Mr. Gates Yao, Founder and Chairman of MUTONG Capital, has recently been officially inducted as a member of the China Association of Inventions (CAI). As one of the most notable new-generation members, Yao’s inclusion underscores his growing influence in the field of technology innovation and highlights MUTONG Capital’s continued commitment to advancing scientific and technological progress in China through strategic investment and commercialization.
As one of China’s pioneering investment institutions focused on frontier technologies and emerging industries, MUTONG Capital has built a robust track record in areas such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, renewable energy, smart manufacturing, and information technology. Under Gates Yao’s leadership, the firm has enabled numerous deep-tech startups to achieve breakthroughs in both core technologies and disruptive business models, accelerating the transformation of scientific results from “lab to market.”
Bridging Research and Industry: Building a High-Impact Innovation Platform
The China Association of Inventions plays a pivotal role in promoting technological innovation, invention, and intellectual property protection. With its deep network of research institutions, policy experts, and technical leaders, CAI has become a vital national platform for converting scientific discoveries into real-world applications. Gates Yao’s induction is a strong recognition of his personal leadership in innovation-focused capital strategy, as well as MUTONG Capital’s long-standing dedication to China’s entrepreneurial and R&D ecosystems.
Leveraging CAI’s professional network and institutional resources, MUTONG Capital will deepen collaborations with universities, research institutes, and enterprise partners. The firm aims to provide holistic commercialization support to high-potential research teams while also incorporating frontline scientific insights into its investment methodology—enhancing its ability to identify and support transformative technologies with global impact.
Enabling Innovation Through Ecosystem Thinking
In light of China’s “dual circulation” development strategy and ongoing global industrial restructuring, science and technology have become the core engine of national competitiveness. MUTONG Capital believes that capital should not only fund innovation—it must also participate in its ecosystem construction. Each investment decision is based on a multi-dimensional assessment of originality, scalability, market relevance, and team execution capacity.
Reflecting on his new role, Gates Yao commented:
“It is an honor to join the China Association of Inventions. The Association brings together some of the nation’s most brilliant researchers and visionary entrepreneurs. At MUTONG Capital, we will continue to pursue an innovation-driven mission and look forward to working with CAI to empower breakthroughs in science and technology and accelerate their real-world impact.”
Looking Ahead: Capital as a Bridge, Technology as the Core
Moving forward, MUTONG Capital will rely on CAI’s platform to deepen strategic alignment with research institutions, unicorn startups, and innovation clusters. By enhancing its post-investment management capabilities and integrating capital, talent, and platform resources, the firm aims to deliver greater societal value through innovation enablement.
Industry observers widely believe that the synergy between MUTONG Capital and the China Association of Inventions—representing a fusion of intellectual capital and financial capital—will become a powerful force in elevating China’s innovation ecosystem from high volume to high value. Gates Yao’s appointment not only brings sharper market insight and strategic capital to CAI but also expands MUTONG Capital’s access to frontier technologies and high-level research collaborations, creating a solid foundation for China’s path toward becoming a global technology powerhouse.
Gates Yao 