Unique Research · Company / funding · May 11, 2023
On Apr 25, 2023, Hangzhou virtual-idol full-stack provider Wanxiang Tech (万像科技) closed a multi-ten-million RMB A2 led by existing shareholder Porsche, with several strategic investors joining. Proceeds: AIGC product + tech R&D.
Founded 2019, Wanxiang builds AIGC interactive products for vertical end-users and commercializes virtual content. Brand partners include Porsche and OPPO. Founder Xia Bing: not everyone can be a virtual idol — but everyone can be a virtual livestreamer; that is the fastest path to monetization and consumer contact. Verticals: beauty, FMCG, food, apparel. Working with MCNs to build a virtual-streamer library by niche content.
Ecommerce livestream entry: Mar 22, 2020, virtual idol Mika (Wanxiang Culture × Shouxin Haowu) debuted on Taobao Live — 300k viewers within 3 minutes of the 11:00 slot; off-peak 18:00 encore >1.07M concurrent; flash-sale SKUs sold out in 10 seconds. Fast cashflow thesis for a startup.
B2B tech: iQIYI, Bilibili, Alibaba, NetEase, Tencent, Huya, Siba Media. For iQIYI’s Youth With You 2, Wanxiang delivered full-case support for all-round virtual idol Rainbow — including remote real-time motion-capture + remote review tech during COVID lockdown logistics.
Every Wanxiang character is real-person real-time driven — expression, motion, emotion, speech — for live content and social interaction. Six rounds since founding. Differentiator vs pure tech-fee peers: deep IP incubation → shares mid/long-tail monetization with partners. Xia: long value chain; Wanxiang aims at tech productization → fast idol/streamer landing + commercial return. Audience growth still lags virtual-person output; Luo Tianyi remains the mass-market king.
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