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Black Sesame Technologies

Category: AI Chips / Semiconductors

A leading provider of automotive-grade computing SoCs (System-on-Chip) and AI-based solutions, specializing in high-performance chips for autonomous driving and smart cockpit integration. Black Sesame Technologies was founded in 2016. The company is led by Johnson Shan. Based in Wuhan, China. Team size: 1000+. Total funding raised: $846M. Latest round: Venture Round. Key investors include ["Xiaomi","Tencent","NIO Capital","Bosch","SummitView Capital (Wu Yuefeng)","SAIC Motor","Geely","Legend Capital","Infini Capital","Shanghai Daixu Venture Capital Fund"].

Founded
2016
Headquarters
Wuhan, China
Team size
1000+
Total funding
$846M

Value proposition

Delivers high-performance, low-power, and cost-effective computing platforms that enable the transition from assisted driving (L2) to fully autonomous driving (L4) through proprietary NPU and ISP architectures and cross-domain integration.

Products and solutions

["Huashan Series (Autonomous Driving): A1000, A1000L, A1000 Pro, and the high-power A2000 SoC.","Wudang Series (Cross-domain Integration): C1200 family (C1236, C1296) for integrated smart cabin and driving.","Development Toolchains: Shanhai AI toolchain and SesameX software platform.","Automotive Middleware: Hanhai middleware for simplified system-level development.","Robotics Solutions: Pre-designed SOM (System on Module) boards powered by Huashan/Wudang chips for service robots and smart manufacturing."]

Unique value

Pioneered the 'All-in-One' cross-domain computing concept in China, allowing a single chip (Wudang C1200) to simultaneously handle smart cockpit features, autonomous driving, and vehicle data exchange, significantly reducing system cost and complexity.

Target customer

Global automotive OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), Tier-1 suppliers, autonomous driving solution providers, and robotics companies.

Industries served

["Automotive (Passenger & Commercial Vehicles)","Intelligent Transportation (V2X/Smart Roads)","Robotics & Embodied AI","Smart Manufacturing","Consumer Electronics (Vision-based AI)"]

Technology advantage

Maintains a full-stack self-developed IP portfolio, including the DynamiAI Neural Network Engine (NPU), NeuralIQ ISP, and BLink high-speed interconnect technology, ensuring industry-leading energy efficiency (TOPS/W) and high safety standards (ISO 26262 ASIL-D).

How they differentiate

Pioneered the 'All-in-One' cross-domain computing architecture with the Wudang C1200 series, enabling a single SoC to handle smart cockpit, autonomous driving, and vehicle data exchange simultaneously. Differentiates through full-stack self-developed IPs, including the DynamiAI NPU and NeuralIQ ISP, offering superior energy efficiency (TOPS/W) and high safety standards (ISO 26262 ASIL-D) compared to general-purpose chips.

Main competitors

["Horizon Robotics","NVIDIA","Mobileye","Huawei","Texas Instruments"]

Key partnerships

["Automotive OEMs: FAW Group, Geely, SAIC, Dongfeng, JAC, Hongqi, and Lotus.","Strategic Technology Partners: Intel (SDV SoC integration), Baidu Apollo, Tencent Cloud, WindRiver, BlackBerry QNX, and Arteris.","Tier-1 Suppliers: Bosch, ZF, Aptiv, Joyson Electronics, Desay SV, and Continental.","Strategic Investors: Xiaomi, Tencent, NIO Capital, SummitView Capital, Infini Capital, and Shanghai Daixu.","New Partnerships: Dongfeng Motor + Joyson Electronics co-developed Wudang C1296 mass-production solution; Banma Network Technology for integrated cockpit-driving edge AI."]

Notable customers

["FAW Group","SAIC Motor","Geely","Dongfeng Motor","JAC Motors","Lotus","Bosch","ZF"]

Major milestones

["Successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (2533.HK) in August 2024.","Launched the Wudang C1200 series in April 2023, the industry's first cross-domain integrated SoC.","Reached 'Unicorn' status following a Series C+ round in December 2021 with a valuation over $2 billion.","Mass production of Huashan A1000 series chips secured by major OEMs including Geely and FAW.","Huashan A2000 cleared US Dept of Commerce and Defense reviews for global sales (Jan 2026).","Acquired controlling 60% stake in Eeasy Tech to expand edge AI portfolio (Jan 2026).","Launched SesameX multi-dimensional embodied intelligence computing platform for robotics (2025).","FY2025 revenue grew 73.4% YoY to RMB 822M (Mar 2026)."]

Growth metrics

FY2025 revenue reached RMB 822M (up 73.4% YoY); net loss RMB 1.4B. Listed on HKEX (2533.HK) in Aug 2024. Acquired controlling stake in Eeasy Tech (Jan 2026). Huashan A2000 cleared US regulatory reviews for global sales (Jan 2026).

Market positioning

Top-tier domestic autonomous driving SoC provider; currently ranked as one of the top 3 domestic suppliers in China's L2 to L2+ AD SoC market, positioning itself as a cost-effective and high-integration challenger to global leaders like NVIDIA and Mobileye.

Geographic focus

Primary focus on the Chinese domestic automotive market; expanding presence in the Asia-Pacific and global markets through strategic partnerships with international Tier-1 suppliers and software firms like BlackBerry QNX and ZF.

Patents and IP

Holds a robust IP portfolio with hundreds of patents; founder Johnson Shan alone holds over 100 patents in vision perception and semiconductor design.

About Johnson Shan

Johnson Shan (Shan Jizhang) is a semiconductor veteran with over 30 years of experience. He was previously the Vice President of R&D at OmniVision Technologies, where he spent 20 years and was a core member of the founding team. He is a prolific inventor with over 100 patents in CMOS image sensors and vision perception. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Microelectronics from Tsinghua University.

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