A new generation of Chinese entrepreneurs, often referred to as the "Fantastic Four," is reshaping the global technology landscape. These innovators, Liang Wenfeng of AI start-up DeepSeek, Wang Xingxing of Unitree Robotics, Zhang Yiming of ByteDance, and Wang Tao of DJI, are helping China strengthen its position in the ongoing tech rivalry with the United States.

Unlike the previous generation of tech leaders like Alibaba's Jack Ma and Tencent’s Pony Ma, this new wave of entrepreneurs grew up during China's "reform and opening up" era under Deng Xiaoping. Born between 1980 and 1990, they were raised in a period marked by globalization, a strong emphasis on science and engineering education, and fewer social barriers.

DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng, who founded the AI start-up in 2023, first gained experience running High-Flyer Quant, a hedge fund inspired by US quant legend Jim Simons. His large language models (LLMs), R1 and V3, stunned Silicon Valley in January 2025 with their impressive performance and cost-efficiency, pushing DeepSeek into the global spotlight.

Unitree Robotics' Wang Xingxing, the youngest of the Fantastic Four at 35, launched his robotics firm in 2016. Known for its cutting-edge humanoid robots, Unitree’s technology recently captured over 1 billion viewers when its robots performed a folk dance at China’s Spring Festival Gala, seen as a bold challenge to Elon Musk’s Optimus robot.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yiming's ByteDance, best known for owning TikTok, has become one of the most influential tech companies worldwide. Founded in 2012, ByteDance quickly grew from a small apartment in Beijing to a global tech powerhouse. Zhang, inspired by his visit to Silicon Valley in 2014, once declared that "the golden era of China's technology companies is arriving."

DJI, the world’s leading drone manufacturer, was founded by Wang Tao from his university dorm room. Today, DJI dominates the global drone market, further solidifying China’s influence in high tech sectors.

A key factor behind the success of these young entrepreneurs is their ability to navigate China's fiercely competitive domestic market. According to Winston Ma, an adjunct professor at New York University, Chinese founders excel at rapidly scaling Western technologies to suit local demands, often at a speed and intensity that outpaces their Silicon Valley counterparts.

The Fantastic Four have also gained attention for their nationalistic undertones. Liang Wenfeng was hailed as a national hero after DeepSeek’s AI models showcased China’s innovative edge despite US tech restrictions. Their success highlights how this new generation of entrepreneurs is not only competing with US tech giants but also driving China's global ambitions.

Despite their rising influence, these entrepreneurs maintain a low profile. Unlike their US counterparts like Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg or OpenAI’s Sam Altman, China's tech leaders rarely make public appearances or engage in media. Liang has remained silent about DeepSeek’s recent breakthroughs, while Zhang has distanced himself from interviews for years.

With the Fantastic Four pushing technological boundaries and challenging global competitors, China’s new generation of entrepreneurs is proving that innovation and resilience are reshaping the future of the global tech landscape.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES/KARIN SLADE

This article was created with AI assistance.