Early Life and Education
Yu Kai received his B.Sc and M.Sc degrees in E&E from Nanjing University, China, and a doctorate in Computer Science from the University of Munich, Germany. He began his career with roles at Microsoft, Siemens, and NEC.
Rise to Success
Yu Kai's career took a significant turn when he joined Baidu. From April 2012 to June 2015, he led R&D at Baidu, transforming voice search, computer vision, online advertising, and web search. During this time, he also launched Baidu's autonomous driving project. In 2015, Yu co-founded Horizon Robotics, a company specializing in AI chips for autonomous driving and ADAS. The company's IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in October 2024, which raised nearly $700 million, significantly boosted his net worth.
Key Business Strategies
Horizon Robotics focuses on the Chinese market, collaborating with over 100 partners, including automakers like Volkswagen, Hyundai Motor, and BYD. The company provides full-chain support, ensuring its solutions comply with international standards. Horizon Robotics's strategy includes offering end-to-end intelligent driving solutions and building a shared ecosystem within the industry. The company has also established a European headquarters in Munich to support the global expansion of Chinese automakers.
Philanthropy
Specific philanthropy amounts are not available.