Summary of Key Points
Tangshan Beijian, a company that sells health supplements, has recently become a dark horse in the AI industry. In just a few months, it invested 450 million yuan in top AI projects such as DeepSeek and Yuezhiànmiàn (Moon’s Dark Side), and also made moves into chip manufacturing. Its ability to secure these highly sought-after investments is not due to its technical prowess, but rather its years of building investor networks (as a limited partner in well-known funds) and connections through family members of the company’s controlling shareholders. This move reflects the anxiety within the health supplement industry, which is seeing peak growth, as companies seek new opportunities driven by the AI trend. However, such cross-industry ventures also carry significant risks—similar to the failed investment by Lianhua MSG in computing power solutions.
Detailed Analysis
1. Tangshan Beijian’s Access to AI Projects: Leveraging Networks and Relationships
Investing in top AI projects is not just about having money; for instance, DeepSeek’s initial round of financing had a five-year lock-up period and no voting rights, accessible only to giants like Tencent and CATL, as well as a few select funds. How did Tangshan Beijian manage to get involved?
- DeepSeek: The company first invested 130 million yuan in a fund managed by Lisi Capital (acting as a limited partner), which then invested in DeepSeek’s equity platform. Through this three-layered structure, Tangshan Beijian indirectly acquired a 0.04% stake in DeepSeek. The founder of Lisi Capital is a former partner at Sequoia Capital, providing access to valuable resources. Tangshan Beijian’s network, built through previous roles as a limited partner in funds such as Danlu Capital and Dachen Caizhi, helped it secure this opportunity.
- Yuezhiànmiàn: The mother-in-law of Tangshan Beijian’s controlling shareholder, Sun Jinyu, indirectly holds shares in Yuezhiànmiàn. Using this connection, Tangshan Beijian invested 15 million US dollars to acquire a 0.12% stake. They even set up a special SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) fund in the Cayman Islands specifically for this investment, which is only open to selected networks.
In simple terms, AI projects are like exclusive gatherings; Tangshan Beijian had to either become a partner in these initiatives or rely on family connections to gain a foothold.
2. Why Are Health Supplement Companies Turning to AI?
Tangshan Beijian’s core business, health supplements, is facing stagnation due to a saturated market with slow growth. As of the end of 2025, it had 2.4 billion yuan in cash and an asset-liability ratio of less than 20%, leaving it with surplus funds that needed to be invested wisely. AI is currently a hot sector that offers both a compelling narrative for investors (potentially boosting stock prices) and relatively low risk. The 450 million yuan investment accounts for only 14% of its total cash reserves, allowing for significant returns if successful, without impacting its main business. For example, DeepSeek is valued at over 30 billion yuan, so even a small stake could result in substantial gains if the company goes public in the future.
3. More Than Just Tangshan Beijian: A Trend of Consumer Companies Exploring AI
Tangshan Beijian is not alone in this trend; many consumer companies are crossing into the AI space:
- Lianhua MSG invested 690 million yuan in computing equipment and another 300 million yuan in AI models.
- The parent company of Liùgè Huá (Six Walnuts) invested 1.6 billion yuan in Changjiang Storage.
- Guotóu Zhōnglǔhuā (Guotou Zhongluhua), a juice giant, spent 6 billion yuan on acquiring a semiconductor design institute.
The common factor behind these moves is the saturation and intense competition in their traditional industries, prompting them to explore AI as a new growth opportunity. However, many companies lack a real understanding of AI and are simply following the trend.
4. The Risks of Cross-Industry AI Investments: Lianhua MSG’s Lessons
Not all cross-industry attempts are successful. Lianhua MSG’s experience serves as a cautionary tale:
- Despite investing heavily in computing equipment, it lacked stable customers and core technology, leading to difficulties in cash flow and increased debt (930 million yuan in interest-bearing liabilities by 2025). Its stock price plummeted when it announced the cancellation of a 1.2 billion yuan computing contract.
Although Tangshan Beijin’s investment is smaller and carries less risk, it still faces similar challenges: it lacks expertise in AI and no clear synergy with its main business. If the value of its AI investments collapses, the losses could be significant.
5. Conclusion: Access Does Not Equal Success
Obtaining an entry into the AI industry does not guarantee success. AI is a capital-intensive, long-term sector, and traditional companies often lack the necessary technology, talent, and industry resources to transform effectively. Only a few companies that select the right projects and can integrate them with their core business will truly benefit. For Tangshan Beijian, this might be more of a low-risk gamble—using limited funds to bet on the future, but it’s unlikely to instantly transform into an AI company.
This news article reflects the collective anxiety of traditional companies in a saturated market: they fear missing out on the AI revolution but don’t know how to seize the opportunity, so they opt to get involved first. Whether these AI initiatives will be successful remains to be seen.