Today, with 150 million startups worldwide and another 50 million launching annually, innovation and creativity are reshaping industries.
However, roughly 1 in 5 startups fail in the first year because of various difficulties, from financial struggles to poor product-market fit.
Recognizing this, OPPO actively engages with startups, providing essential support to help them navigate obstacles and bring their innovations to fruition.
“At OPPO, we understand the diverse needs of startups. We offer comprehensive support, including funding, technology, and marketing, to foster their growth and extend the benefits of technology to more people. Through these strategies, startups such as AlpsenTek, HUAYI, and CloudSteth are expected to apply their innovations to real life,” said Yan Ren, Director of Open Innovation, OPPO.
“As AI has become one of the most promising areas these days, OPPO is actively entering this space and seeking further collaboration with startups to unlock new possibilities with AI.”
Go beyond investment
Startups need more than an idea to be successful. AlpsenTek, a machine vision specialist, leveraged OPPO’s financial and technical support to integrate its cutting-edge hybrid vision sensor, ALPIX-Eiger®, with AI algorithm capabilities.
Leveraging Qualcomm’s Snapdragon® Mobile Platforms, OPPO led the development of AI motion algorithms that can process sensor information to de-blur images and help users capture true-to-life moments on the fly.
This has enabled AlpsenTek’s leading technology to be applied to smartphones and allowed it to drive AI-related innovation further for both sides.
As OPPO has been investing in XR, another startup – DeepMirror – has joined OPPO’s innovation networks.
To help the industry quickly recognize the company, OPPO invited DeepMirror to showcase its latest AR game at MWC24.
Powered by its cloud-based service, MirrorVerse, visitors can interact with natural environments inside games, adding more fun to the experience.
Co-create to drive disruption
Co-creation is the key to cultivating new technologies. Whether for a big company or a startup, co-creation allows both parties to make one plus one sum into something more than two.
An excellent example of this kind of R&D partnership is with one of our startup friends, HUAYI Medical Technologies. Founded in 2021, HUAYI is a high-tech startup specializing in contactless health monitoring technology and products.
The company’s core technology solution is “WonTrackR,” which combines millimetre wave technology, radar/physiological signal processing and reconstruction, and AI modelling.
Unlike the old mechanical medical equipment, a WonTrackR device can be placed anywhere at home to monitor various health metrics, caring for family members warmly and unconsciously.
Another example is CloudSteth. CloudSteth’s intelligent auscultation system can automatically analyze heart and lung sounds through AI to help children with pneumonia, asthma, and congenital heart disease get diagnosed earlier and receive the necessary medical treatment.
The company has accumulated rich experience in medical treatment through close cooperation with leading hospitals in China.
Both startups’ solutions are making meaningful advancements in preventive healthcare and telemedicine, one of OPPO’s core research fields.
During INNO DAY 2022, OPPO unveiled its OHealth H1 family health monitor, which helps diagnose illnesses and provides treatment suggestions.
OPPO is joining HUAYI and CloudSteth to conduct clinical trials to increase the accuracy of data monitoring for AI algorithms and refine IoT products like OHealth H1.
Drawing on long-term empowerment
For OPPO, empowering startups is not a one-off but a part of its permanent mission.
Initiatives like the OPPO Inspiration Challenge provide startups with ongoing support and global recognition opportunities.
For example, OPPO worked with Tangtangquan to implement its digital therapeutic solution on the OPPO Watch 3 and 4, which has helped more than 20,000 users monitor their blood glucose and manage their health more conveniently.
In December 2023, OPPO invited Bluepha Co., Ltd. to showcase its green material alternative to plastic – PHA, to a global audience during COP28.
The material was crafted into the phone case for the OPPO Find N2 Flip, proving its potential for commercial use in the future.
As the AI revolution reshapes possibilities across industries, startups represent a beacon of hope for pioneering advancements.
OPPO remains dedicated to collaborating with and supporting the next generation of startups, driving innovation, and delivering transformative experiences for users worldwide.
