investment and Heli Investment.This round of financing will be primarily allocated to research and development. Previously, Westwell (Xijing Technology) had also actively engaged in collaborative initiatives with the EU Brain Project, which is the earliest launched and most comprehensive brain research initiative globally.。