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Xiaomi Corp.

Consumer ElectronicsFounded 2010
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Founders

Who Founded Xiaomi?

Lei Jun, Lin Bin · Founded 2010 · HQ today: Beijing, China

Who founded Xiaomi?

Xiaomi was founded by Lei Jun, Lin Bin in 2010 in Beijing, China. It is now led by Lei Jun.

Founders
Lei Jun, Lin Bin
Founded
2010
Headquarters
Beijing, China
Number of founders
2
Current CEO
Lei Jun (since 2010)
Where was Xiaomi founded?
Xiaomi was founded in Beijing, China in 2010. wikidata.org
When was Xiaomi founded?
Xiaomi was founded in 2010.
Who started Xiaomi?
Xiaomi was founded by Lei Jun and Lin Bin.
How old is Xiaomi?
Xiaomi is 16 years old as of 2026.

Founding Story

Lei Jun founded Xiaomi in Beijing in April 2010 with seven co-founders. Its first product was the MIUI Android software, released in August 2010. The Mi 1 smartphone followed in 2011 and sold online at a low price for its specifications.

Lei Jun

Co-founder 2010

Background

Lei Jun graduated in computer science from Wuhan University and spent much of his early career at software company Kingsoft, where he became CEO and led its Hong Kong IPO in 2007. He was also an active angel investor before founding Xiaomi.

Role at Xiaomi Corp.

Lei Jun founded Xiaomi in 2010 and is its chairman and CEO. He set the company's early strategy of selling well-specified phones online at low prices, built the MIUI user community, and later led Xiaomi's 2018 Hong Kong listing. In 2021 he announced Xiaomi's entry into electric vehicles and has personally led the car business, including the SU7 and YU7 launches.

Lei Jun was born in 1969 in Xiantao.

Lin Bin

Co-founder 2010

Background

Before Xiaomi, Lin Bin worked at Microsoft and then at Google China, where he was an engineering director.

Role at Xiaomi Corp.

Lin Bin co-founded Xiaomi in 2010 and served as its president, overseeing early phone development and supply-chain relationships. He handed the president role to others in 2019 and continued as vice chairman of the board.

Lin Bin was born in 1961. Education: Sun Yat-sen University.

Lin was born on March 25, 1961 and is Chinese-American. He is vice chairman of Xiaomi.

Xiaomi Corp.: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Lu Weibing

President

2022 – Present

Runs day-to-day operations of the group, having earlier led the Redmi brand and international business.

Lei Jun

Founder, Chairman and CEO

2010 – Present

Sets Xiaomi's product and ecosystem strategy and leads the EV business.

Lin Bin

Co-founder and Vice Chairman

2010 – Present

Co-founded Xiaomi with Lei Jun and served as president during its early growth before moving to the vice chairman role.

Keep researching Xiaomi

Who Founded Xiaomi? FAQ

Who founded Xiaomi in 2010?

Xiaomi was founded on April 6, 2010, in Beijing by a team of eight tech veterans led by Lei Jun and Lin Bin, alongside Wang Chuan, Wanqiang Li, Wong Kong-Kat (KK Wong), Liu De, Zhou Guangping, and Hong Feng.

What was the symbolic 'millet congee' founding moment?

On the morning of April 6, 2010, the eight founders gathered at a small office in Beijing's Zhongguancun tech district and drank a bowl of traditional millet congee (xiaomi) to symbolize modesty, resilience, and revolutionary ambition.

What was Lin Bin's background and contribution?

Lin Bin brought elite Western software engineering pedigree, having worked at Microsoft on Windows and Internet Explorer before serving as an engineering director at Google, spearheading early Android development in China.

What was Dr. Wang Chuan's role in the founding group?

Dr. Wang Chuan, who founded Duokan, led the development of Xiaomi TV and smart living appliances, establishing the technological foundation for Xiaomi's massive smart home ecosystem.

How did Liu De build the IoT ecosystem empire?

Liu De, an industrial design expert with a master's from ArtCenter College of Design, spearheaded the strategy of investing in and incubating hundreds of external hardware startups to expand the Mi ecosystem.

What role did Wanqiang Li play in Xiaomi's early viral growth?

Wanqiang Li authored the bestselling book 'The Xiaomi Way' (Participation Feeling), pioneering internet fan culture, online forums, and user feedback loops that turned early customers into devoted brand evangelists.

What corporate cultures were blended by the founding team?

The founding team combined the engineering rigor of Google, the hardware industrial discipline of Motorola, and the entrepreneurial software agility of Kingsoft into a unique hybrid culture.

Where does the name 'Xiaomi' originate and what does it mean?

Literally translating to 'Little Rice' or 'Millet,' the name reflects the Buddhist concept that a single grain of rice is as grand as a mountain, combined with 'MI' standing for 'Mobile Internet' and 'Mission Impossible.'

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.