Who is Liu Jingkang (JK Liu)? The Visionary Behind Insta360’s Global Success

2025-08-14

Liu Jingkang, known internationally as JK Liu, is the founder and CEO of Insta360, a Chinese camera company that has redefined immersive content creation with its 360-degree panoramic and high-performance action cameras.

From humble beginnings in a university dormitory to leading a billion-dollar publicly traded enterprise, Liu’s story is one of relentless innovation, calculated risk-taking, and a deep commitment to quality.

Early Life and Education

Liu Jingkang’s journey into technology began in earnest at Nanjing University, where he graduated in 2014 with a degree in computer science and software engineering. His academic foundation in coding, system design, and computational problem-solving would later prove essential in building Insta360’s technologically advanced products.

While at university, Liu developed a live-streaming platform. Through this venture, he discovered a major limitation in existing camera systems: they lacked immersive features that could make viewers feel as though they were truly “inside” the scene.

This realization sparked his fascination with 360-degree imaging and laid the conceptual groundwork for what would become Insta360.

Founding Insta360

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In 2015, armed with little more than technical skills, ambition, and a small team of like-minded innovators, Liu co-founded Insta360 in Shenzhen, China. The company’s first products targeted professional VR filmmakers, offering tools that could capture fully spherical video.

However, Liu recognized that to truly transform content creation, Insta360 needed to expand beyond niche professional markets. The company pivoted to consumer-friendly 360° and action cameras that could appeal to vloggers, extreme sports athletes, and everyday storytellers.

One of Liu’s guiding principles came from Apple’s product philosophy: “Make a good product, and users will come.” This meant prioritizing innovation, usability, and quality over aggressive pricing or short-term subsidies, a strategy that would pay off in the years ahead.

Product Evolution and Breakthroughs

Insta360’s product portfolio has steadily evolved, blending cutting-edge hardware with AI-driven software features. The flagship ONE X series brought compact, high-resolution 360° capture to mainstream creators, while later releases such as the X3 and Ace Pro pushed the limits of image stabilization, low-light performance, and ease of use.

Key innovations under Liu’s leadership include:

FlowState Stabilization: Eliminating the need for gimbals, making action footage buttery-smooth.
AI-powered Auto Editing: Letting creators quickly turn raw footage into polished videos.
Modular Camera Systems: Allowing users to switch between 360° and wide-angle modes.

This blend of hardware engineering and computational imaging has given Insta360 a unique position in the market competing head-to-head with established giants like GoPro and DJI while often surpassing them in feature integration.

Going Global

From its Shenzhen headquarters, Insta360 expanded rapidly to international markets, opening offices in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Berlin. This global footprint has been crucial, as over 70% of Insta360’s revenue now comes from markets outside China.

Liu and his team identified early on that content creation is a universal language. Whether it’s a travel vlogger in Europe, an extreme sports athlete in the US, or a documentary filmmaker in Japan, the demand for lightweight, high-quality, versatile cameras crosses borders.

In addition to retail success, Insta360 cameras have been used in broadcast television, VR documentaries, and live sports coverage, further enhancing the brand’s international reputation.

IPO and Billionaire Status

The defining financial milestone in Liu’s career came in June 2025, when Insta360 listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market. The IPO was a resounding success, raising substantial capital to fund the company’s R&D and expansion.

The listing also transformed Liu into a billionaire almost overnight. Forbes estimated his net worth at $2.7 billion, based on his approximately 26.8% stake in the company (including shares held by his wife).

During his IPO speech, Liu reflected on the company’s humble origins from building prototypes in cramped university dorms to delivering products that now inspire creators worldwide. He emphasized that the journey was built on teamwork, creativity, and resilience.

Financial Performance and Market Strength

Insta360’s growth trajectory has been remarkable. In 2024, the company reported $779.9 million in revenue, marking a 53.3% year-over-year increase. This surge was fueled by strong demand for both 360° and wide-angle action cameras, as well as the company’s ability to stay ahead of industry trends.

By consistently investing in R&D and listening to user feedback, Insta360 has maintained loyalty among content creators while attracting new audiences through social media and influencer partnerships.

Leadership Style and Vision

Liu Jingkang’s leadership blends technical insight with strategic market vision. In the company’s early years, he was deeply hands-on, even helping to assemble prototypes. Today, he focuses on directing innovation pipelines, overseeing product strategy, and guiding global expansion.

His software engineering expertise enables him to bridge the gap between camera hardware and AI-powered features, creating products that offer seamless user experiences. This product-centric culture has become a defining feature of Insta360’s brand.

Awards and Recognition

Liu’s achievements have earned him multiple accolades:

Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2017) – Technology category
Recognized as one of China’s most influential young tech entrepreneurs
Featured in international business and tech conferences for building a global brand from China

These honors reflect not only his business success but also his influence in shaping the next generation of imaging technology.

The Future of Insta360

Looking ahead, Liu has made it clear that immersive imaging remains at the heart of Insta360’s mission. With the rise of the metaverse, VR/AR experiences, and AI-assisted content creation, Insta360 is well-positioned to continue innovating.

Whether expanding into next-generation VR hardware, integrating deeper AI capabilities, or tapping into new creative communities, Liu’s long-term vision is to make capturing life’s moments as intuitive and vivid as living them.

Conclusion

From the dorm rooms of Nanjing University to the trading floor of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Liu Jingkang’s journey is an inspiring example of how vision, innovation, and perseverance can transform an idea into a global brand.

As the driving force behind Insta360, Liu continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in camera technology empowering creators around the world to tell their stories in more immersive and dynamic ways.

FAQ

Who is Liu Jingkang (JK Liu)?

Liu Jingkang, also known as JK Liu, is the founder and CEO of Insta360, a Chinese company known for its 360° and action cameras.

When was Insta360 founded?

Liu co-founded Insta360 in 2015 while studying at Nanjing University.

How did Liu Jingkang become a billionaire?

He became a billionaire following Insta360’s IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market in June 2025.

What makes Insta360 unique?

Its combination of high-quality hardware and AI-powered software delivers industry-leading 360° capture and editing tools.

Where is Insta360 based?

The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China, with offices in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Berlin.

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