Rongchai Wang
Oct 31, 2025 14:50
YZi Labs has made its first foray into AI software by leading an $11 million seed round in the AI-powered education platform VideoTutor.
YZi Labs, the investment arm formerly known as Binance Labs, has ventured into the realm of artificial intelligence with its inaugural investment in AI software. The firm led an $11 million seed round for VideoTutor, an innovative AI-driven education platform, according to CryptoNews.
Investment in AI Education Platform
VideoTutor, founded by 20-year-old entrepreneur Kai Zhao, seeks to revolutionize education by transforming any question into a personalized, animated lesson. The platform’s capabilities are underpinned by a large language model (LLM) integrated with a Manim-based rendering pipeline, which allows for the precise visualization of complex educational content such as scientific diagrams and equations.
The recent funding round, which marks YZi Labs’ first investment in AI since expanding its focus earlier this year, also saw participation from JinQiu Fund, Baidu Ventures, Amino Capital, and BridgeOne Capital. The capital raised will be directed towards research and development as well as global expansion efforts.
VideoTutor’s Rapid Growth and Vision
Launched in May 2025, VideoTutor quickly gained traction, amassing over 20,000 users and generating more than 20,000 videos within just ten days. The platform received 1,000 API integration requests from educational institutions and learning platforms, demonstrating its potential for widespread adoption.
VideoTutor aims to democratize access to quality education by providing affordable tutoring solutions. This mission is particularly significant in the United States, where traditional tutoring costs can range from $60 to $90 per hour, making it inaccessible for over 85% of students.
Dr. Jing Xiong, the AI Investment Director at YZi Labs and a former Google Gemini engineer, highlighted VideoTutor’s hybrid AI model, which delivers semantic precision and visual clarity at reduced costs compared to diffusion-based video tools. The company’s proprietary technology enables faster and more accurate video generation, positioning it ahead of competitors.
Future Prospects and Expansion Plans
With the new funding, VideoTutor plans to enhance its AI animation engine, scale its infrastructure, and forge partnerships with educational institutions across North America and Europe. The platform’s reach currently includes K–12 education, SAT/ACT preparation, STEM subjects, and language learning.
Zhao, the founder of VideoTutor, expressed confidence in YZi Labs as a lead investor, stating, “We share the same belief: education should be personalized, affordable, and accessible to all.”
YZi Labs’ Broader Investment Strategy
In addition to its investment in VideoTutor, YZi Labs has made a significant $50 million bet on Better Payment Network (BPN), a startup developing stablecoin-based payment systems to enhance global settlements. This move aligns with YZi Labs’ increased focus on CeDeFi infrastructure for emerging markets.
BPN’s platform, built on the BNB Chain, aims to reduce cross-border transfer times and transaction costs significantly. It combines DeFi automation with traditional compliance, facilitating real-time minting and settlement of fiat-backed stablecoins. Already operational in regions such as Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico, and the Eurozone, BPN plans to introduce a DeFi FX market to support up to 20 regional stablecoins by the end of the year.
YZi Labs regards BPN as a “game-changer” for the payments industry, with its on-chain liquidity network poised to outperform both legacy fintech solutions and fragmented Web3 payment systems.
Image source: Shutterstock
