Ex-DJI (大疆) and Thunderbird (雷鸟) executives back AI virtual-character startup CODE27 as it closes two angel rounds

Funding and angle

Former product and simulation leaders from DJI (大疆) and Thunderbird (雷鸟) have launched CODE27, a Beijing-based AI virtual‑character firm that has reportedly closed back‑to‑back angel and angel‑plus rounds, raising more than US$10 million in total. The startup positions itself at the intersection of falling hardware costs and rising model capability, betting that embodied, multimodal AI characters — not flat chatbots — will become a mainstream interface for everyday life. Can a physical object make digital companionship stick? CODE27 thinks so.

Product and market strategy

It has been reported that CODE27’s first product focuses on “listen, see, respond, remember” multimodal interaction: users can upload custom character models and converse with AI in real time, with long‑term memory and behavior constraints designed to maintain continuity and safety. The company says hardware provides a ritualized, physical anchor — lighting, immersive displays and skin‑tone calibration — while software supplies contextual understanding, retrieval‑augmented memory and interaction pacing to create persistent relationships rather than ephemeral sessions.

Team and backers

The founding team draws from global hardware and AI talent, including former leads from DJI’s simulation group and Thunderbird; core members reportedly come from ByteDance (字节跳动), Tencent (腾讯) and other top Chinese tech firms. Investors named include Qiming Venture Partners (启明创投), Sequoia China (红杉中国) Seed Fund, Saiyi Industrial Fund (赛意产业基金), Puyue China Fund (璞跃中国基金) and Cornerstone Capital (基石资本), with Gaohu Capital (高鹄资本) serving as exclusive financial adviser.

Traction and context

CODE27 has reportedly raised over US$1.9 million on Kickstarter in April 2025 and seen strong early sales in Japan, where first‑day revenue exceeded ¥8.5 million and cumulative sales topped ¥14 million. The timing is notable: Chinese startups are exploiting cheaper components and smarter models to push hardware‑anchored AI into consumer markets even as US‑China tech tensions and export controls complicate global supply chains. For Western readers: this is part of a broader trend in China where hardware design, localized content and large local funding pools are converging to create new consumer AI experiences — and investors are betting that “digital companions” with physical presence will be a durable category.