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ModelBest
Graduated neolabOn-device (edge) large models: the open MiniCPM series and applications in phones, cars and robots
Raised, confirmed—2 confirmed rounds
Valuation, confirmed—none disclosed
Valuation, reported$2.95B15 Jul 2026, not confirmed
Founded2022Beijing, CN
Key facts
| Field | Value | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | Graduated neolabSpin-off of Tsinghua's NLP lab developing the open MiniCPM on-device models; reported valuation above CNY 20B after more than CNY 5B raised in H1 2026; IPO counseling registered Aug 2026 | |
| Listing | Reported to have registered IPO tutoring (pre-listing counselling) with CITIC Securities as adviser, targeting the A-share market. (11 Aug 2026, reported)IPO tracker: every step with its source | |
| Field | AGI and superintelligence | |
| Founded | Aug 2022 | |
| Headquarters | Beijing, CN | |
| Founders | Liu Zhiyuan, Li Dahai, Zeng Guoyang | |
| Website | modelbest.cn | modelbest.cn ModelBest is an AI large model technology innovation and application company, dedicated to creating safe and accessible artificial general intelligence.checked 15 Nov 2026 |
| Careers | modelbest.cn | modelbest.cnchecked 15 Nov 2026 |
| Profiles and work | LinkedInHugging Face, 199 modelsGitHub, 94 public repos | How links are checkedchecked 15 Nov 2026 |
Funding rounds
No round of ModelBest is confirmed by the company or a regulator. Rounds marked Reported or Abandoned are not included in that total. Status rules: methodology.
| Date | Round | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Status | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 2026 | Funding round | undisclosed | $2.95B | not disclosed | Reported | 投资界 (PEdaily) 投资界从知情人士处获悉，面壁智能已完成新一轮融资，投资方包括国家级基金、央企、汽车制造商等各类产业方、知名财务投资人等。+2 more sourceschecked 15 Nov 2026 |
| 9 Apr 2026 | Series D+ | undisclosed | — | Lead: Shenzhen Capital Group, Inovance Capital; Daohe Long-term Investment, Guotai Haitong Innovation Investment, Wuyuefeng Capital | Confirmed | 财联社 (Tencent News) 面壁智能正式宣布完成新一轮数亿元人民币融资。本轮融资由深创投、汇川技术旗下汇川产投联合领投，道禾长期投资、国泰海通创新投、武岳峰科创等多家头部机构跟投。+1 more sourcechecked 15 Nov 2026 |
| Feb 2026 | Series D | undisclosed | — | Lead: China Telecom; CITIC Jinshi, CITIC Private Equity | Confirmed |
Notes on these rounds
- 15 Jul 2026 Funding round: Reported (citing people familiar) as a new round with national funds, central state-owned enterprises, automakers and financial investors; no investor names, amount or lead published. Cumulative funding in the first half of 2026 reported at over CNY 5 billion; valuation reported as over CNY 20 billion (lower bound).
- 9 Apr 2026 Series D+: Company announced a new round of several hundred million yuan; reported as the company's second round of 2026 and valuing it at the unicorn threshold (no figure).
- Feb 2026 Series D: Amount reported as several hundred million yuan (数亿元); exact figure not disclosed.
People
| Name | Role | Before | Now | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liu ZhiyuanScholarSite | Chief Scientist | Tsinghua University (Associate professor, head of the NLP lab) | Current | |
| Li Dahai | Chairman & CEO | Zhihu (CTO) | Current | |
| Zeng Guoyang | Co-founder & CTO | — | Current |
Professional facts from public sources only. How people records are handled.
What it has shipped
| Name | Kind | Date | Open weights | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MiniCPM 2.4B | model | Feb 2024 | Yes | |
| MiniCPM-o 2.6 | model | Yes | ||
| MiniCPM-V 4.5 | model | Yes | ||
| MiniCPM-o 4.5 | model | Yes |
Commonly cited, checked
Figures and statements about ModelBest that circulate in lists and summaries, and what the sources support.
| Claim | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Raised over CNY 5B in H1 2026 at a valuation above CNY 20B | The figures come from a single report citing anonymous sources (investor names and amounts not published) and are cumulative for several rounds, not one round; the Feb and Apr 2026 rounds are separately reported with named leads. | news.pedaily.cn 投资界从知情人士处获悉，面壁智能已完成新一轮融资，投资方包括国家级基金、央企、汽车制造商等各类产业方、知名财务投资人等。 |
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