Invitation to RSVP: Baiguan 2026 Shanghai AI & Robotics Innovation Tour
April 21 – 23, 2026 | An Immersive Journey into China's Frontier Tech & Startup Ecosystem
Why This Tour is Unparalleled
The global investment community is witnessing a massive resurgence of interest in China’s “Hard Tech” sectors—specifically Generative AI, Humanoid Robotics and Driverless L4 Robotaxi. However, headlines and research reports only tell the surface-level story. To truly grasp the scale, velocity, and real-world integration of these technologies, you must experience them on the ground.
This tour offers a rare look into the “vibe” of China’s innovation engine, through:
Deep-dive networking: We skip the standard corporate walkthroughs. Engage in candid, closed-door conversations with C-level executives, founders, and industry pioneers.
Insider investment perspectives: We will travel alongside seasoned investors who have backed China’s leading AI and robotics ventures. Gain raw, unfiltered insights into market trends and valuation realities.
Experience real-world applications: We move beyond the pitch deck. Ride in Robotaxis, witness industrial robots in action, and explore AI-native consumer communities.
You will gain a clear, actionable understanding of:
How Chinese AI startups bypass theoretical bottlenecks to rapidly deploy cutting-edge models into high-value commercial use cases.
A firsthand look at the new paradigm where a new generation of entrepreneurs and government sectors co-evolve to de-risk frontier innovation.
Why China’s massive manufacturing base is no longer just a “factory floor,” but a critical R&D partner that accelerates the prototyping and scaling of high-tech hardware.
A realistic assessment of China’s positioning in the global tech landscape, identifying where the ecosystem remains most resilient and where the next growth “inflection points” lie.
English service: The entire program is tailored for international professionals. All members of the Baiguan team and all guest speakers from the companies we’ll visit can converse in English to ensure seamless communication.
📅 Itinerary Overview
Day 1: April 21 (Tuesday, half-day) – The Heart of China’s AI Startup Hub
Location: Xuhui Riverside (West Bund) Conference Center
About Xuhui Riverside: Known as the core cluster of China’s AI industry, Xuhui Riverside houses nearly 90% of Shanghai’s AI startups. It operates under a unique “Double A” strategy (AI + Art), blending high-tech innovation with a modern, sophisticated lifestyle. The area integrates diverse elements such as art, finance, technology innovation, and sports. Participants will also learn how Shanghai attracts and nurtures tech talent through government policy support for the AI and hard-tech industries.
Afternoon Activities:
2:00 PM: Welcome Meeting & Ice-breaking.
Seminar by Baiguan Team:
2:30 PM to 3:15 PM - Session 1: Current Landscape of China’s AI and Technology: Strategic policy, the AI ecosystem, and an introduction to the 2-day program, including the companies we will be visiting.
3:15 PM to 3:30 PM - Tea/Coffee Break
3:30 PM to 4:15 PM - Session 2: Investment Themes, Ideas, and Opportunities: A discussion on sectors driving structural growth in China.
4:15 PM to 5:00 PM - Q&A & networking with the group
5:30 PM: Welcome Dinner (Location TBD)
Day 2: April 22 (Wednesday) – Inside the AI Incubator
Location: Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center (魔速空间), Xuhui Riverside
About Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center: A premier, government-backed incubator where 80% of resident startups are in Pre-A stages. Covering LLM applications and Industrial AI, it is considered a “living laboratory” for early-stage AI projects in China. Access is typically restricted to industrial and strategic capital; this tour provides an exclusive gateway.
We will conduct in-depth visits to 2-3 representative startup companies, engaging in direct discussions with the founders on key issues such as technological barriers, China’s startup ecosystem, and commercialization paths.
Morning Activities:
Incubator Walkthrough: Meet startups and experience live demos of the latest robotics, AI, and other cutting-edge technological products and developments.
Cyber Partner Technology (魂伴科技): Implementation layer is getting more and more important, and will be ultimately responsible for translating robotics hardware into actual commercial usage. Cyber Partner Technology is a leading robotics integrator. Its “large robots + AI algorithms” integration solutions have been implemented in over 20 industries, including automotive and 3C manufacturing. We will visit the production line-level robotics dispatch site and engage in a conversation with the founder about pathways for “AI + robotics.”
