Who created Xiaomi is a question that often worries not only fans of the brand, but also market analysts trying to understand the phenomenon of the rapid rise of the Chinese corporation. The history of the company is a classic example of how an ambitious idea, backed by the right strategy and a team of like-minded people, can turn the entire industry.
The company was officially incorporated on April 6, 2010 in Beijing, marking the beginning of a new era in the world of affordable smartphones and smart appliances. At that time, the mobile device market was already divided between Nokia, Samsung and Apple, and the emergence of a new player from China seemed to many risky venture.
The success of the project largely determined the unique business model that later became known as the “iron triangle”: hardware, online retail and Internet services. It was this approach that allowed the company to bypass traditional retailers and offer consumers high performance at a price well below market. Today, the name of the founder Lei Jun is on the same line as legends like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, and the company logo with the letters “MI” is recognized anywhere in the world.
Lei Jun: Architect of the Digital Empire
A central figure in the company’s founding story is Lei Jun, often referred to in China as “China’s Steve Jobs.” Born in 1969 in Xiantao, he displayed a remarkable programming ability at Wuhan University. Before founding his brainchild, Lei Jun was already a successful entrepreneur and investor, working as CEO of Kingsoft and building the online shopping platform Joyo.com, which he later sold to Amazon.
The idea of starting his own smartphone company came to Lei after analyzing Apple’s successes and frustration with the quality of Chinese phones of the time. He realized that users were willing to sacrifice the brand for quality and price if offered a decent alternative. In 2010, at the age of 41, he decided that this was his last chance to create something great, and founded Xiaomi Tech. His philosophy was to make “good products at a fair price,” which became the brand’s motto for years to come.
⚠️ Attention: Lei Jun is personally involved in the presentation of every key product of the company, which is rare for CEOs of this scale.
Lei Jun's style of management is characterized by attention to detail and proximity to users. He actively runs social networks, collects information and collects information_feedback_ from the community and implement the best ideas in new versions of the operating system MIUI. His visionary work allowed the company not only to survive in fierce competition, but also to become one of the leaders of the world market, overtaking many veterans of the industry.
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Lei Jun is not just the founder, but the main ideologist of the brand, whose personal charisma and experience in the world of the world. IT-The sector has become the foundation for Xiaomi’s growth strategy.
The Ten Founders: The Dream Team
Although Lei Jun is the public face of the company, Xiaomi was created by the collective mind of ten people, a group known as the 10 founders gathered in a Beijing diner where they ate porridge together, symbolizing the beginning of a common path, each of them was an expert in their field, from software development to supply chain management and marketing, such a diverse experience allowed the company to immediately cover all critical areas.
Among the key figures, besides Lei Jun, was Lin Bin, who was responsible for mobile Internet and became president of Xiaomi Global. Another important member was Hong Feng, who headed the hardware business and later became president of the smartphone group, and the team included experts from Google, Motorola and Kingsoft, which ensured the company’s international level of competence from day one.
What was unique about this team was their willingness to work day-to-day and share risks. In the early years of the company, the founders received minimum wages, reinvested all the money in product development, and they shared a belief that Internet thinking could transform traditional manufacturing, and it was the synergy of these ten people that enabled Xiaomi to launch its first smartphone just a year after it was founded.
- 📱 Lin Bin, Co-Founder, Global Expansion and Mobile Technology.
- 🔧 Hong Feng is a key figure in the development of the hardware of the first smartphones.
- 💻 Wang Chuan is an expert in industrial design, who shaped the style of devices.
- 📈 Liu De – responsible for creating the ecosystem of smart home and accessories.
From MIUI to the first smartphone
Xiaomi’s story didn’t start with hardware, it started with software. On August 16, 2010, a few months after the company was incorporated, the team released the first version of its MIUI operating system, which was based on Android but was deeply redesigned and contained features that weren’t found in the stock version of Google, a move that created a loyal community of enthusiasts before the first physical device was released.
