China Tech Fellowship

China ist im Trend! Zumindest bei meiner Generation. Das zeigen Social-Media-Phänomene wie "Chinamaxxing" oder neue Programme wie das China Tech Fellowship. Ich habe mit den Gründerinnen, der Schweizerin Louise Scarlette Maunoir und der Chinesin Catherine Duan, über ihre Vision gesprochen. Sie sehen sich als Brückenbauerinnen und wollen jungen Talenten aus dem Westen Zugang zu Unternehmen und Kapital in China verschaffen. Denn laut ihnen sind persönliche Kontakte - oder "Guanxi" - dort besonders wichtig. Das hat mir auch Noah Pittet aus Lausanne bestätigt, der am Programm teilgenommen hat. Für ihn war die Reise aber weit mehr als nur ein Geschäftstrip. Er sagt: "Ich bin schon viel gereist, aber ein Land wie China habe ich noch nie gesehen." Die Faszination für China hat laut Nils Rode, Chief Investment Officer bei Schroders Capital, auch mit dem eher überschaubaren Schweizer Kapitalmarkt zu tun. "Lokale Investoren sind bei grossen Finanzierungsrunden deutlich untervertreten", sagt er. Auch die China-Expertin Ariane Knüsel betont, dass Chinas Start-up-Programme für Schweizerinnen und Schweizer oft attraktiv wirken. Allerdings warnt sie auch vor Risiken. Chinas Ziel sei die Dominanz in Hightech-Sektoren. "Da wird es keinen Platz für Schweizer Rivalen geben." Der Artikel und das Interview für AWP Finanznachrichten AG und KEYSTONE-SDA-ATS wurde von verschiedenen Medien aufgegriffen. Louise und Noah haben mir noch ein paar Bilder zur Verfügung gestellt. Danke für all die Gespräche! 🍵🥢

One week ago, a group of European founders landed in China with ambitious schedules, overloaded calendars, and very optimistic assumptions about their sleep quality 🇨🇳😂 🥳 Day 1 of the China Tech Fellowship Trip We started at Soul Capital 心资本 — Herry HAN is one of the earliest believers in China’s tech ecosystem, starting nearly 20 years ago when “VC” was barely even a thing here yet. The conversation somehow jumped from XPeng’s angel round to AI agents, GPU wars, the future of human-computer interaction, and why nobody in AI actually has a moat anymore… all before lunch. Somewhere between “every year is the year of agents” and “good product managers are rarer than GPUs,” I think everyone realized China’s AI ecosystem moves very differently when you experience it from inside the room instead of through headlines. One moment that stuck with me: “Don’t build where the models are obviously going. Go where they still can’t reach.” (Or build fast enough to exit 🤫 ) And maybe the real question now is not what we heard that day — but what everyone in that room is quietly building after going back home 👀 Nick Breit, Steffen Keßler, Derin Akar, Manuel Nucci, Guillaume Burstert, Salash Motiani, Bilal Korir, George V. Gabonian, Louise Scarlette Maunoir, Lauris Vo #Tech #ChinaTechFellowship #Investment #AI

I don’t think you truly understand how much you don’t understand China. 🇨🇳 Last week, I talked with some of the world’s most impressive people, top investors, founders, elite academic profiles 🙃 all genuinely lost in translation. because China doesn’t work the way most people assume it does. If China is relevant to your future, as a founder, investor, or leader, this program is an incredible shortcut.... China Tech Fellowship🇨🇳 We built a 5-day program designed to give you the real understanding, from VC to manufacturing, and the network to actually act on it. 💥 Apply now: https://tally.so/r/3q27Ad 📅 23–27 March 2026, May, July September November

I am currently travelling Hong Kong 🇭🇰 + Mainland China 🇨🇳! 5 months ago, I created a life plan, which included going to China in 2028. 2 months after, I got introduced to China Tech Fellowship, applied, got in, and went to Mainland China. I felt not ready at the time, but Catherine Duan and her team welcomed every participant with all the support necessary. Now 3 months later, I have already returned to Mainland China and Hong Kong to continue the conversations that started during the #Fellowship. Just over three days into my time in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, I have already experienced more meaningful conversations and high-quality introductions than at many other events combined. This is what makes the Hong Kong–Mainland China tech ecosystem truly exceptional: its speed, openness, and the diversity of disciplines that intersect so naturally. These included the #ASEAN Business Community Reception from Invest Hong Kong, a private dinner with my former professor Prof. Dr. Patrick Glauner, a startup product release event from Nullshot, and an #investor circle in #Shenzhen. And this was only the first half of my stay in Hong Kong, followed by the important meetings and follow-ups for future business. If you are curious about the China tech #ecosystem, applications for the next cohort close in less than 24 hours. Step outside your comfort zone, the opportunities on the other side are real, and they compound quickly. https://tally.so/r/3q27Ad

Just spent a semester in China, and this is why I would do it again 🇨🇳 1. You can't understand the world without understanding China China is establishing a leading position in the sectors that will define the next decade; Critical minerals, energy infrastructure, robotics, AI 2. China is an incredible country Heard about Zhangjiajie, Chongqing and Harbin? Probably doesn’t ring a bell for most, but these are some impressive places and big cities that few people have heard of. 3. As a Norwegian, the potential for collaboration is huge 🐟 Yes, there are clear differences in values and systems. But there are also obvious areas where Norway and China intersect in: climate tech, maritime and seafood are just a few examples of this. 4. Everything is cheap I have lived in one of the biggest cities in the world for $170 a month in rent. You don't get that anywhere in the West. Grateful for all the fantastic people I have met the past few months, as I say Zàijiàn to China for now! But it won’t be long, as I am very excited to be back in Shanghai in March, with China Tech Fellowship, Louise and Catherine 🦄 In the meanwhile, excited for what’s ahead with Texicon 🚀

🔥 We’re back — and 2026 is the big one. 🇨🇳🦾 We are opening applications for China Tech Fellowship 2026. Last year, we took founders behind the scenes of: 🚀 Tencent, Alibaba, Xiaohongshu ✨ VCs who’ve backed multiple IPOs 🤖 Robotics & hardware factories you definitely won’t find on Google What I learned in 2025 is this: Founders don’t need more panels. They need real access, real conversations, and real signals. So in 2026, we’re doubling down. 🗓️ 5-day immersive programs 👓 March 23-27 I Shanghai, Hangzhou 🤖 May 11- 15 I Shanghai, Wuxi 🦾 June 29-3 I Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan 📲 September 21-25 I Shanghai 👨🏻🔬 November TBD I Shenzhen ▶️ customized versions available for scale-ups and investors 💥 Apply here: https://tally.so/r/3q27Ad ⏰ Deadline for the First program: 27 Jan (rolling basis) This fellowship is for founders who are seriously exploring China as part of their growth strategy — whether it’s tech, capital, supply chain, or market entry. If China has been on your mind for a while — maybe this is the year you stop watching from the outside. 👀 EuroTech Federation, S-Tron China (S创中国), RoboTUM, START Paris, pluto house, InnoX Shenzhen, German Accelerator, Swissnex in China, Xiaohongshu, 声网Agora，TEN Framework, AsiaBerlin, Puzzled.inno #China #Tech #Startups #Innovation #Supplychain #Robotics #AI #Community