Former Alibaba Star Researcher Starts New AI Lab, Seeks $2 Billion Valuation

Junyang Lin, former lead researcher of Alibaba’s Qwen models, is seeking to raise several hundred million dollars for his new AI lab, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

The new AI lab will likely be valued at around $2 billion after the funding round, the people said, adding that the discussions are ongoing and the final valuation could change. Chinese venture capital firms Gaorong Ventures and HongShan are in talks to fund the lab, the people said.