MiniMax Hits $38.9 Billion Valuation as Goldman Sachs Spotlights China's AI Cost Advantage
MiniMax Soars as AI Efficiency Wins Global Recognition
Goldman Sachs has turned its analytical spotlight on China's MiniMax, assigning the multimodal AI company a staggering $38.9 billion valuation in its inaugural coverage report. The investment bank's analysis reveals how this relatively young player is shaking up the global AI landscape through technical ingenuity and smart international positioning.
The Price-Performance Paradox
At first glance, MiniMax appears to defy industry logic:
- Near-top-tier capabilities: Their models covering text, video and audio perform nearly as well as leading US competitors
- Radical cost savings: Operating expenses come in at about one-tenth of comparable Western products
- Agent affordability: Running their AI agents costs just $1 per hour - pocket change in enterprise terms
The secret lies in MiniMax's MoE (Mixture of Experts) architecture, which dynamically allocates computing resources only where needed. "It's like having a team of specialists who only clock in when their specific skills are required," explains one industry analyst.
Going Global Against the Grain
While most Chinese tech firms focus domestically before expanding abroad, MiniMax flipped the script:
- 70% international revenue: An unusually high proportion comes from overseas markets
- Reverse technology flow: Demonstrates China exporting cutting-edge AI rather than importing it
- Projected growth: Annual revenue expected to jump from $750M (2025) to $980M (2027)
The company's Hong Kong-listed shares hit HK$886 following the report, pushing its market value toward HK$280 billion.
Why This Matters Beyond Finance
The MiniMax story reflects broader shifts:
- Cost matters: Even advanced AI must prove economic viability
- Globalization 2.0: Tech innovation now flows multidirectionally
- Architecture arms race: MoE may challenge traditional model approaches
The Goldman validation suggests investors now recognize operational efficiency as equally important as raw technical capability in the AI gold rush.
Key Points:
- Goldman Sachs values MiniMax at $38.9B in first coverage report
- MoE architecture enables premium performance at budget prices
- Unusual 70% overseas revenue mix defies China tech norms
- Stock price hits record HK$886 on positive analyst outlook