Award
DSTEK CTO Yan Cong named to the 36Kr "36 Under 36" list
Co-founder and CTO Yan Cong was named to 36Kr’s 2026 "36 Under 36" list for more than a decade of research and technical breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, industrial large models and AI vision.
On 16 June, 36Kr published its 2026 "36 Under 36" list. Yan Cong, co-founder and CTO of DSTEK, was named to it for over a decade of dedicated research and technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, industrial large models and AI vision.
The programme highlights entrepreneurs, technologists and investors under 36, seeking out people who move past established thinking and reshape an industry through innovation.
"Make algorithms run on production lines"
Yan Cong holds a master’s degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where under Professor Alexander Flueck he used machine learning to optimise smart grid scheduling — the beginning of his work with algorithms, and the origin of the conviction that became his guiding line.
After joining DSTEK he moved into industrial vision and led development of an in-house deep learning framework built on TensorFlow. His team brought fully automatic EL inspection systems for battery cells into production, completing the path from laboratory prototype to volume line in a matter of months.
Building ahead of the curve
He has since led the integration of automated labelling driven by industrial large models, AIGC industrial image generation, few-shot and zero-shot industrial visual learning, multimodal industrial large models, lightweight edge AI deployment and digital-twin visual perception into smart manufacturing and precision processing.
DSTEK now operates across more than 30 countries and regions including China, North America, Europe, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, working with leading global enterprises including over 100 Fortune 500 companies, and having delivered more than 15,000 intelligent production lines.
