STAR MENTORS
Semi-finalist teams will be matched with mentors to refine business models, market strategy, and pitch performance. Use the filters below to quickly find the best fit for your team.
Richie HE 何杨平
Executive Director — Ying Capital
Profile
Richie currently serves as Executive Director at Ying Capital, focusing on early-stage investments in cutting-edge technology sectors. Previously, he worked extensively on the industrial front, bringing rich experience from R&D to technical consulting at Honeywell. Richie holds a Bachelor's degree from Tianjin University, a Master's degree in Engineering from the University of Houston, and an MBA from CEIBS.
Han GAO 高寒
Founding Partner — Dayou Capital
Profile
With a unique combination of internet operations, venture capital, and entrepreneurship experience, Han Gao offers deep insights into global commerce and the specific intricacies of doing business in China.
Sonja HILBIG
Founder & CEO — Shanghai CPS Consulting
Profile
As a coach, trainer, and consultant, Sonja supports leaders and teams between Asia and Europe in developing their leadership potential and thriving in highly demanding, intercultural environments. Before building her own company, she spent three years as an Associate at McKinsey & Company, mainly serving automotive and machinery clients, before joining CEIBS for her MBA and later the China management team of a high-end machine tools and laser manufacturer. There, she established and led Product Management for the BRICS markets and the fast-growing smart manufacturing systems business. Sonja brings nearly 20 years of living and working experience in China and is passionate about helping partnerships between China and Europe flourish.
Kevin YANG 杨一飞
Senior BD Director — GCL Energy Technology
Profile
Kevin leads a local team supporting energy investors to improve the efficiency and returns of renewable energy and energy storage stations through comprehensive energy services, including electricity market trading and virtual power plants. He also has years of experience in product management and overseas business development across multinational and private-sector companies.
Han JIANG
Head of Strategy and Marketing — Transcputing
Profile
Han is an experienced technology and strategy professional with over a decade of experience spanning semiconductors, AI infrastructure, analytics, and management consulting. He currently works in strategy and marketing at Transcputing, driving the commercialization of a 3D-stacked AI NPU with high-bandwidth memory designed for on-device inference of LLMs, VLMs, and diffusion models. Before moving into deep tech, he spent over six years at Roland Berger, progressing to Senior Project Manager and leading high-impact strategy projects across semiconductors, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and internet services.
Henry KO
Founder & CEO — FUNDel
Profile
Prof. Henry Ko is the founder of FUNDel and was Honorary Chairman and a founding member of Flexport Asia, where he served as Managing Director from its inception. He brings extensive leadership experience in global supply chains and logistics, having held senior roles at DHL and Li & Fung and served as General Manager (Hong Kong) of SF Express. An active public servant, he advises the HKTDC, educational institutions, and government agencies. He also serves on the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council and multiple advisory boards in logistics, education, and internationalization. Henry holds a BBA (Hons.), an EMBA, and a Juris Doctor from City University of Hong Kong, and is an Adjunct Professor in CityU’s Global EMBA Program.
Jeff XU
Partner — FG Venture
Profile
Mr. Qiangao Xu is currently a Partner at FG Venture. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and an MBA from CEIBS. Since joining FG Venture in 2015, he has focused on hard-tech investments. Prior to that, he accumulated nine years of experience in the semiconductor industry, having worked at Cisco and Agere Systems. His investment cases include Chipsea Tech, Gpixel, Kuxin Microelectronics, FineMEMS, Corerain Technologies, Xintai Tech, Greatar Tech, ChenDong New Materials, and Xunlian Technology.
Melissa SUN
Managing Partner — Duyue Capital
Profile
Melissa previously worked at Google and has entrepreneurial experience. She has also held positions at multiple USD funds. She currently serves as a Partner at Yangcheng Venture Capital and the Founding Partner of Duyue Capital.
Jenny LAU
Vice Chair — Sino Jet Group
Profile
Jenny founded a leading Asia Pacific business aviation management firm and scaled the business from its 2011 launch into the region’s largest fleet operator, with three consecutive years as the fastest-growing player in the sector. She spearheads corporate growth strategy, pioneered the application of private banking models to business aviation, and prioritizes service excellence and personalized solutions. She also drives industry development through win-win peer alliances, leading a 300+ professional team and shaping the core mission and values behind the firm’s market leadership.
Desiree KEUNG
Senior Marketing Manager — Abbott Laboratories Ltd
Profile
INNOVATEChina 2025 Top 3. Desiree has over 11 years of strategic business and marketing experience driving growth across Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China. She brings proven expertise in full-funnel digital strategy, P&L management, and cross-functional leadership within multinational corporations including Abbott Laboratories, Philips, and P&G.
Ian WAN
Senior Strategy Manager — HSBC
Profile
Ian is a senior strategy and commercial leader with over a decade of experience across management consulting, fintech, and international banking in Greater China and global markets. Currently at HSBC Hong Kong, he specializes in bridging strategy and execution through cross-border initiatives, fintech product launches, and large-scale transformation programs. With training in engineering, law, political science, and business, Ian brings deep insight into the China-international nexus and helps organizations navigate complexity and capture growth. Ian and his team were Top 3 finalists at INNOVATEChina 2025.
