As of January 2025, Liang Wenfeng, a 39-year-old Chinese entrepreneur, has an estimated net worth of approximately $1.2 billion. His wealth primarily stems from his pioneering ventures in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantitative finance, notably as the founder of DeepSeek and co-founder of High-Flyer.
Who Is Liang Wenfeng?
Born in 1985 in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China, Liang Wenfeng was raised by a primary school teacher. He pursued higher education at Zhejiang University, earning a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Information Engineering in 2007 and a Master of Engineering in Information and Communication Engineering in 2010. His master’s thesis focused on target tracking algorithms using low-cost PTZ cameras.
How Did Liang Wenfeng Build His Wealth?
Liang’s journey into the financial world began in 2008 when he and his classmates started gathering financial market data and exploring quantitative trading through machine learning. In 2013, he co-founded Hangzhou Yakebi Investment Management Co., Ltd., and later, in 2015, Hangzhou Huanfang Technology Co., Ltd., which evolved into Zhejiang Jiuzhang Asset Management Co., Ltd. These ventures laid the groundwork for his future endeavors.
In February 2016, Liang co-founded Ningbo High-Flyer Quantitative Investment Management Partnership. The firm utilized mathematical models and AI to drive investment strategies, leading to significant success in the hedge fund industry. By 2019, High-Flyer managed assets exceeding 10 billion yuan.
What Is DeepSeek and Its Impact on AI?
In 2019, Liang established High-Flyer AI, focusing on AI algorithm research and foundational applications. This initiative culminated in the creation of DeepSeek, an AI-driven platform designed to advance artificial general intelligence (AGI). DeepSeek emphasizes long-term, fundamental research, aiming to explore the essence of human intelligence and its underlying processes.
DeepSeek gained international attention with the launch of DeepSeek-R1, an open-source inference model rivaling OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This development positioned DeepSeek as a formidable player in the AI industry, challenging established tech giants.
How Does Liang Wenfeng Approach Talent Acquisition?
Liang adopts a unique approach to building his teams, prioritizing passion and ability over experience. He often hires recent graduates, believing that curiosity-driven exploration can lead to meaningful advancements in AI. This strategy has been instrumental in fostering innovation within his companies.
What Challenges Has Liang Wenfeng Faced?
Liang’s path to success was not without obstacles. After graduating, he moved to Chengdu, Sichuan, where he experimented with applying AI to various fields. Many of these early ventures failed until he applied AI to finance, leading to his breakthrough with High-Flyer.
What Is Liang Wenfeng’s Vision for the Future?
Liang is committed to bridging the gap between imitation and originality in China’s AI landscape. He believes that China must move beyond being a follower in AI development and engage in exploration to achieve true innovation. His work with DeepSeek reflects this vision, focusing on understanding human intelligence and advancing AGI.
Conclusion
Liang Wenfeng’s journey from a small city in Guangdong to becoming a billionaire entrepreneur exemplifies the power of innovation and perseverance. Through his ventures with High-Flyer and DeepSeek, he has significantly impacted the fields of finance and artificial intelligence, positioning himself as a leading figure in China’s technological advancement.
