AI startups go global from day one
This report is from this week’s CNBC’s The China Connection newsletter, which brings you insights and analysis on what’s driving the world’s second-largest economy. You can subscribe here.
The big story
Nvidia’s latest warning is that Chinese rivals are going to disrupt the world. It’s not just in chips.
More often than not, the chatter among startups building AI tools in China is less about the domestic market and more about the global opportunity.
In fact, Tripo AI, an image-to-3D model generation company, said that around 90% of its users are outside China.
The startup is already in talks with major European and American companies in gaming, animation, and manufacturing about strategic investments, founder and CEO Simon Song told me last week.
Since Tripo released its 3D model generation platform in June 2025, monthly revenue quickly climbed to more than $1 million, Song said. He said that compared to corporate users in China, who are more focused on immediate returns, businesses in Europe and the U.S. are more willing to try out new AI tools even if there isn’t yet a clear revenue gain.
The startup is just an example of how quickly products are coming to market, despite global competition.
Tripo released its latest H3.1 model for 3D model generation last week, as the startup works to build a platform that lets individuals use AI to eventually design their own physical products for sale. Song said Tripo plans to release a new tool that cuts generation time at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, which runs from March 9 to 13.
The following week, several Chinese AI companies are set to speak virtually at Nvidia’s GTC conference in San Jose, California. Two notable in-person sessions listed feature the founder of Moonshot and engineers from ByteDance Seed.
Those are just some examples of how Chinese startups and tech giants are rapidly expanding worldwide, one year after DeepSeek’s AI reasoning model shocked global investors. And businesses aren’t waiting around for DeepSeek’s next model to drop.
People visit the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) at the Shanghai World Expo and Convention Center in Shanghai on July 28, 2025.
Hector Retamal | Afp | Getty Images
David vs. Goliath
Another Chinese startup, iSales, said it’s generated more than $1 million in revenue since June by helping more than 300 small Chinese manufacturers find buyers outside China.
They see an underserved market, despite trade tensions.
The quality of, say, a Chinese-made water pipe connector, is already 90% that of a comparable Japanese or German-made product — but available at one-third the price, Pan Yiming, founder and CEO of iSales, said at an event in Beijing. He charges 40,000 yuan ($5,800) per client and expects well over 1,000 businesses in China to sign up this year.
Later this spring, the company plans to launch its AI social media marketing tools to businesses outside China. Pan, a Tsinghua University graduate, also hinted at lofty ambitions:…
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