First Employee in China

Jiaxiao joined Sapien as the very first employee in China, straight out of university. Initially hired for his math expertise, he’s witnessed (and helped shape) Sapien’s entire regional buildout—from solo contributor to multi-team collaboration.

‍Academic Roots to AI Reality

He studied mathematics and computer science in Shanghai, expecting to pursue a technical, academic career. Instead, he found himself working on hands-on data projects, discovering that applied AI work could be just as intellectually satisfying—and a lot more dynamic.

‍Fine-Tuning Math for AI

While AI models have made massive strides, math remains a weak point. Jiaxiao’s work focuses on training models to reason through high school-level problems using step-by-step chain-of-thought methods—critical for making models more reliable.

‍Building Sapien’s Foundation in China

He likens his experience to founding a startup. From setting up initial workflows to working across teams with Chris, Lucas, and Lauren, he’s been integral to scaling Sapien’s presence and labeling operations in China.

‍Culture of Autonomy

What’s kept him around? The freedom to experiment, fail, learn, and lead. “There’s room to breathe here,” he says—rare in many traditional workplaces, and especially appreciated in the high-pressure tech world.