Axera CEO Dr. Xiaoxin Qiu Named to Forbes China's 2025 Power Businesswomen List, Marking Rise of Women in Deep Tech
Forbes China has unveiled its 11th annual “China's Power Businesswomen 100” list, celebrating the theme of “She Power in Challenging Times.” Selected from thousands of candidates, the 100 honorees include 37% entrepreneurs (including early-stage team members), 57% professional executives, and 6% second-generation business leaders. Among them, Dr. Xiaoxin Qiu, Founder and Chairperson of Axera, was recognized for her outstanding contributions to AI and semiconductor technology, as well as her proven track record of leadership.
Compared to the previous year, the 2025 list highlights a significant increase in representation from STEM fields, with 20% of honorees coming from the semiconductor industry and 35% from the AI sector. These figures underscore the ongoing dismantling of gender barriers in technology-driven industries. Dr. Xiaoxin Qiu exemplifies this shift in deep tech. With over two decades of experience in chip development and executive leadership, she has led Axera to the forefront of China’s AI chip industry in under six years—an achievement that aligns seamlessly with Forbes’ criteria of technical excellence and sustained innovation.
Dr. Qiu's career trajectory exemplifies the hallmarks of women leaders in deep tech: combining solid academic foundations with resilient management skills to break through industry barriers. Today, as large language models gain momentum and AI becomes more accessible, Axera under her stewardship is bringing AI capabilities to terminal inference, edge computing, and smart driving applications. Its mission of “AI for All, AI for a Better World” resonates with Forbes' emphasis on the accessibility of innovations.
The evolution of Forbes China's Power Businesswomen 100 list reflects a broader shift, as women in tech move from innovation participants to standard-setters. Dr. Qiu's inclusion highlights this transformation in female leadership, showcasing both the vast opportunities in the AI era and women's growing influence and unlimited possibilities in the tech sector.
