MiningLamp Technology, a Chinese big data and artificial intelligence (AI) unicorn backed by Tencent and Temasek,
announced on Friday the completion of $200 million in a Series E+ round of financing led by Russia-China
Investment Fund (RCIF).
Besides the lead investor RCIF, which is a fund created in 2012 by government-backed investment vehicles in Russia
and China, MiningLamp’s existing shareholders Tencent and Beijing-based dual-currency fund Hundreds Capital
joined the round.
Other investors included Oriental Pearl Media Industry Equity Investment Fund, owned by Chinese media &
entertainment firm Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group; Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments; and CITIC Securities
Investment, an investment unit of Chinese brokerage firm CITIC Securities.
UOB Venture Management (UOBVM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based United Overseas Bank;
Capthrone; and China Sky Global participated in the investment.
As part of the investment, MiningLamp will forge “in-depth cooperation” with investors to expand its foothold in the
international market and to capture opportunities amid digitalisation across multiple industries worldwide.
“MiningLamp will partner with investors, such as RCIF and UOBVM, to jointly explore opportunities brought by
digitalisation in areas like infrastructures, energy, consumption, and finance in Russia and Southeast Asia,” said the
firm in a WeChat post.
“Since our previous strategic investment, we have continued to lift our efforts in expanding into the overseas market.
We now deliver our intelligent maintenance services, based on integrated big data and data analysis, to Singapore’s
MRT,” it added.
Founded in April 2014 with support from early-stage backers like Sequoia Capital China, MiningLamp started as a
provider of online ad performance evaluation solutions and fraud detection services.
The firm later expanded its focus to the development of natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, and
AI-enabled intelligent recognition, recommendation, and marketing solutions for corporate clients in the fields of
public security, finance, retail, smart city, and manufacturing, among others.
MiningLamp said that it has delivered its data-driven intelligent solutions to help over 2,000 customers transform
and upgrade their businesses. Its customers include Procter & Gamble (P&G); Yum China, the operator of KFC, Taco
Bell, and Pizza Hut restaurants in China; China Construction Bank; Beijing-based insurer China Life Insurance; and
city subways across Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
The firm plans to join hands with investors to implement an industry ecosystem strategy, under which it will work
with Tencent, CITIC Securities Investment, and Oriental Pearl Media Industry Equity Investment Fund in various
areas like smart city, intelligent industry, smart marketing, fintech, and new media.
Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments will help promote MiningLamp’s development and business expansion in
China’s Greater Bay Area, said the firm.
The Series E+ round marks Tencent’s fourth investment in Beijing-based MiningLamp. It came about eight months
after the Chinese gaming & social networking giant had co-led its $300-million Series E round in March 2020.
Singapore’s state-owned investment firm Temasek was another lead investor.
Tencent also led the startup’s 2-billion-yuan Series D round in March 2019, with participation from Huaxing Growth
Capital, an investment platform of Hong Kong-listed investment bank China Renaissance; property trust manager
AVIC Trust; and Beijing-based Gold Endeavor Capital.
MiningLamp’s 1-billion-yuan Series C round in April 2018 was backed by Tencent and Huaxing Growth Capital.
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