Visionary Leaders
They measure the business empire from the commanding heights of the era.
Frank Wang
“The world is far more complex than we imagine, and so am I.”
Frank Wang is the founder of DJI. He founded DJI in Shenzhen in 2006, focusing on drone flight control systems and aerial photography equipment. DJI products are sold in over 100 countries and regions, holding a significant share in the consumer drone market. DJI has grown from a small startup to a technology company with over 10,000 employees, with business covering aerial photography, agriculture, surveying, and energy inspection.
Frank Wang
Asian Cover Figure | Frank Wang: Founder of DJI, Explorer in Drones and Imaging Technology
Asian "Cover Figure" Magazine
Origins
Born in Hangzhou in 1980, Wang developed a strong interest in aviation models during his youth, particularly in remote-controlled helicopter flight control. This curiosity about automatic flight became his entrepreneurial starting point.
In 2003, Wang transferred from East China Normal University to Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, studying under Professor Li Zekai in robotics and automatic control.
Starting in Shenzhen
In 2006, while still a graduate student, Wang and classmates registered DJI Innovations in Shenzhen. The early days were challenging — the team worked from a small apartment, mainly developing helicopter flight control systems.
In 2009, DJI launched its first commercialized helicopter flight controller XP 3.1. In 2010, the team identified multi-rotor drones as the future direction.
Product Evolution
In 2011, DJI released the WooKong-M multi-rotor flight control system. In 2012, the Phantom 1 launched — an integrated aerial photography drone that lowered the barrier to entry.
In 2013, the Phantom 2 Vision was released with an integrated gimbal camera. Since then, DJI has continuously iterated on flight control, gimbal, image transmission, and camera technologies.
Company Growth
According to public reports, DJI's revenue reached significant scale by 2016. By 2025, industry analysts estimate continued revenue and profit growth. DJI products are used not only for consumer photography but also in agriculture, rescue, energy inspection, and surveying.
DJI employs over 10,000 people, with a high proportion of engineering and technical staff. The company maintains independent R&D in core technologies with numerous patents.
Management Experience
In 2018, DJI discovered supply chain management issues internally. Wang mentioned this in internal communications and stated the company strengthened internal controls. Media reports indicate DJI made management adjustments afterward.
Recent Years
In April 2026, Wang gave an extended interview — one of his rare public appearances in recent years. He stated that the past decade was focused primarily on products and internal management.
DJI faces some policy challenges in the US market, but according to public information, DJI products maintain a high user base in the US. In the global consumer drone market, DJI is one of the major players.
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