# China Tech Investment

The Edge of Intelligence: China’s ModelBest Becomes a Unicorn in the Race for On-Device AI

Tsinghua-linked AI startup ModelBest has achieved unicorn status after raising over 1 billion yuan in Q1 2026. The company is pivoting away from massive cloud models to focus on high-efficiency 'Edge AI' for devices, supported by a strategic alliance of Beijing and Shenzhen capital.