"Hey, is this President Wang? I'm Zhou You from Xincheng Investment. I learned about your products through a friend and I'm quite interested. Would it be possible to visit your site and take a look?" Zhou You dialed Wang Tao's number from the contact info.
Wang Tao answered the call, completely baffled. The company was in its toughest moment, and he had no mood to entertain someone interested.
"President Zhou, I'm really sorry, but many of our products are still in R&D and not mature yet."
Zhou You was a bit puzzled. Who turns away investment? At least DJI wasn't in a position to do that yet.
"President Wang, if your product line were mature, I wouldn't be interested. I invest in immaturity," Zhou You said bluntly.
Wang Tao finally caught on. "I'm really sorry, President Zhou. I've been swamped lately and thought you were just an enthusiast."
"The company has been quite busy recently. When would you like to come? We'll prepare everything."
As Wang Tao spoke on the phone, his heart raced with excitement. Although the company had secured some investment last year, it was nearly depleted due to continuous R&D spending, and they hadn't found new funding yet. Many investment firms didn't believe in them.
To this day, they still didn't have a finished product to show, making it impossible to convince investors.
"How about this? I happen to be free tomorrow, so I'll come directly. But I'll need you to pick me up at the airport, President Wang, or I won't find your place."
"That's only right. I'll start preparing," Wang Tao said, hanging up and gathering his team.
At the time, DJI had only a few dozen employees and one semi-finished product with high costs that couldn't be mass-produced.
What could they do? They had to tell a story.
After the call, Zhou You booked his tickets, ready to move quickly and avoid any delays.
Shenzhen—this was his first visit, both in his past and present life.
He walked with the crowd, looking for his name sign. A few steps in, he spotted a man of medium build, slightly thin, with black-rimmed glasses.
Zhou You hurried over to the man holding the sign. "Hello, I'm Zhou You. Are you from DJI?"
The man quickly lowered the sign and shook Zhou You's hand. "Hello, I'm Wang Tao. Thank you so much for coming, President Zhou."
Zhou You was taken aback, not expecting Wang Tao to pick him up personally. It seemed the company was indeed struggling.
"I didn't expect you to go out of your way to pick me up, President Wang. I'm really sorry."
"I should be the one apologizing. I thought about visiting you instead, but I figured you'd want to inspect our company and see the site, so I didn't mention it," Wang Tao said, leading the way.
On the road, Wang Tao briefly introduced himself, the company, and its products.
Wang Tao grew up in Hangzhou, born in 1980. His mother was a teacher, his father an engineer. Later, both parents quit their jobs to start businesses in Shenzhen, becoming small business owners. He boarded with a teacher's family through middle school and took the college entrance exam.
In 2003, as a junior at East China Normal University, Wang Tao dropped out and applied to top universities worldwide. Only the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering accepted him.
In 2006, Wang Tao and two classmates from his graduation project officially founded DJI, using the remainder of his university scholarship to develop helicopter flight control systems. The company started with just five or six people, working out of a residential apartment in Shenzhen.
Due to the shabby office, they couldn't attract top talent, and even the two co-founders left after two tough years.
In 2008, their first relatively mature product, the XP3.1 helicopter flight control system, hit the market. By 2010, DJI's monthly sales reached hundreds of thousands of yuan.
As Wang Tao spoke, Zhou You got a clear picture.
At the company, Zhou You saw the简陋 conditions firsthand.
Located in a suburban area, they had only a few office spaces, with product assembly and R&D done in a factory on the outskirts.
"President Wang, I recently co-produced a documentary with CCTV, had business dealings with Shanghai TV, and invested in some films," Zhou You began, briefly outlining his background.
"When I discussed filming with them, I realized drone photography was revolutionary, but there were no mature products on the market," he continued, pausing to drink water as the others listened intently.
"Through my research, I found many people working on drones, but each had a different focus. Personally, I'm interested in your direction, President Wang."
Wang Tao sat there, eyes fixed on Zhou You, listening carefully. He felt reassured but wondered how the product would look.
"President Zhou, our R&D differs from others. We're targeting ordinary enthusiasts—people who love photography and drones but lack expertise. We provide services without requiring specialized skills."
"Traditional drones are mostly for hobbyists or those with technical knowledge, making them too complex."
"Have you made any technological breakthroughs? How's it going?" Zhou You pressed.
Wang Tao's face showed a hint of awkwardness. "We're still in R&D, but we've made initial progress."
They chatted a bit more, but it was clear both sides were on the same page, just going through the motions.
Zhou You also visited their factory, seeing that their current products were still relatively professional, sold through traditional hobbyist channels, not widely accessible.
Throughout the tour, Wang Tao watched Zhou You's expressions—relaxed when he smiled, tense when he frowned. Internally, he calculated that with just 5 million yuan, he could hold out until a breakthrough.
Looking around, Zhou You marveled at the thought: who would imagine that a civilian drone giant could be born here?
Many companies with better technology and deeper pockets had failed. It came down to timing, location, and people—betting on the right direction, riding China's consumer boom, and lowering technical barriers.
"President Wang, I'm optimistic about your company, and I came with sincerity. What are your needs? Let's talk," Zhou You asked directly.
Wang Tao's heart pounded wildly. This was a make-or-break moment for the company. With investment, they could survive; without it, they might have to sell.
His Adam's apple bobbed, his hands fidgeted. Glancing at his co-founders, he saw them all watching him nervously.