Date: April 27, 2019
Venue: China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), Shanghai, China
Theme: Transcending Entrepreneurship

INNOVATEChina was started in 2008 by CEIBS, the #1 business school in Asia and #5 MBA in the world. It is one of the largest and most influential business innovation contests in the world. The theme of each event is closely linked to current global business issues and although the competition is called INNOVATEChina, it is not limited only to China-related topics. Approximately 60 teams from over 30 of the world’s top business schools participate every year with their proposals for business innovation. Our mission is to support outstanding future entrepreneurs who will play an important role in tomorrow's business world. As a participant, you will have access to CEOs and partners from investment institutions as well as senior professors from around the world.

More than just a competition, INNOVATEChina aims to establish a platform to connect the innovative minds of global business schools with the vast experience of industry experts and venture capitalists in China, in order to introduce innovative ideas to the world.

In 2019, INNOVATEChina’s central theme is Transcending Entrepreneurship. Projects do not need to be focused on or related to China; instead, we want to gather the most innovative ideas from around the globe.

We welcome all kinds of innovation. You are encouraged, but not restricted, to align with one of the following industry trends:

• Remodelling Traditional Industries

Autonomous driving and electrification are disrupting the automotive industry. Newspapers sales are plunging, while social media use is skyrocketing. Debit cards are being replaced by mobile payment. How can these and other traditional industries respond to these kinds of challenges? And, how can they leverage their core strengths to develop new businesses?

• Tackling Current Problems

The big questions of our time – like an aging population or the growing inequality between urban and rural populations – are huge challenges, but also huge opportunities for entrepreneurs. What opportunities might arise from these and other current challenges? How can we come up with new business models that contribute to solving these problems?

• Shaping the Future

New technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality will find new use cases across all industries – from finance and insurance to the public sector and healthcare. Which of these new applications and applications of other technologies will disrupt the world? Which business models will benefit from these disruptions?

Finalist Teams 2019

After an overwhelming amount of business proposals were submitted from all over the world, our team of first round judges, consisting of a senior CEIBS professor and four McKinsey consultants, has selected the following 6 promising business proposals as finalists (in random order):

Final Round Judges

The following judges have been already confirmed and will rank the teams according to their performance today. The teams have the chance to win 8,000 USD in total in order to be able to further develop their business idea.

Katrina Lv, McKinsey & Company, Managing Partner​

Katrina Lv is a Partner at McKinsey & Company. She is the managing partner of McKinsey’s Shanghai office and leads McKinsey’s work in the public sector and infrastructure in China. She focuses on Chinese regional and local governments, infrastructure, and real estate, bringing her extensive experience in economic development, megaproject planning, corporate strategy, and organization design. She holds an MBA from CEIBS and a BE in electronics engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Seon Hwang, VIVO, Brand Strategy Senior Director​

Seon Hwang is the Brand Strategy Senior Director of vivo smartphone. He is a CEIBS MBA of class 2012 and he has a demonstrated history of working in the automotive and consumer electronics industry. Seon has many years of experiences in international corporations and currently he works for a globalizing Chinese corporation. Seon has specialties in sales, marketing and strategy fields.
 

Terence Tan, IPV Capital, Managing Partner​

Terence is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of IPV Capital based in Shanghai. Prior to IPV in 2006, he served as Head of Asia for Silicon Valley-based Worldview Technology Partners since its inception in 1997. Over the years, he has worked with technology companies across all sectors and stages of development, investing, advising and implementing cross border strategies in his 20+ years in the venture industry. He is currently on the boards of Amprius Inc, Genapsys, V-Key, Giantec and AmpNova. Terence is an entrepreneur himself as founder & CEO of Vino Fontaine. He graduated with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Singapore and an MBA in International Business and Finance from Oklahoma City University.

Jianyi Zhu, ADV Caital, Managing Partner ​

Jianyi Zhu has 21 years of experience in the finance industry with the last 18 years focused on private equity and value investments in Asia. Prior to co-founding ADV, Jianyi was Managing Director and Head of Greater China for Mount Kellett Capital where he was responsible for sourcing, structuring and execution of all investments in China in addition to being a member of the Global Investment Committee. Previously Jianyi was Managing Director and Head of Greater China for Deutsche Bank’s Global Credit Trading Division, leading its private equity, structured finance and commodities businesses. He was a founding member of Goldman Sachs Asia Special Situations Group’s China Team where he led numerous landmark investments.

Terry Wang, CEIBS, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship​

Dr. Taiyuan Wang is Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at CEIBS. Before joining CEIBS, Dr. Wang was Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at IE Business School in Spain. He also worked for multinational corporations and governmental organizations before pursuing his academic career. Dr. Wang teaches Entrepreneurial Management and New Venture Growth at the MBA and EMBA levels. Dr. Wang’s research has appeared in numerous journals. He received the Best Convention Paper Award from the Human Resources Division of the Academy of Management (2015), and was nominated for the Newman Award by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management (2010). 

Panel Discussion

Smart City – When Digital Transformation Means Smarter Living

Disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality, drones, e-commerce, advanced robotics, IoT, 5G connectivity and cloud platforms, are all reshaping the way we live in cities. This shift goes beyond rethinking traffic signals. What will happen when cars are fully autonomous and talk to the infrastructure? Our panel will expand on this and dissect some of the business opportunities and cultural challenges ahead of us.

