The Circuit Board Is My Starry Sky
By Chen Zhenjiang — Founder of YiHi & SXmini
Childhood Spark
When I was ten, summer evenings were spent diving into a giant green dumpster in our small town.
Old TVs, broken radios—inside, I found more than just junk.
I found wires, copper coils… and dreams.
As the copper unrolled in my hand, I saw my own galaxy forming.
In scrap metal, I found my future.
A Harsh Start in 2003
Fresh out of university with an electronics degree, I tried sales.
Three months—zero deals.
That’s when I learned:
Oscilloscopes don’t lie. But people at dinner tables sometimes do.
The turning point?
One late night in a Taiwanese factory.
The boss returned unexpectedly, ready to scold me for working overtime.
Instead, he saw a young man sweating over a circuit board, adjusting an audio chip.
He put down a cold Coke, and quietly walked away.
Three months later, I became the youngest R&D supervisor.
Carrying a Company on My Back
In 2010, I founded YiHi Electronics.
The name means “Billions and the Sea”:
“Billions” — the vastness of technology
“Sea” — the depth of Chinese manufacturing
Back then, to save 2 yuan on a bus ride, I carried 30 kg of equipment to meet clients on foot.
My sweat soaked my shirt, salt maps forming on my back.
In a tiny rented room, I soldered every board by hand.
Failed chips piled up like a bronze hill.
The hardest day?
I couldn’t afford 1 yuan for a takeout box after a client dinner.
I walked away, fist clenched, old wounds bleeding again.
Made in China — Written in Silicon
We said no to contract manufacturing.
“YiHi must be printed on our own circuit boards.”
We rejected fake labels.
“Respect in technology doesn’t come from pretending to be American.”
YiHi Electronics
Born in Dongguan, China · Since 2010
YiHi — Sailing forward with silicon, into a sea of innovation
SXmini — A tiny device, with big ambition
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