Kaiqiang Xu
photo

Kaiqiang Xu

PhD in Computer Science (2025), HKUST

Research

My research advances the efficiency and accessibility of machine learning systems and AI computing infrastructure. A central theme of my work is designing novel abstractions, parallelization strategies, and scheduling algorithms that leverage the unique characteristics of large-scale AI clusters.

I have published first-author papers in the most prestigious conferences across the fields of computer networks, computer architecture, and database systems, including NSDI, ASPLOS, and SIGMOD.

I have designed and operated AI cluster TACC that serves over 500 faculty and students at HKUST, working with a team of excellent PhDs. I am at the final year of my PhD in Computer Science at HKUST, supervised by Prof. Kai Chen, and completed my BSc in Computer Science from Renmin University of China.

Selected Papers

ACM ASPLOS, 2025 | ACM International Conference on Architectural Support for Programming Languages and Operating Systems
Kaiqiang Xu, Decang Sun, Hao Wang, Zhenghang Ren, Xinchen Wan, Xudong Liao, Zilong Wang, Junxue Zhang, Kai Chen
based on
TACC
USENIX NSDI, 2025 | USENIX Symposium on Networked Systems Design and Implementation
GREEN: Carbon-efficient Resource Scheduling for Machine Learning Clusters
Kaiqiang Xu, Decang Sun, Han Tian, Junxue Zhang, Kai Chen
ACM SIGMOD, 2025 | ACM International Conference on Management of Data
Sequoia: An Accessible and Extensible Framework for Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning over Distributed Data
Kaiqiang Xu, Di Chai, Junxue Zhang, Fan Lai, Kai Chen
ACM SIGMOD, 2023 | ACM International Conference on Management of Data
Xinchen Wan, Kaiqiang Xu (Co-first Author), Xudong Liao, Yilun Jin, Kai Chen, Xin Jin

Startups

My work seeks the synergy between technology and creativity. I aim to design exceptional user experiences in products that embed advanced technologies, transforming the way people interact with complex systems. The Wall Street Journal featured an exclusive interview with me for creating the world-recognized all-terrain robot HEXA.

I was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list twice, in 2020 (China) and 2022 (Asia).

Cofounder and COO, Vesta Sleep, 2020-Now
Cofounded w/ Zhenyu Gu, Founder and CEO, in New York in 2020. Investors: Sequoia Capital, Nestlē-backed Tiantu Capital and K2VC.
Vesta designs and manufactures eco-friendly, innovative, and fun household essentials for consumers worldwide, promoting a high-quality, sustainable lifestyle. Forbes named Vesta one of the 100 innovative companies to watch.
COO, Vincross Robotics, 2016-2020
Investors include GGV Capital, Lenovo Capital and ZhenFund.
Vincross empowers users to access and build the future of robotics. I led a global team and made the first programmable all-terrain robot HEXA for individuals to create robotic applications. Reported by the Wall Street Journal, The Verge, WIRED, IEEE Specturm and more.

Earlier in my career, I worked in serveral startups including as an algorithm engineer at Zhihu.com (NYSE: ZH) and a backend engineer at Tantan (now part of MOMO, NASDAQ: MOMO). See my LinkedIn profile for more details.

Outside of work, I enjoy art and music whenever I can. My favorite artist is Edward Hopper for his Nighthawks (1942), among others. I recommend the timeless musical Les Misérables to everyone. I dance Argentine Tango and have a love for Golden Age Tango music. Besides my hometown of Jinan, I have also called Ann Arbor, Beijing, Berkeley, Shenzhen and Hong Kong home.