Afternoon Activities:
Nieta Art (捏Ta): Founded by a Meta veteran, Nieta is China’s largest AI-native content community. Meet the CEO to discuss the shift in Gen-Z digital culture and company’s global expansion strategy.
Other Select AI Startups: (TBD)
Who will you meet: C-level executives, founders, experts, and industry leaders from startups. We will also meet the Chief Ecosystem Officer of Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, who will provide us with an extensive network and unmatched, direct access to the founders and executives of these high-growth startups
Dinner @ TBD: We will invite local entrepreneurs and investors to join us for networking.
Optional: This is also your opportunity to experience the vibrant (AI + Art) “Double A” ecosystem in the Xuhui Riverside area, and get a sense of the trendy lifestyle, consumer AIs, and other consumer trends in China. After dinner, we invite you to optionally explore the lively nightlife, restaurants, fashion, and other experiences this region has to offer.
*All of our visits on day 1 & 2 will be within walking distance in the Xuhui Riverside area. Please wear comfortable shoes.
*We recommend booking a hotel close to Xuhui Riverside. April is also an ideal time to enjoy a walk with a breezy wind and beautiful riverside landscape in Shanghai.
Day 3: April 23 (Thursday) – Hard Tech & Robotaxi
Location: Caohejing (漕河泾) Tech Park
Morning Activities:
Robotaxi Riding Experience on Pony.ai (NASDAQ: PONY): Participants will experience a Robotaxi ride firsthand.
Seminar Guided by Steven Xiao: Steven invested in Pony.ai’s Series B round in 2018 and will share exclusive perspectives on Pony.ai and China’s broader robotaxi development, the current status of the autonomous driving technology, the path toward robotaxi commercialization, investment impacts, as well as the social implications.
After Activities:
Company visit to one or more of the leading LLM and robotics companies including:
LLM companies
Minimax
Zhipu AI (Knowledge Atlas)
Robotics
Agibot, one of China’s leading robotics companies
Fourier Robotics, one of China’s leading robotics companies
Jaka Robotics, leading manufacturer of robotics hand
These visits are TBD, pending companies’ review of the tentative list of attendeees.
Farewell dinner @ TBD
*We will arrange shuttle rides for the full Day-2 program.
Logistics & Accommodation
Accommodation: Participants should book their own accommodation.
Recommended Stays:
We strongly recommend booking at either the Xuhui Riverside Hyatt Hotel or the MGM Hotel.
These hotels are within comfortable walking distance of our primary visit locations and are also located in a vibrant area that blends the AI + art lifestyle and experiences.
Transportation:
Day 1 and Day 2: All activities will be within walking distance.
Day 3: We will arrange shuttle rides. The shuttle will stop at the Xuhui Riverside Hyatt Hotel to pick up participants on Day 3. If you choose to stay at a different hotel, please plan on meeting the group in the lobby of the Xuhui Riverside Hyatt Hotel before the program begins.
What’s included
•All scheduled company visits and seminars.
•All lunch and dinners
•All ground transportation during the tour.
What’s not included
•International and domestic flights to/from Shanghai.
•Chinese visa application fees.
•Travel insurance.
•Personal expenses (e.g., souvenirs, additional beverages).
•Breakfasts
•Hotels
Pricing & Signup
To ensure an exclusive experience and provide full attention to our participants, we are limiting the program to only 20 seats.
Standard Tour Price: $3,000 USD per person for the 2.5-day event.
Early Bird Discount: $2,860 USD per person for registrations completed by [March 20].
Baiguan Tour Returnee Discount: $2,100 USD per person for participants who have previously joined a Baiguan tour.
RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/gnSjrQL4FwXNsYsu6 or scan the QR code. We will reach out within 1 business day.
About Baiguan and BigOne Lab
Baiguan Newsletter is owned by BigOne Lab. BigOne Lab is a data-driven market research and information services company. Founded in 2016, BigOne Lab leverages alternative data to provide clients with insightful, objective, and actionable solutions.
Our data solutions currently cover more than 10 industries and 200,000+ businesses, spanning hundreds of business metrics. Our clients include 100+ investment funds, sovereign wealth funds, PE/VC investors, leading consulting companies, consumer companies and internet companies, among others.