# Sheng Liu

> Sheng Liu is the CEO of TeraHop and co-founder of InnoLight Technology (now Zhongji Innolight), a company that commands over half the global market share in 800G optical transceivers. A PhD from Georgia Tech, he returned to China in 2008 to fill a domestic gap in high-end optical modules, built InnoLight into a global leader across 400G, 800G, and 1.6T products, and now leads TeraHop - backed by Temasek and ADIA - to power the optical backbone of AI infrastructure worldwide.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at TeraHop
- **Organizations:** TeraHop, Zhongji Innolight Co., Ltd., InnoLight Technology (co-founder), Suzhou Industrial Park Optical Communication Industry Alliance (President), Tsinghua Entrepreneur & Executive Club (TEEC) (Member)
- **Nationality:** Chinese
- **Education:** Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, M.S., Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, B.S., Tsinghua University, Beijing
- **Known for:** Co-founded InnoLight Technology in 2008, which grew to dominate 50%+ of global 800G optical transceiver market share, Led development of world's first 400G optical module in 2018, Achieved 800G mass production in 2020, ahead of competitors

## Career timeline

- **1990s-2008** — R&D and management roles at Agere Systems (formerly Lucent Technologies), Pine Photonics Communications, and Opnext Inc. in the United States
- **2008** — Returned to China and co-founded Suzhou InnoLight Technology to develop high-end optical communication modules, filling a critical domestic market gap
- **2012** — InnoLight reached 160 million yuan in annual sales
- **2017** — InnoLight acquired by Zhongji Equipment; Liu Sheng became General Manager and later Chairman
- **2018** — Led launch of the world's first 400G optical module; InnoLight established international headquarters in Singapore
- **2020** — Achieved 800G optical transceiver mass production - an industry first
- **2022** — Continued 800G leadership; company surpassed 50% global market share for 800G modules
- **2023** — Named to Forbes China Best CEO List (ranked 36th)
- **2025** — Named CEO of TeraHop, a Zhongji Innolight subsidiary focused on global optical AI infrastructure
- **2025** — TeraHop secured $517 million investment from Temasek Holdings and Abu Dhabi's ADIA for production capacity, R&D, and operations
- **2025** — Named to Forbes China Best CEO List again; ranked 411th on Hurun Rich List with 16 billion yuan in wealth
- **2026** — TeraHop demonstrated 12.8Tbps XPO optical transceivers at OFC 2026 and joined XPO MSA

## Achievements

- Co-founded InnoLight Technology in 2008, which grew to dominate 50%+ of global 800G optical transceiver market share
- Led development of world's first 400G optical module in 2018
- Achieved 800G mass production in 2020, ahead of competitors
- Awarded China's National Thousand Talents Program (prestigious scientific/entrepreneurial honor)
- Forbes China Best CEO List 2023 (ranked 36th) and 2025
- Hurun China Rich List 2025 (411th, ~16 billion yuan estimated wealth)
- Suzhou Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mayor Award (2013)
- Jiangsu Province Top Ten Overseas Returnees Title
- Suzhou May Day Model Worker
- Patent holder: CN101498820A (10G SFP+ Optical Module)
- Raised $517M in capital for TeraHop from Temasek and ADIA
- TeraHop demonstrated 12.8Tbps XPO optical transceivers at OFC 2026

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — TeraHop demonstrated 12.8Tbps XPO optical transceivers at OFC 2026 and announced membership in XPO MSA industry organization
- **2026-03** — TeraHop joined collaboration to define new multicore fiber design optimized for AI data center campuses
- **2025-11** — TeraHop secured $517 million investment from Temasek Holdings and Abu Dhabi's ADIA (via Temasek unit) to expand production capacity, R&D, and operations
- **2025-09** — TeraHop showcased optical transceiver solutions for AI/DC at ECOC 2025
- **2025-00** — Named to Forbes China Best CEO List 2025; ranked 411th on Hurun Rich List with estimated 16 billion yuan in wealth

## Links

- Website: https://terahop.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/shengliu
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/shengliu_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terahoptech

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sheng-liu
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Last updated: 2026-05-15