Shape the Future of Intelligence-Driven Investing

As artificial intelligence transitions from experimental research into core economic infrastructure, a new class of investors is emerging—professionals who combine rigorous research orientation with a deep understanding of how AI capabilities translate into real-world systems and products. Among them is Haina Xu, an AI-focused investor whose work centers on evaluating how advances in voice AI, agent-based systems, and intelligent workflows can be transformed into durable, scalable businesses.

Xu serves as a Principal Investor and Head of U.S. Brand and Market Expansion at Etna Investment Group, where she plays a critical role in assessing early-stage AI companies and shaping long-term investment direction. Her work focuses on frontier AI categories including voice AI, AI agents, vertical AI applications, and the evolving AI services and data infrastructure ecosystem.

Unlike traditional investment roles that rely primarily on surface-level metrics, Xu’s responsibilities are rooted in rigorous research and independent judgment. She is known for evaluating how model capabilities, agent behaviors, and user interaction workflows translate into real product experiences and sustainable go-to-market strategies, rather than focusing solely on short-term technical performance.

Xu has authored more than 30 in-depth research analyses on AI companies and industry shifts, synthesizing technical developments, market structure, and execution considerations. Her analyses have been cited by founders during fundraising discussions and referenced by investors when assessing emerging AI categories, contributing to how early-stage capital allocation decisions are formed.

According to Youchao, CEO of Cookiy, who has worked closely with Xu, her understanding of voice AI, agent capabilities, and user interaction workflows has helped shape key product and go-to-market decisions. Cookiy is an AI-driven customer interview platform that relies heavily on voice-based interaction and agent intelligence to transform how companies understand users at scale. The company has raised over $7 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round backed by Liquid2, Converge, GoAhead, and UpHonest, alongside other top-tier venture funds and strategic angels, underscoring strong market validation for its approach.

In addition to her research leadership, Xu has led investments in more than five early-stage AI companies, overseeing sourcing, diligence, and strategic evaluation. She is also recognized as one of the early investors to consistently focus on voice AI and agent-based systems as productized workflows, a category that has since gained broader attention across the AI industry.

Xu is also actively involved in the early-stage AI startup ecosystem as an evaluator and mentor. She has been invited to serve as a judge at selective AI hackathons, including Scoop AI’s AI Hackathon and Silicon Valley’s exclusive AGI House’s Autonomous Robot Build Day Hackathon, based on her expertise in evaluating AI agent systems and product-market viability. In these settings, she works closely with early-stage founders to assess technical direction, product feasibility, and go-to-market strategy, while helping identify standout teams for early-stage funding and strategic support.

Xu is also the co-founder of Next Signal Prediction, a research-driven AI community designed to foster high-signal dialogue among researchers, founders, and investors. Through curated closed-door discussions and original research synthesis, the platform focuses on identifying meaningful developments in AI before they become widely recognized in mainstream investment narratives.

As intelligence-driven technologies continue to redefine modern industries, professionals like Xu are helping shape not only where capital flows, but how the future of AI is evaluated and constructed.