What Cardinal Operations does

Cardinal Operations is a Beijing-headquartered mathematical optimization software company founded in 2016 by four Stanford University PhDs (Luo Xiaoqu, Ge Dongdong, Wang Zizhuo, Wang Xi). Its core asset is COPT (Cardinal Optimizer), an independently developed, high-performance solver for large-scale LP, MIP, SDP, ECP, (MI)SOCP, convex/nonconvex (MI)QP/(MI)QCP, and NLP problems, supporting Windows, Linux, MacOS, ARM64, and Apple Silicon. COPT is integrated into the major open-source optimization frameworks (RSOME, PyEPO, PyPSA, PyOptInterface, PuLP, Pyomo, CVXPY, Linopy, AIMMS, AMPL, GAMS) and is offered under a freemium model — 365-day academic and 180-day business free trials — alongside quote-based personal, server, floating, and cluster licenses.

On top of the solver engine, the company has built an 'Engine + Platform + Scenario' portfolio: a Supply Chain Intelligent Decision-making Platform (retail, FMCG, food & beverage), a Manufacturing Intelligent Decision-making Platform (auto, electronics, chemical, steel), an Infrastructure Operation Optimization Platform (rail, energy, airlines, petroleum), plus the CORIDM demand/revenue management application and the COAP deployment platform. This portfolio targets large Chinese enterprises with complex operational decisions — supply chain, production scheduling, inventory, network design — and the customer base spans 100+ leading companies across 20+ industries, including Huawei, Foxconn, Haier, JD, Didi, SF Express, State Grid, Nestle, China Southern Airlines, Shanghai Metro, and Shanghai GM.

The business model combines (a) software licensing for COPT (subscription-based, quote-driven for enterprise tiers) with (b) tailored enterprise optimization consulting and platform deployments delivered through a field-sales motion supplemented by product-led free-trial funnels. Cardinal Operations is privately held, has raised approximately $111M across five funding rounds through 2023 (latest Series C led by China Development Bank Capital and Guangzhou Yuexiu Industrial Investment Fund), and is ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified, with offices in Beijing and Shanghai. Recognition includes a 2021 Franz Edelman Finalist Award (INFORMS) and NEOS platform integration.

Name

Cardinal Operations

Legal name

Cardinal Operations

Website

https://shanshu.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cardinal Operations (Beijing, founded 2016) develops COPT, an independently built high-performance mathematical optimization solver, and packages it into vertical decision-intelligence platforms for supply chain, manufacturing, and infrastructure — serving 100+ large Chinese enterprises including Huawei, Foxconn, State Grid, JD, and Nestle.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mathematical Optimization / Decision Intelligence Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Decision Optimization & Prescriptive Analytics (OR, simulation, what‑if) (HDAAAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Routing, Optimization & Dispatch Engines (BPAMANAI), AI/ML Solution Integration & MLOps Enablement (BPAEAAAJ)

Keywords

• Mathematical optimization solver
• Decision intelligence software
• Supply chain optimization
• Operations research software
• Manufacturing optimization

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. COPT License Sales: Commercial licenses for COPT mathematical optimization solver with various license types including personal, server, floating, and cluster licenses. Free trials available for evaluation.
2. Enterprise Optimization Consulting: End-to-end tailored optimized solutions for enterprise customers with operational decision-making optimization problems

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cardinal Operations develops and sells COPT (Cardinal Optimizer), a high-performance mathematical optimization solver for large-scale LP, MIP, SDP, (MI)SOCP, QP, QCP and NLP problems, and builds vertical decision intelligence platforms for supply chain, manufacturing, and infrastructure operations. The company also delivers tailored end-to-end optimization solutions for enterprise customers under an "Engine + Platform + Scenario" model.

Product overview

Cardinal Operations offers a portfolio of optimization products centered on its proprietary COPT (Cardinal Optimizer) mathematical solver — a high-performance engine for LP, MIP, SDP, QP, SOCP, and NLP problems — combined with vertical decision intelligence platforms. The product architecture follows an 'Engine + Platform + Scenario' model: COPT serves as the foundational optimization engine, with specialized domain platforms built on top — specifically the Supply Chain Intelligent Decision-making Platform (for retail, FMCG, logistics), the Manufacturing Intelligent Decision-making Platform (for automotive, electronics, chemical, steel), and the Infrastructure Operation Optimization Platform (for rail, energy, airlines). Additional offerings include the COPT Web Licensing Service for license management, CORIDM for revenue and demand management, and COAP for application deployment. The company also provides free trial versions (COPT 8.0 with 180-day business/365-day academic licenses) and comprehensive documentation with code examples.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COPT (Cardinal Optimizer): High-performance mathematical optimization solver for large-scale optimization problems including LP, MIP, SDP, SOCP, QP, QCP, and NLP. Independently developed by Cardinal Operations. Supports Windows, Linux, MacOS, ARM64, and Apple Silicon platforms.