The developers released weekly updates based on feedback from users on the forum, and this "user-to-user development" model was revolutionary, and people felt a sense of ownership in the product, which created an army of fans willing to protect and promote the brand, and it was only after they saw the firmware succeed that the founders decided to enter the hardware market.
The first smartphone, called Xiaomi Mi 1, was introduced in August 2011, and it had the top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon processor at the time, and sold exclusively online at around $300, which was half the price of Samsung or HTC. The presentation was a huge success, and the first batch of 30,000 devices sold out in minutes, marking the birth of a new player on the global stage.
The success of the first model solidified the company’s strategy: flagship performance, minimal markup and sales via the Internet.The lineup expanded with the Mi, Redmi and Black Shark series, covering all market segments. However, MIUI remained the soul of the device, offering users a unique experience with the gadget.
Philosophy and business model of the company
Xiaomi’s founders have built three key principles, often referred to as the “iron triangle”: hardware, online retail, and online services. Unlike traditional manufacturers, which make a margin on the sale of the device, Xiaomi agreed with investors to limit the net profit from hardware 5%, the main income was planned to be obtained from services, advertising in the system and sales of accessories.
This approach required huge sales and efficient logistics, and the company moved away from a costly network of offline stores initially, focusing on its own website and later working with marketplaces, eliminating intermediaries and offering the end customer the best price, and using social media to market has reduced advertising costs to a minimum.
| Year | Event | Key achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Founding of the company | Xiaomi Tech Registration and Release of First MIUI |
| 2011 | Exit Mi 1 | The first smartphone with a flagship processor at a low price |
| 2014 | Leadership in China | Overtaking Samsung in smartphone sales in China |
| 2018 | IPO | Access to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange |
| 2021 | Global leadership | Second place in the world in smartphone sales |
An important part of the philosophy was to create an ecosystem, and in the realization that the smartphone was a life-control center, the founders began investing in smart light bulbs, air purifiers, scooters and other Mijia-branded products, bringing millions of devices together into a network, adding value to each individual product.
⚠️ Attention: Low iron margins make companies sensitive to component costs, and any disruptions in the supply chain can significantly affect financial reporting.
Brand Evolution and Global Expansion
Xiaomi has taken less than a decade to move from a local Chinese brand to a global giant, and since its establishment in the home market, it has aggressively expanded to Southeast Asia, India, Europe and Latin America, and in India, for example, Xiaomi has become a market leader, beating local and international brands through a combination of price and quality.
In 2018, the company held an initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, one of the world’s largest, which reaffirmed Xiaomi’s status as a public company with a transparent governance structure, but the founders retained control over strategic development by introducing new technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Today, Xiaomi Corporation is not just a phone maker; it is a conglomerate dedicated to the development of electric vehicles (the project Xiaomi Auto), robotics and even biotechnology. the rebranding of the logo in 2021, performed by the famous designer Kenei Hara, symbolizes the transition of the company from the stage of growth to the stage of maturity and life ("Alive").
Why does the Xiaomi logo seem to be the same?
Legacy and Impact on the Industry
The influence of Xiaomi’s founders on the global tech industry is hard to overstate, and they have proven that a Chinese brand can be associated with innovation, not just cheapness. Their model of “online sales” and “fan community” has been copied by many other companies around the world. Xiaomi has democratized access to cutting-edge technology by making powerful smartphones available to billions of people.
The smart home ecosystem they created has become the de facto standard for many consumers. Xiaomi devices integrate seamlessly with each other, offering a convenient home management experience. From robotic vacuum cleaners to smart kettles, all of these products carry the founders’ DNA: functionality, minimalism and affordability.
Today, the company continues to grow, investing billions of dollars in research and development (R&D).The founders set themselves the task of becoming a top company.-5 The story of Xiaomi is an inspiring example of how the right idea and strong team can change the world.
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When buying Xiaomi devices, pay attention to the Global Version to avoid problems with the interface language and support for communication frequencies in your region.