A rising star recognized early on by Silicon Dragon scored as one of five finalists in an Extreme Tech Challenge specifically designed for female tech entrepreneurs from China.
Dian Guan, a co-founder of patent search startup
Patsnap in Shanghai, won a chance to compete in an inaugural China XTC at Branson's Necker Island in early February. There, she mingled with VC hotshots
Jim Breyer and
Bill Tai, received feedback on her pitch, and even sailed on Branson's yacht with other contestants.
Dian was shortlisted for the adventure in an early round of the competition in Beijing last November.
Her 10-minute pitch in the Beijing lead-up impressed a group of top Chinese VC judges including
Ruby Lu, JP Gan, Anna Fang and
Harry Man. She scored well, and won the opportunity to go to the finals in the British Virgin Islands.
The initiative for Chinese female tech entrepreneurs sprang from XTC, a large startup competition with Branson as its anchor judge that is now in its third year. XTC was originated by Tai and his MaiTai Global, a series that revolves around mentoring and resources for entrepreneurs as well as Tai's beloved kiteboarding sport.
The grand prize winner for the China XTC was
Joy Won, CEO of BestSign Technology, a brand marketing specialist from Hangzhou.
See
video interview with Patsnap co-founder
Dian Guan at Silicon Dragon Hong Kong 2016.
A new co-working office concept in the increasingly crowded shared working market is being rolled out by Spark Labs, which loops in value-added services and a network of office sharing locations. It's a model hat seems well designed for globe-trotting entrepreneurs and for struggling startups looking for a competitive edge. Read post at
Forbes:
co-working upgrade.
China's tech tycoons, struggling to make money off medical ventures, find their health care dreams aren't coming true.
Bloomberg
China's
Wanda weighs move for Postbank in search of European bank assets for property development.
Financial Times.
China's craze for live streaming is a new way to bring color to a dreary lifestyle. Live-streaming his life earns one Chinese taxi driver twice as much as his day job.
The Economist.
A social networking video app is prompting reflection about China's widening socio-economic divide. The
Kwai platform shows live in less developed areas, capturing a gap.
WSJ
Tink Labs, basking in a $125 million round of finance, brings its Handy mobile device to more hotel customers. Tink Labs' journey was highlighted at
Silicon Dragon in Hong Kong. See
video interview with Tink Labs founder Terence Kwok.