Products and services

• COPT (Cardinal Optimizer) High-performance mathematical optimization solver for large-scale optimization problems (LP, MIP, SDP, (MI)SOCP, QP, QCP, NLP), independently developed by Cardinal Operations. Supports Windows, Linux, MacOS (64-bit), ARM64 and Apple Silicon platforms. Sold to enterprises and academic institutions via personal, server, floating and cluster licenses.
• Supply Chain Intelligent Decision-making Platform Intelligent decision platform that helps organizations in retail, FMCG, food & beverage, beauty & care, and shoe/apparel sectors build agile and flexible supply chains, enabling quick response in uncertain market environments. Integrates with the COPT engine for supply chain planning, inventory optimization and logistics network decisions.
• Manufacturing Intelligent Decision-making Platform Intelligent decision-making platform for manufacturing industries including automotive, 3C electronics, iron/steel, nonferrous metals, and chemicals. Aids in equipment, production, operation and industrial chain decisions toward intelligent manufacturing via COPT-powered production scheduling, planning and resource allocation.
• Infrastructure Operation Optimization Platform Optimization platform focused on infrastructure sectors including rail transit, petroleum and petrochemical, energy (power grid), and airlines. Uses the COPT optimization engine to provide operational planning and resource optimization for infrastructure-intensive industries.
• COPT Web Licensing Service Web-based licensing service for COPT that enables license activation, management, and floating/cluster license administration via a web portal.
• CORIDM (Cardinal Operations Revenue & Inventory Demand Management) Demand management and revenue optimization platform that provides end-to-end tailored optimization solutions to support customer business expansion with minimal costs and maximal efficiency.
• COAP (Cardinal Operations Application Platform) Application platform for deploying and managing optimization solutions built on the Cardinal Operations technology stack.

Quantifiable outcome

• Drives decision intelligence upgrade for 20+ industries
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NEOS (Network-Enabled Optimization System)coreTechnology or IntegrationCOPT has joined NEOS, the largest platform for optimization solver, enabling broader accessibility and integration with academic and research communities worldwide.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gurobi Optimization: Leading commercial mathematical optimization solver (LP, MIP, QP, NLP) and the dominant performance benchmark Cardinal's COPT is positioned against in academic and enterprise benchmarks.
• FICO Xpress Optimization: Long-established commercial optimization suite used across supply chain, finance and manufacturing; directly comparable to COPT in problem-type coverage and enterprise deployment model.
• IBM CPLEX Optimization: IBM's flagship mathematical programming solver supporting LP, MIP, QP, SOCP and CP; competes head-to-head with COPT in large-enterprise OR deployments.
• Mosek: Commercial solver specializing in conic optimization (SOCP, SDP, ExpCone) — a problem-class overlap with COPT — widely used in finance and engineering research.
• DecisionBrain: Enterprise optimization software vendor building optimization applications for workforce, supply chain and energy — similar business model of solver + vertical decision apps.

Emerging players

• Google OR-Tools: Open-source toolkit from Google covering routing, LP/MIP and constraint programming; a free alternative that pressures commercial solver pricing and adoption.
• Hexaly (formerly LocalSolver): Commercial solver combining exact and heuristic methods for large-scale combinatorial and non-convex optimization — a comparable niche solver competing with COPT's (MI)QCP and NLP capabilities.
• Lokad: Quantitative supply chain optimization vendor combining forecasting and mathematical optimization for retail and manufacturing — comparable target customers and decision intelligence positioning.

Broad incumbents

• SAP IBP (Integrated Business Planning): Enterprise supply chain planning suite that bundles optimization engines; competes with Cardinal's Supply Chain Intelligent Decision-making Platform for large enterprise S&OP budgets.
• o9 Solutions: AI-powered integrated planning platform for supply chain, demand and integrated business planning — a broader incumbent offering decision intelligence capabilities comparable to Cardinal's vertical platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors13 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cardinal Operations