Vamshi Krishna SARANGA
Senior Associate — BCG
Profile
Vamshi is a Senior Associate at BCG based in India, with experience in strategy consulting, analytics, and digital transformation across the energy and healthcare industries. He brings a strong foundation in solving complex business problems through structured, data-driven insights and cross-functional collaboration. Vamshi completed his MBA at CEIBS, where his team were Top 3 finalists at INNOVATEChina 2025.
Pietro BORSANO
Associate Professor, Preparatory Director — XJTLU
Profile
Pietro Borsano is an Associate Professor at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Entrepreneur College near Shanghai. He specializes in entrepreneurship education, industry-academic partnerships, and venture development across Europe, ASEAN, and China. Previously, he co-founded Chulalongkorn University’s School of Integrated Innovation in Bangkok and designed its entrepreneurship curriculum. Pietro has advised startups, VCs, and government innovation programs, and his research focuses on digital transformation, family business entrepreneurship, and ecosystem development.
Leslie DONG
Founder, Executive Director — Pursuit International
Profile
Leslie is a seasoned entrepreneur and global leader with 10 years of experience in social entrepreneurship. As the founder of Pursuit International, she has secured over RMB 2.3 million in funding and now provides storytelling and pitch training to early-stage startup founders to help them secure investment and funding.
Bernd HAUSER
Local CEO / Automotive Industry Executive — MATA automotive trim
Profile
Bernd Hauser brings over 30 years of experience in the automotive supply industry, including 25 years in senior leadership roles such as Plant Manager, COO, and Local CEO in China. He has led global operations for 4,000 employees, executed two buy-side M&A transactions, and built two greenfield factories during the COVID pandemic for a Turkish company entering Asia. Bernd is also a certified master carpenter, REFA specialist, and IPMA-certified project manager. He is currently pursuing his GEMBA at CEIBS.
Quan ZHOU
Executive Director — Alibaba - Cainiao Strategic Investment Department
Profile
Quan Zhou leads the Cainiao investment team and has made investments in the logistics and technology industries over the past 10 years, covering both M&A deals and minority share investments. Prior to this, Quan worked at CRCI, the China PE investment arm of Credit Suisse, and at McKinsey.
Sandra ZHOU
VP, Strategy and Transformation — JLR China
Profile
Sandra leads the Strategy Department at Jaguar Land Rover China, where she supports the CEO of JLR China and global headquarters in shaping and deploying the company’s China strategy. She monitors macroeconomic and industry trends, translates market intelligence into business decisions, and bridges external market dynamics with internal strategic planning. Sandra also plays a key role in strategic partnerships and new business development opportunities including NEV, new services, ecosystem collaboration, and energy-related solutions.
Andy ZHAO
CVP — Taiying Technology Group Co., Ltd.
Profile
Andy Zhao is Senior Vice President at Taiying Technology Group and related AI and customer-relations entities. With over 30 years of experience in financial and technology management, she has held leadership roles across fintech, artificial intelligence, and digital middle-office platforms. She also serves as an MBA and FMBA Mentor at CEIBS, a mentor for women’s career development, and a certified psychological counselor. Working with leadership teams from China’s digital middle-office pioneers, she has helped more than 30 Fortune Global 500 companies deliver large-scale data and digital middle-office operations.
Christine CHAN 陈美婷
Founder — SEQUEL Communications
Profile
Christine leads SEQUEL Communications, a platform dedicated to advancing sustainability through impactful storytelling and strategic communication. She specializes in translating complex sustainability efforts into compelling narratives grounded in deep consumer insights to drive awareness and real-world action. With over 10 years of experience in brand and content strategy, she has helped numerous brands connect purpose with relevance in a rapidly evolving market. Christine has been recognized as a G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Fellow and a Climate Communication Women Leader.
Jun JIN
China Automotive Industry Leader — PwC China
Profile
Jun is the Automotive Industry Leader of PwC and is based in the Beijing office. He provides diversified deal advisory and corporate strategy services to MNCs, SOEs, POEs, PEs, and government clients. Jun has over 20 years of experience in deal and M&A strategy, corporate strategy and transformation, growth strategy, market entry, target search, negotiation support, financial modelling, commercial due diligence, and post-deal integration in the automotive sector, covering OEMs, parts and component suppliers, and other industry participants. In addition, he leads Autofacts in China, PwC’s global research institute for automotive industry projections and analysis.
Jie ZHANG
Executive Director — D.Transformer Incubator
Profile
As a founding member of Design Innovation Institute Shanghai, Jie Zhang launched D.Transformer, a municipal-level incubator supporting startups in AI, sustainability, wellness tech, and hardware innovation. A graduate of Yale and MIT, she is a U.S.-licensed architect, LEED-accredited professional, and senior engineer. Jie has collaborated with leading enterprises, including Nike, Saint-Gobain, Swire Properties, MTR Lab, JLL, and Ingka Group, to source greentech innovations and build POC pilots. She has also incubated 10 sustainability-focused startups spanning material technologies, new energy, and the circular economy.
