Recently, the "Hurun China Under25s 2024" list, issued by the Hurun Research Institute, was officially unvealed. Chu Yichen, a doctoral candidate from the School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation of NEU and the founder and CEO of LinDong Bionic, appeared on this list. He stood out from numerous young entrepreneurs due to his outstanding and innovative achievements and excellent entrepreneurial practice in the field of biomimetic underwater robots. He is the first student entrepreneur to receive this honor in the NEU (only 25 individuals in China were featured on this list).
The list published by Hurun Research Institute has extensive influence and recognition globally as it is one of the largest startup list compiling institutions in the world. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Hurun Report, the Hurun China Under25s 2024 list was launched for the first time, aiming to find entrepreneurial pioneers in China under the age of 25. Through high-quality lists and research, it encourages entrepreneurship and value creation. Focusing on entrepreneurial pioneers in China under the age of 25, 25 outstanding young entrepreneurs were carefully selected based on strict multi-dimensional criteria such as age limit, enterprise valuation, and social impact, providing them with a high-level display platform. The average value of these entrepreneurial enterprises is as high as RMB 48 million.
Chu Yichen, the founder and CEO of LinDong Bionic, born in 2000, is a 2019-grade undergraduate student and a 2023-grade direct-entry doctoral student in the School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation of NEU. He is the recipient of the "President's Medal" of NEU, the "Most Influential Graduate" of NEU, and has been recognized as an APEA Asia-Pacific Youth Leader and a Davos Global Outstanding Youth. In 2021, during the "Bringing Culture/Science and Technology/Hygienic Health to the Countryside" social practice at school, Chu Yichen noticed the problems in fishery farming. To solve the problems of poor water quality and frequent fish diseases, he established the Biomimetic Intelligence Laboratory at NEU and led the team to deeply engage in the field of underwater biomimetic robots. During the R&D process, the product was continuously refined and iterated through various competitions, winning more than 100 international and national awards. After three years of technical accumulation, Chu Yichen founded Lindong Biomimetic Technology Co.,LTD in November 2023 and received investments valued millions of RMB from MiraclePlus and Xiaomi Koochang in 2024. Currently, the company is promoting an investment valued RMB 5 million with Beijing Yida. It was invested by MiraclePlus and Xiaomi Koochang in the first financing. Now it is valued RMB 50 million.
Since LinDong Bionic’s establishment, Chu Yichen has led a team to win the gold medal in the 11th China Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the only project with the highest investment value in China at the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hero Association, the gold medal in the "Challenge Cup" China University Student Entrepreneurship Plan Competition, and the Best Entrepreneurial Project Award at the National University Student Innovation Annual Conference, with the team ranking first in China. As the representative of the award winners, he went on stage to receive the award. During the development of the project, Chu Yichen, as a representative, introduced it to the leaders of the National Development and Reform Commission and foreign friends at the Zhongguancun National Convention Center. He received multiple authoritative media reports from CCTV, People's Daily Online, CNR News, Xinhua News Agency, and gave speeches and reports at the International Agricultural Expo. At present, the company's products have been applied in Dalian, Huludao and other places. The low drive biomimetic robot matrix and intelligent aquaculture management platform developed by the company are gradually being applied to various aspects of fishery aquaculture, promoting the transformation of traditional industries and leading them towards intelligent transformation.
During the development of the project, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship College of NEU provided comprehensive support for the LinDong Bionic project, which ran through the entire process of project growth and incubation. The college not only provides theoretical guidance and practical platforms, but also provides multidimensional assistance through funding support, policy consultation, market connecting, etc., to ensure the smooth development of projects, accelerate enterprise growth, and fully reflect the college's deep investment and remarkable achievements in promoting students’ innovation and entrepreneurship education.
