How Yuan Yong and Xunwei Zhilian Are Redefining Smart Wearables with Relentless Micro-Innovation 🚀
Stepping into the office of Yuan Yong, founder of Shenzhen Xunwei Zhilian Technology Co., Ltd., visitors are immediately drawn to the lineup of sleek children’s smartwatches proudly displayed—each representing the company’s latest innovation. Hailing from Chongqing, Yuan embodies the perfect blend of technical precision and entrepreneurial acuity, combining the analytical mindset of an engineer with the decisive vision of a business leader.
In an exclusive interview with Slkor (slkormicro.com), Yuan shared how his personal career evolution mirrors the transformation of China’s communications industry: from his early focus on RF technology R&D during the 3G era, to launching his own venture amid the 4G boom, and now, to leading Xunwei Zhilian at the forefront of smart wearable innovation in the 5G age.
Looking ahead, Yuan firmly believes that as the “Internet of Everything” becomes reality, Xunwei Zhilian will unlock even greater opportunities—continuing to shape the future of intelligent connectivity through continuous micro-innovation.
Born in the 1980s, Yuan Yong graduated from Guangdong Ocean University in 2006 with a degree in Electronic Information Engineering. Since then, he has spent more than a decade immersed in the communications industry, steadily building his expertise and reputation.
When reflecting on his journey, Yuan often uses the word “serendipity.” “We can only do our best,” he says, “and leave the rest to fate.” Yet behind every so-called stroke of luck lies strategic thinking and decisive action.
At university, Yuan “accidentally” chose Electronic Information Engineering — a decision that would later become the cornerstone of his technical foundation. After graduation, he made a bold shift from software to hardware, mastering new disciplines through relentless curiosity and hands-on effort. Within just one year, he rose to become his company’s lead RF engineer.
For Yuan, success is never purely accidental. He believes that life’s turning points favor those who are prepared to recognize and seize opportunities when they appear.
In 2011, influenced by his family’s entrepreneurial background, inspired by the popular CCTV business program “Win in China,” and encouraged by a former boss who believed in “supporting brothers to start their own businesses,” Yuan Yong took his first bold step into entrepreneurship.
After years of hands-on experience and exploration, Yuan found like-minded partners and co-founded Xunwei Zhilian at the end of 2021. The company’s name, “Xunwei”—derived from the phrase “there is vast potential in the communications field”—reflects their deep-rooted commitment to advancing innovation in communications technology.
Having learned from the challenges of his previous startups, Yuan entered this venture with a clear strategic vision: to build a “Product-Oriented Factory.” From front-end design to back-end production, every process is handled in-house, achieving true vertical integration. This model, he explains, was shaped by experience:
“In the past, focusing only on providing solutions often led to high customer turnover. Now, by taking full control from R&D through manufacturing, we can ensure superior product quality and delivery efficiency.”
This shift marks not only a refined business strategy but also a reflection of Yuan’s evolved entrepreneurial mindset — one grounded in craftsmanship, control, and long-term value creation.
After several years of steady growth, Xunwei Zhilian has evolved into a cutting-edge high-tech enterprise specializing in the R&D, manufacturing, and sales of smart wearable products. The company not only offers comprehensive OEM and ODM services but also holds multiple independent intellectual property rights and product patents, underscoring its strong innovation capability.
With a modern 2,000㎡ production base, Xunwei Zhilian delivers a wide range of smart devices — including children’s smartwatches, elderly care wearables, fitness bands, smart reading pens, and pet GPS trackers.
Among its achievements, the company’s self-developed children’s smartwatch earned the “Global Sources Innovation Award” in 2024, a testament to its outstanding product design and technological excellence. Today, Xunwei Zhilian’s products are exported to dozens of countries and regions across Southeast Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, solidifying its reputation as a trusted global partner in the smart wearable industry.
Xunwei Zhilian's "Children's Smartwatch" wins the Global Sources Innovation Award
Currently, Xunwei Zhilian’s smart wearable products integrate a variety of advanced functions such as voice interaction, location tracking, and heart rate monitoring. According to founder Yuan Yong, the company’s core strength lies in its deep understanding of customer needs and the ability to customize and fine-tune products based on specific market demands.
He illustrated this with an example from Tecno Mobile’s success in Africa, which came from addressing a subtle yet impactful user pain point — “making darker skin tones appear lighter in photos.” In a similar spirit, Xunwei is exploring collaborations with popular IPs, incorporating beloved characters like “GG Bond” and “Balala the Fairies” into its children’s smartwatch designs. This approach of “micro-innovation” helps the company achieve distinctive product differentiation without relying solely on disruptive breakthroughs.
Yuan explained his philosophy vividly:
“Micro-innovation is more realistic and sustainable for small and medium-sized enterprises. It’s like cooking Twice-Cooked Pork — in Sichuan, it’s spicy; in Zhejiang, it’s sweeter. What matters most is understanding your users’ tastes, not just chasing high-end technology.”
When asked how to secure a foothold in such a fiercely competitive market, Yuan Yong summed it up in two words: “Deep Cultivation” and “Self-Reliance.”
“The longer you stay in this industry, the deeper your understanding becomes — only then can you truly master its nuances,” he explained.For Yuan, Deep Cultivation means unwavering focus on the smart communication sector. He believes that only by staying immersed in one field can a company remain technologically sharp and market-aware — ready to seize opportunities when they arise. Even as he explored different entrepreneurial paths over the years, Yuan never strayed from the communications industry, continually refining his expertise.
Self-Reliance, on the other hand, reflects his leadership philosophy.
“As a founder, you must rely on yourself first. If you’re not strong enough, no one can truly help you.”This mindset is embedded in Xunwei Zhilian’s company culture. Yuan has built a transparent, performance-driven management system, especially in the production department — where salary levels and promotion paths are publicly posted.
“If you want to earn five thousand, eight thousand, or ten thousand — it’s simple: reach the target, and you’ll get there,” he said with a smile.
This clear and motivational system has significantly boosted employee initiative and fostered a culture where the team and company grow stronger together.
Looking ahead, Yuan Yong and his partner Mr. Sheng have mapped out a clear and ambitious roadmap for Xunwei Zhilian’s growth.
During the first five years (2022–2026), the company aims to secure a top-three position in the global smart wearable market. In the next five years, the focus will expand toward children’s communication devices and smart healthcare equipment, with the ultimate goal of becoming a recognized industry-leading brand.
“We’ve built a solid foundation over the past few years,” Yuan shared confidently. “The next five years will likely be our period of rapid expansion.”He also highlighted the transformative potential of emerging technologies such as eSIM and 6G:
“In the future, devices may no longer require physical SIM cards. The ultra-low latency and massive bandwidth of 6G will unlock entirely new possibilities — from immersive VR and AR applications to seamless global connectivity.”
With this forward-looking strategy and focus on innovation, Xunwei Zhilian is positioning itself to be at the forefront of the next wave in smart wearable and connected device evolution.
Looking back, Yuan Yong describes his professional and entrepreneurial path as a series of five-year growth cycles — from his first five years mastering RF technology, through two rounds of entrepreneurial exploration, to the new growth phase now unfolding with Xunwei Zhilian.
What has changed over time are his roles and horizons; what has never changed are his steadfast focus and perseverance — the ability to dig deep, stay grounded, and grow steadily. Transitioning from a hands-on engineer to a forward-thinking business leader, Yuan firmly believes that no effort is ever wasted: every phase of deep cultivation lays the foundation for the next leap.
Today, under his leadership, Xunwei Zhilian continues to move forward with that same philosophy — steady, focused, and ready for its next breakthrough.
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