Prof. Terry Wang, CEIBS, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at CEIBS will moderate the panel. 

Panel Speakers:

Dr. Jonathan Woetzel, McKinsey & Company,  Senior Partner, Asia-based director of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI)​

Dr. Jonathan Woetzel is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, Asia-based Director of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), the business and economics research arm of McKinsey and global leader of McKinsey’s Cities Special Initiative and co-chair of the Urban China Initiative. He co-founded McKinsey’s China practice and has resided in Shanghai for 23 years. Dr. Woetzel holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Southern California.
 

Jane Kwok, Covestro, Global Head of New Mobility​

Jane Kwok is the Global Head of New Mobility at Covestro, a leading manufacturer and innovation partner for high-tech polymers with EUR 14.6 billion turnover (2018). The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. At Covestro, Jane focuses on building and enabling future urban mobility solutions. In the new era of blitz-scaling, getting the materials right is becoming a critical pivot point for success.

Alan To, Tishman Speyer, Senior Director & Head of Property Management China ​

Alan has over 28 years of experience in property & asset management in Canada, Hong Kong and China. He was head of property and asset management of China East and Central in his previous firm, JLL, taking care of over 100 commercial properties. Right now he is responsible for the property operation and management of all projects developed by Tishman Speyer in China. Tishman’s portfolio includes residential, office and retail properties of over 1.5 million SQM in Chengdu, Shanghai, Suzhou and Shenzhen.

Michael Chen, Microsoft, Regional Business Manager​

Michael Chen is Microsoft regional business manager responsible for public sector in Eastern China. He has rich and down-to-earth experience in government and healthcare industry for years, landing digital transformation solutions in verticals, building strategic cooperation with key accounts, and delivering leading-edge international view and resource for China innovation and entrepreneurship, such as Microsoft for startups program. Michael holds his master degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from University of Electric and Science Technology of China.

Product Exhibition

TheHiveLab​

TheHiveLab is a creative space for makers and designers. They have a well-equipped lab, co-working space, and product design lead courses. We are also a design studio which specialize in product and installation design.  TheHiveLab was founded by four friends who graduated from the Royal College of Art. The company believes that design through making and cross-discipline collaboration are the keys that lead to true innovation. They want to bring the experimental spirit in design and hands-on learning experience back to Shanghai. 

UBTECH

Founded in 2012, UBTECH is a global leading AI and humanoid robotic company. Since 2008, UBTECH has successfully developed consumer humanoid robots, robots for business use and Jimu robot after breakthroughs made in digital servos, the core part of humanoid robots. In 2016, UBTECH Robotics has surpassed 1 billion valuation and became a unicorn startup company.
 

helo Inc. Corporate​

helo (f. 2014) is an art collective, interdisciplinary group of ultratechnologists whose collaborative practice seeks to navigate the confluence of art, science, technology, design and the natural world.  Various specialists such as artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians and architects form helo.
 

Shanghai Hubang Intelligent Rehabilitation Equipment Corporation​

Hubang, founded in 1992, specializes in the production of manual and electric wheelchairs, intelligent rehabilitation care equipment and other rehabilitation assistive devices. Hubang currently has three factories in Shanghai, Tianjin and Chengdu, where it produces around 80,000 wheelchairs and medical equipment products every year. With 15 years of experience in this industry the company is taking the lead in supply chain integration. The company is currently holding over 50 national patents, since it is focusing highly on development and improved manufacturing processes as well as quality control systems. 

Final Competition (April 27, 2019)

Each finalist team will be allowed to revise and submit their final business plan five days before the Final Competition.

Teams will be given 30 minutes to present their business plans. This time will also include a Q&A session, where judges will ask for more details or clarify open points. Teams are encouraged to include innovative materials in their presentation (e.g. a video, product sample display, etc.), especially if it helps to clarify the business idea.

Final Competition Agenda

During the event, several speakers will also be invited to share their views about the innovations and emerging trends that will define the future of entrepreneurship. The event will be held in English. A draft version of final day agenda is as follows: 

• 12:30-13:00  Registration
• 13:00-13:15  Opening Speech by CEIBS President 
• 13:15-13:30  Keynote Speech by Vivo
• 13:30-13:50  Elevator pitches by Competing Teams
• 13:50-15:20  Road Show I (Team 1-3)
• 15:20-15:50  Tea Break & Product Showcase
• 15:50-16:30  Panel Talk
• 16:30-18:00  Road Show II (Team 4-6)
• 18:00-18:30  Tea Break & Product Showcase
• 18:30-19:00  Awarding Ceremony & Closing Speech

Expenses

INNOVATEChina will cover some of the travel expenses for each team in the finals. The total amount covered will be based on the location each team is travelling from to Shanghai, as follows:

• From North America or Europe – Up to $2000 (USD) per team
• From Asia Pacific – Up to $1000 (USD) per team
• From within China – Up to $300 (USD) per team

Teams should contact and confirm detailed budget information with organisers via email prior to travelling to Shanghai. Invoices must be provided in order to receive reimbursement.

Key Dates

• Registration Deadline: March 8, 2019
• Finalist Announcement: March 29, 2019
• Final Event Date: April 27, 2019

Teamwork is very important! Your capacity to work together will be challenged during the competition. Be ready to learn, meet new people and enjoy! 

Contact Information

Email: innovatechina@ceibs.edu
LinkedIn: INNOVATEChina