36Kr Daily Hot List - 2026-02-26

36Kr Daily Hot List for 2026-02-26. Tech and business news explained simply.

After leaving Tencent, he wants to make a Three Kingdoms game that could change history

A guy who used to work at Tencent is making a new Three Kingdoms video game where the computer makes up the story as you play, so you can actually change what happens in history instead of just following a script.

Ex-Shangtang robot team raises millions for new factory robot company

A team that used to make robots for a big tech company left to start their own business, got millions in funding to build smarter factory robots that can do different jobs without needing lots of reprogramming, which matters because it could make factories more flexible and cheaper to run.

Bill Gates apologizes for Epstein ties; Meizu phones may stop selling in March; Tencent's AI app accidentally cursed in holiday poster

Bill Gates said sorry for hanging out with a bad guy, which matters because it shows even famous people make mistakes with shady friends; Meizu phones are basically done, so if you have one, it might be hard to get support soon; and Tencent's AI app messed up and put swear words on a New Year's card, which is a reminder that these smart programs can still act weird sometimes.

An outdoor enthusiast starts doubting the outdoors

A professor who designs outdoor gear noticed that fancy fashion brands are making outdoor clothes now, and Chinese brands are copying styles instead of focusing on practical use, making him question what 'outdoor' really means anymore.

Intel partners with SambaNova; Zong Fuli joins Wahaha board; Tesla sues French drink company over Cybercab name

Intel's teaming up with SambaNova to make AI cheaper and faster, the founder's daughter is now on Wahaha's board keeping things in the family, and Tesla's fighting a French drink maker who tried to snatch the Cybercab name for themselves, showing they're serious about protecting their future car brand.

China Construction Group takes over several Wanda Plazas

A big construction company is taking over some shopping malls from Wanda because Wanda owed them money for building work, so instead of cash, they're getting the malls themselves to settle the debt.

Shanghai's new housing rules make it easier to buy homes

Shanghai just made it simpler for people who aren't from there to buy apartments and increased how much money you can borrow from the government's housing fund, which matters because it'll help more regular folks afford homes and should keep housing prices from dropping too much in the city.

China launches its own world-class AI conference to fix problems in science

China is starting a big new AI science conference in 2026 to make research reviews more fair and help young scientists get noticed, because the old way of judging papers has become slow and unfair.

New Chuan Electronics gets nearly 100 million yuan in funding before going public

A company that makes tiny metal powders for electronics and solar panels got a big cash boost from investors because their business is growing fast, especially as AI and solar energy create more demand for their materials.

Huawei and a state investor put money into a heat-control materials company

A company that makes special metals to keep electronics from overheating just got funding from Huawei and a government investor, which matters because better cooling materials are needed for things like AI computers, phones, and electric cars to work properly without burning up.

Hong Kong stock market down at lunch break

Hong Kong stocks dropped a bit during lunch break, especially tech stocks, which means people are worried about the market and pulling their money out.

China's own car brands sold fewer cars in January

Chinese car companies sold about 1.3 million cars last month, which is about 9% fewer than the same time last year, showing that people are buying fewer cars right now.

Xiaohongshu changes its money-making and online shopping teams

Xiaohongshu, a popular app, shuffled its teams that handle ads and online sales, putting different people in charge of different parts of the business to help it make more money and sell more stuff.

Banks and companies in Xiamen set up a new investment fund

A group of banks and local companies in Xiamen put money together to create a new fund that will invest in growing businesses, which means more support and opportunities for small companies in the area to get started or expand.

Morning trading: big money buys tech stocks, sells media stocks

Big investors put money into electronics and tech companies this morning while pulling money out of media companies, showing where they think the smart money is going today.