U.S. venture capitalists have reduced investments in Chinese startups in recent years amid souring relations between the two countries, but many are taking weekslong trips to meet with China's tech founders. Last month, three partners at Peter Thiel's Founders Fund—Sean Liu, John Luttig, and Joey Krug—visited tech companies in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. It was the second trip to China for Liu in the past year and the first for Luttig, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. The purpose was not to make investments but to learn about China's thriving tech sector, a sign of the influence Chinese startups like DeepSeek wield in the hottest parts of tech.
Related Articles
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.