# Li Zhu

> Li Zhu is the founder and CEO of Deptrum (光鉴科技), a 3D vision company building full-stack depth-sensing hardware and software powered by nanophotonics and AI. A Tsinghua undergraduate and UC Berkeley PhD in nano-optoelectronics, he led the depth camera module team behind Apple's iPhone X Face ID before leaving in 2018 to build a structured-light approach that sidesteps Apple's patent monopoly. Deptrum's depth cameras now ship into smartphones, smart cockpits, robots, IoT devices and palm-payment systems, and the company has raised through a Series B.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Deptrum
- **Organizations:** Deptrum (光鉴科技), Apple, Oracle
- **From:** Qidong, Jiangsu, China
- **Nationality:** Chinese
- **Education:** B.S., Electronics Engineering, Tsinghua University, Ph.D., Electrical Engineering / nano-optoelectronics (advisor Connie Chang-Hasnain), UC Berkeley, International Physics Olympiad gold medal, Jiangsu Qidong High School
- **Known for:** Led the depth camera module design for Apple's iPhone X Face ID, scaled to roughly 100 million units, Invented the world's first artificial flexible chameleon skin, selected Optics of the Year in 2015, Developed the first flexible 1550nm wavelength VCSEL chip

## Career timeline

- **2010** — Graduates from Tsinghua University, Electronics Engineering
- **2015** — Earns PhD at UC Berkeley; invents the first artificial flexible chameleon skin, named Optics of the Year
- **2016-2018** — Senior researcher roles at Oracle and Apple; leads depth camera module design for iPhone X Face ID, scaled to ~100 million units
- **2018** — Founds Deptrum with two co-founders; named to Forbes China 30 Under 30
- **2020** — Deptrum 3D facial recognition certified by China's Bank Card Test Center
- **2021** — Co-develops under-display structured light technology with ZTE
- **2023** — Launches automotive-grade ToF camera and HandPass 100 palm recognition; nominated for Shenzhen Top 10 Outstanding Youth
- **2024** — Closes ~200M RMB Series B led by CICC Capital; accelerates global expansion

## Achievements

- Led the depth camera module design for Apple's iPhone X Face ID, scaled to roughly 100 million units
- Invented the world's first artificial flexible chameleon skin, selected Optics of the Year in 2015
- Developed the first flexible 1550nm wavelength VCSEL chip
- Built the world's first non-VCSEL structured light depth solution at Deptrum
- Named to Forbes China 30 Under 30 (2018)
- Published 30+ scientific papers; named inventor on hundreds of patents (1,000+ filed at Deptrum)
- Pioneered a 3D vision stack that avoids Apple's patent monopoly with domestic components

## Latest updates

- **2024-01** — Deptrum closes ~200M RMB Series B led by CICC Capital to push 3D vision into multiple verticals
- **2023-12** — Nominated for Shenzhen's Top 10 Outstanding Youth; launches automotive-grade ToF and HandPass palm recognition

## Links

- Website: https://deptrum.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/andyzhuli

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/li-zhu
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-11