Kai-Fu Lee's Sinovation Invests in Linux Tablet Maker Jingling

Sinovation Ventures Invests in Linux-Based Tablet and Laptop Startup

Kai-Fu Lee’s Sinovation Ventures is concentrating its investment efforts on a specialized segment of the technology market – software developers. Recently, the venture capital firm spearheaded a $10 million angel investment round for Jingling, a Chinese company focused on the development of tablets and laptops powered by Linux. This information was reported by TechCrunch.

Jingling’s Rapid Growth and Team Composition

Established in June 2020, Jingling has swiftly grown to a team of 80 professionals. These individuals bring expertise from prominent organizations such as Aliyun OS, Alibaba’s Linux distribution, Thunder Software – a provider of Chinese operating system solutions – and the broader Chinese open source community.

The majority of the company’s personnel are dedicated to the creation of its Linux-based operating system, known as JingOS, and are based in Beijing. The remaining team members concentrate on hardware development in Shenzhen, where the company’s supply chain is situated.

Sinovation’s Rationale for Investment

“Investment in operating systems represents a strategically sound opportunity,” stated Peter Fang, a partner at Sinovation Ventures, in an interview with TechCrunch. “We have observed the optimal blend of functionality and user experience in products like the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard. However, no tablet manufacturer has yet replicated this level of satisfaction within the Android ecosystem, leading us to support JingOS.”

The investor further explained that this investment aligns with Sinovation’s belief in the increasing role of ARM architecture in powering both mobile and desktop devices in the future.

JingPad A1 and Early Market Traction

Jingling’s initial product, the JingPad A1 tablet – built on the ARM architecture – has already seen over 500 units shipped during a pre-sale phase. Interest is further being generated through an ongoing crowdfunding initiative. Currently, the company utilizes processors from Tsinghua Unigroup, but is evaluating options from Qualcomm and MediaTek for future production runs, as indicated by Liu.

The JingOS operating system, which is available as open source on GitHub, has garnered over 50,000 downloads from users globally, with a significant proportion originating from the United States and Europe.

Focus on the Developer Community

Liu Chengcheng, co-founder of Jingling alongside Zhu Rui, believes there is substantial demand within the developer community to support the startup’s initial growth. Liu previously established 36Kr, a leading Chinese startup news platform, while Zhu brings extensive experience as an operating system specialist and veteran of Motorola and Lenovo.

According to Liu, prioritizing the Linux community is a strategic first step, as “entering the broader consumer market initially presents significant challenges.”

Positioning in the Chinese Market

“The Linux market, while limited in size for major technology companies, poses a considerable hurdle for smaller startups… with the exception of Jingling, Huawei is the only other Chinese company actively developing a mobile operating system, though HarmonyOS is primarily focused on IoT devices.”

JingOS: Bridging Desktop and Mobile Experiences

The launch of a new operating system is an ambitious undertaking. While Linux laptops have been available for some time, Jingling aims to differentiate itself by providing a unified experience for both desktop and mobile applications. JingOS is designed to be compatible with Linux desktop software, such as WPS Office and Terminal, as well as standard Android applications.

The JingPad A1 tablet features a detachable keyboard, transforming it into a laptop-like device, mirroring the functionality of Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad.

“This offers a valuable tool for programmers, allowing them to code within the Linux environment while also having access to Android mobile apps on the go,” Liu explained.

Future Expansion and Chromebook Market

Jingling intends to expand its user base and target the Chromebook market within the next two years, according to Liu. The success of Chromebooks – which accounted for 10.8% of the PC market in 2020 and are increasingly challenging Microsoft’s dominance – demonstrates a declining demand for traditional Windows personal computers, the founder noted.

Pricing and Market Positioning

The JingPad A1 is priced starting at $549, compared to the broad price range of Chromebooks, which typically fall between $200 and $550 depending on specifications and hardware providers. While tablets and PCs experienced a sales increase during the pandemic due to remote work and learning, Jingling will need to refine its pricing strategy and establish a clear market position for long-term success.