South Korean Investors Flock to Chinese AI Firm MiniMax in Record-Breaking IPO
South Korean Capital Fuels China's AI Boom
Hong Kong's stock market is witnessing an unprecedented surge of interest from South Korean investors, with artificial intelligence firm MiniMax emerging as their top pick. The company, which went public in January 2026, has attracted $20.67 million in net purchases from Korean investors - more than any other Hong Kong-listed stock.
The Fastest Ascent in AI History
MiniMax's journey from startup to publicly traded company took just four years - a blink of an eye in the typically slow-moving world of tech IPOs. Founded in early 2022, the company has shattered records to become the fastest-growing AI firm to reach public markets globally.
What makes MiniMax so special? The answer lies in its star-studded investor roster that reads like a who's who of Chinese tech. Early backers include gaming giant Mihoyo and venture capital powerhouse Hillhouse Capital, while later rounds brought in strategic investments from Alibaba and Tencent.
Beyond MiniMax: A Sector on the Rise
The enthusiasm for MiniMax reflects broader confidence in China's AI ecosystem. Other domestic players like DeepSeek and Zhipu GLM-5 are also making waves with their latest model releases, proving that Chinese large language models can compete globally in both performance and commercialization potential.
Korean investors aren't just betting on one horse - they're backing the entire Chinese AI sector. Semiconductor firms Lianqilab and Innoscience also made the top ten list of Korean net purchases, showing diversified interest across China's tech landscape.
Why This Matters
The MiniMax phenomenon tells us three important things:
- Global capital recognizes China's growing strength in artificial intelligence
- Investor appetite for AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) commercialization is stronger than ever
- The traditional IPO timeline for tech companies may be permanently accelerated
As one market analyst put it: "When you see this level of international interest combined with record-breaking growth, you're looking at more than just a company - you're seeing an entire industry come of age."
Key Points:
- $20.67 million: Net purchases of MiniMax by South Korean investors
- 4 years: From founding to IPO - fastest ever for an AI company
- 7 funding rounds: Attracted top-tier investors including Tencent and Alibaba
