
Yunchongba
Shared power bank rental and charging solutions.
Shenzhen Yunchongba Technology Co., Ltd., established in October 2015, specializes in the shared power bank rental market. The company provides portable charging solutions through a network of rental stations, often located in high-traffic public venues such as shopping malls, cinemas, airports, and restaurants. The business model is centered on the rental of power banks from their smart cabinets, allowing users to conveniently charge their mobile devices on the go. Revenue is generated from rental fees, which can be structured on an hourly basis with a daily cap.
The company was co-founded by Lei Yun and Hou Tianci. Lei Yun, a Peking University alumnus with a background in chemistry and battery technology, had previously founded Huasixu Technology (branded as "Carku"), a successful company producing emergency car starters. This background in the battery industry provided a strong foundation for Yunchongba. Hou Tianci, also a Peking University alumnus, became CEO in early 2017. His prior experience includes working as a product manager at Baidu on its ad ranking system and managing core product lines at the payment company YeePay. Yunchongba initially focused on large cabinet-style products but later shifted to smaller, more flexible cabinets to optimize the return on investment.
Over the years, the company has formed strategic partnerships, including one with Ubox, a major vending machine operator, in 2017 to expand its distribution network. It has also engaged in marketing collaborations within the esports and gaming sectors, partnering with the Onmyoji Arena Pro League (OPL) in 2020 to provide charging support and gain brand exposure. However, the company has faced challenges, including reports of internal disputes and the emergence of a new company, Sugo, allegedly linked to former core members, which raised questions about Yunchongba's operational status in late 2020.
Keywords: power bank rental, shared charging, mobile charging service, battery rental, device charging stations, pay-per-use charging, portable chargers, shared economy, IoT, public charging solutions, smart hardware, Shenzhen Yunchongba, Lei Yun, Hou Tianci, Carku, Ubox, mobile accessories, gadget charging, on-the-go power, retail tech