Renmin Foundation Enters Fund With 20 Million Yuan Commitment

Renmin University of China’s education foundation has entered a private equity fund with a subscribed contribution of 20 million yuan. The investment adds the university itself to a capital network already populated by prominent alumni founders and investors.

A report published by 36Kr and thecapital identified the foundation in the fund’s partner information in June this year. The report appeared as the university celebrated its 89th birthday.

The listed partner is the Beijing Renmin University of China Education Foundation. The fund is Shenzhen Chongtou No.1 Major Industrial Ecological Development Private Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership).

Renmin Foundation Adds Direct Fund Participation

The report described the university’s participation as an LP, or Limited Partner. Its subscribed contribution is distinct from the donations made by alumni to university-linked education funds.

The foundation was established in 2004, according to public information cited in the report. Its stated purpose is charitable activity rather than profit.

It raises, accepts and manages donated funds to support Renmin’s education and scientific research. The foundation’s disclosed 2025 Annual Donation List includes several funds connected to well-known alumni.

Those entries include the GL Ventures Gaoli Education Development Fund, JD Fund and Chongyang Investment Education Fund. The report connects them respectively to Zhang Lei, Liu Qiangdong and Qiu Guogen.

Another listed fund bears Ye Chenghai’s name. The founder of Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. is an undergraduate alumnus from the Department of International Politics’ 1963 class.

Renmin Alumni Funds Support Research And Teaching

Zhang Lei entered the university’s Department of Finance and Banking in 1990. The report says Zhang founded GL Ventures in 2005 and invested in companies including Tencent, JD.com, ByteDance, Meituan and Liby.

In 2017, Zhang donated 300 million yuan to support construction of the GL Ventures School of Artificial Intelligence. The report presents that donation as an example of alumni resources supporting university programs.

Renmin’s AI school and GL Ventures held the 2nd AI Future Exploration Day technical salon on September 16 this year. GL Ventures Executive Director Fang Jingyi discussed investment logic and industrial experience in cutting-edge technology.

Fang encouraged students to pursue technology implementation opportunities and participate in science and innovation platforms. Those remarks were advice from an investor, rather than assurances of entrepreneurial results.

Qiu Guogen, founder of Chongyang Investment, has also supported the university over several years. The Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies was established on January 19, 2013.

The report identifies that institute as a main funded project supported by Chongyang Investment’s donated education fund. It cites the 2024 Observation Report on Large Donations of Chinese University Foundations.

According to that cited account, Qiu invested 200 million yuan and supplied free asset-management consulting services. By the end of 2021, the fund had accumulated a total contribution of 534 million yuan.

Renmin’s Finance Programs Feed An Alumni Network

Renmin traces its predecessor to Shanbei Public School, founded in Yan’an in 1937. It was formally established in Beijing on October 3, 1950.

Early majors included finance, credit and lending, the report says. In the Ministry of Education’s fourth discipline evaluation, the university received 9 A+ ratings, including economics, statistics and business administration.

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The June fund entry places the foundation directly among investment partners. Its subscribed 20 million yuan contribution extends beyond the alumni donations described in the same report.