ZMO.AI

Summary

ZMO.AI, established in 2020 and headquartered in Hangzhou, is a tech startup committed to reimagining fashion e-commerce through AI. Spearheaded by Ella Zhang, Roger Yin, Liqian Ma, and Yang Han—professionals from Google, Apple, Tencent, SenseTime, and leading computer vision research—the company empowers brands to rapidly generate on-model visuals using virtual models. With a successful $8M Series A round in 2022 and an expanding client base, ZMO.AI delivers cost-effective, scalable, and agile solutions for apparel imagery, setting new standards in digital merchandising and AI-driven content production.

History

Founded in 2020, ZMO.AI emerged with a clear mission: to revolutionize fashion e-commerce by deploying AI-powered virtual models, significantly reducing the costs and time involved in traditional photoshoots.

Headquartered in Hangzhou (with operational touchpoints in Hong Kong), ZMO.AI was co-founded by a multidisciplinary team bringing together a rich tapestry of skills and experiences from both Western and Chinese tech ecosystems. Ella Zhang – CEO and co-founder, was previously an AR systems architect at Google where she worked on projects like Google Glass and Reflector, and a core member of the Apple AirPods founding team. Roger (Minzhe) Yin – Co-founder, has a background experience in e-commerce and leadership in cross-border operations. Liqian Ma – Co-founder, has Ph.D. in computer vision from KU Leuven. Yang Han – Co-founder, has prior experience in AI-powered styling at leading firms such as Tencent and SenseTime.

Collectively, the founding team combines deep technical rigor with hands-on product and e-commerce savvy. ZMO.AI’s early work leveraged Generative Adversarial Networks to offer customizable virtual models—where merchants specify details like face, height, skin tone, body shape, and pose—to showcase garments online. This drastically accelerates and simplifies the merchandising workflow.

In May 2022, ZMO.AI secured an $8 million Series A funding round led by Hillhouse Capital, with participation from GGV Capital and GSR Ventures. The company’s technology allows for using virtual models to preview product images instantly on web platforms, enabling manufacturing to begin only once orders come in. This can reduce garment production-to-shelf cycles from months to mere days—even hours. ZMO.AI initially found traction with fashion e-commerce clients in China, including conversations with major players like SHEIN that release thousands of new SKUs daily. It continues refining its platform to support model diversity, on-model product imagery, and potentially AI-generated model “speech” using GPT‑3 technologies.

Vision

The founders of ZMO.AI envisioned a future where AI could democratize fashion content creation by eliminating the inefficiencies and high costs of traditional photoshoots. Drawing from their backgrounds in tech giants like Google, Apple, and Tencent, they aimed to empower e-commerce brands with scalable, customizable virtual models that accelerate go-to-market timelines and enable more inclusive, dynamic product representation. Their vision centers on transforming the fashion industry through AI-driven innovation—making content creation faster, smarter, and more accessible for businesses of all sizes.

Mission Statement

ZMO.AI’s mission is to revolutionize fashion e-commerce by providing AI-powered tools that enable brands to create high-quality, on-model product visuals instantly and at scale. By leveraging advanced generative technology, the company aims to streamline content production, reduce costs, and enhance personalization—empowering businesses to deliver faster, more inclusive, and visually compelling shopping experiences.

Key People

Ella Zhang, Roger (Minzhe) Yin, Liqian Ma (Ma Liqian), Yang Han

Products And Services

ZMO.AI offers a cutting-edge suite of AI-powered solutions designed to streamline content creation for fashion e-commerce. At the heart of its platform is its AI-generated virtual model technology, which allows brands to showcase apparel on diverse, lifelike models without the need for physical photoshoots. Merchants can customize virtual models by choosing attributes like body type, pose, facial features, skin tone, and even mood, creating personalized and inclusive product imagery. This allows for on-model visuals at scale, reducing time and cost compared to traditional photography.

ZMO.AI also provides tools that support end-to-end content automation for fashion retailers. Features include AI-assisted garment rendering, bulk image generation, style-matching suggestions, and integration with e-commerce platforms for real-time content. By combining speed, scalability, and realism, ZMO.AI enables brands to bring products to market faster, enhance the shopping experience, and reduce waste by aligning production with demand. Its solutions are particularly impactful for fast-fashion retailers managing large product catalogs and frequent design updates.