Key Takeaways
- • Shenzhen-based AI emotional companion startup NatureSelect.ai raised more than $100 million in new financing ahead of a product launch this month, backed by 5Y Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, SCV, iMPC and HyT Capital.
- • Aulis Capital, led by former Qiming managing partner Nisa Leung, reached the final close of its inaugural fund, Aulis Capital Fund I, L.P., with total capital commitments of $200 million.
- • Aulis targets early- and growth-stage life sciences and healthcare companies, including innovative drug developers and digital- and AI-driven healthcare businesses, with teams in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley and Boston.
- • NatureSelect.ai, founded in early 2024, develops EVE, a 3D AI companion with long-term memory, and Elys, an agentic social network whose official version is expected to launch this month.
Summary
NatureSelect.ai, a Shenzhen-based startup developing AI emotional companion products, has raised more than $100 million in new financing ahead of a new product launch this month. The round was backed by 5Y Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, SCV, iMPC and HyT Capital. The company counts BAI Capital, Ubiquant Partners, Eastern Bell Capital and HSG among its early backers. Founded in early 2024, NatureSelect.ai builds AI-driven experiences aimed at long-term human-AI relationships.
Its flagship product, EVE, is a 3D AI companion with long-term memory that interacts via text, voice and video and can proactively execute real-world tasks, such as ordering boba tea or flower deliveries. The company is also developing Elys, an agentic social network in which user interactions generate contextual memory that powers personalised AI avatars. Elys entered private beta in February and remains in invite-only testing, with the official version expected to launch this month. The startup has reported progress in optimising its multi-user social memory system, enhancing privacy protection and improving connection efficiency.
Separately, Aulis Capital, a young investment firm led by Nisa Leung, former managing partner at Qiming, has reached the final closing of its inaugural fund, Aulis Capital Fund I, L.P., with total capital commitments of $200 million. Aulis was founded in October 2025 and targets early- and growth-stage companies across life sciences and healthcare, including innovative drug developers and digital- and AI-driven healthcare companies. The firm has teams in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley and Boston.
Leung, who spent almost two decades at Qiming and founded its healthcare practice in 2006, departed the firm in February 2025. She cited her belief that the intersection of biopharma and capital discipline can transform global health outcomes, according to a LinkedIn post. At Qiming, her investments included Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, Zai Lab, CanSino Biologics and Insilico Medicine. Aulis announced in January 2026 its participation in US-based EpiBiologics' $107 million Series B round.
Its flagship product, EVE, is a 3D AI companion with long-term memory that interacts via text, voice and video and can proactively execute real-world tasks, such as ordering boba tea or flower deliveries. The company is also developing Elys, an agentic social network in which user interactions generate contextual memory that powers personalised AI avatars. Elys entered private beta in February and remains in invite-only testing, with the official version expected to launch this month. The startup has reported progress in optimising its multi-user social memory system, enhancing privacy protection and improving connection efficiency.
Separately, Aulis Capital, a young investment firm led by Nisa Leung, former managing partner at Qiming, has reached the final closing of its inaugural fund, Aulis Capital Fund I, L.P., with total capital commitments of $200 million. Aulis was founded in October 2025 and targets early- and growth-stage companies across life sciences and healthcare, including innovative drug developers and digital- and AI-driven healthcare companies. The firm has teams in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley and Boston.
Leung, who spent almost two decades at Qiming and founded its healthcare practice in 2006, departed the firm in February 2025. She cited her belief that the intersection of biopharma and capital discipline can transform global health outcomes, according to a LinkedIn post. At Qiming, her investments included Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, Zai Lab, CanSino Biologics and Insilico Medicine. Aulis announced in January 2026 its participation in US-based EpiBiologics' $107 million Series B round.
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