Latest fund size
Undisclosed
Announced
October 29, 2026
Global HQ
China
Members only
Check size
$5M-$10M
Members only
Stage focus
Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Growth
Members only
Regions of investment
China
Members only
Starlink Capital is a Beijing-based venture capital firm founded in 2021 that invests in early-stage AI and next-generation intelligent technology. The firm has built deep ties to Tsinghua University, with more than 70% of its over 100 portfolio companies Tsinghua-affiliated, and runs the Starlink T-ONE Innovation Lab with the university to connect young scientists, research teams, and entrepreneurs.
Zhang Mingchen, Founding and Managing Partner
Members only
Names, roles, emails and LinkedIn profiles for the team, plus the fund's website.
Starlink Capital centers its thesis on top AI researchers, evaluating founders on research ability, research taste, and research leadership, and says it invests in only about the top 1% of researchers it reviews.
The firm organizes its focus around six areas: foundation models and learning paradigms, chips, AI infrastructure, AI-native applications, embodied intelligence, and scientific intelligence, and favors companies building state-of-the-art technology.
It invests across all stages, from angel through growth, reviewing 2,500 to 3,000 projects a year and investing in roughly 1% of them.
Members only
What the fund looks for in founders and which sectors it backs.
Starlink Capital has completed the first close of its debut USD fund, moving the firm onto a dual-currency structure alongside its existing renminbi vehicles.
The firm's third venture fund and its first growth fund both closed in the first half of 2026, and its renminbi fund has been oversubscribed.
Fund sizes have not been disclosed.
Zhipu AI, which Starlink backed as an angel investor in its first year, was the USD fund's first project and represents about 40% of that fund's capital.
The firm also serves as general partner of Z Fund (Beijing Xinglian Dingsen Equity Investment Fund), launched in 2024, in which Zhipu itself holds a stake as a limited partner.
Members only
Fund size, LPs and track record.
Leadership
Starlink Capital was founded by Zhang Mingchen, who serves as Founding and Managing Partner.
Investment Strategy
The firm invests across all stages, from angel through growth, centered on researcher-led founders building state-of-the-art AI technology. Check sizes are not disclosed.
Notable Investments
Members only
Leadership, investment strategy, notable investments and exits.
