Participate in accelerator programs

In 2016 there where about 4000 accelerators in China who offered services both to the local and international startups. The accelerators can be divided into three categories based on their funding background: government, university or private capital.

Tekes (predecessor of Business Finland) has published a handbook of the startup and accelerator scene in China. The handbook gives useful information of services for startups and gives hints for companies who strive for Chinese market. The authors Riikka Koponen, Maggi Li and Tero Kosonen are B&B Advisors in Shanghai.

• Handbook for Finnish Start-ups for Entering Chinese Market (pdf) (2016, may contain outdated information)

China Accelerator

• Startup founders, but not their entire teams, are required to relocate to Shanghai for the first 3 months of the program. The program is completely bespoke for every startup – there are no classes. Chinaccelerator only requires founders to be present twice a week. After the first 3 months, companies can choose to stay in the Chinaccelerator office where the team continues to provide close business development and fundraising support. Key program events include Geeks On a Train (GOAT), 8×8 speaker series, and an invitation-only demo day for investors.
• Mainly for seed to early-stage startups; equity-based only
• 3+3 months program
• Go to accelerator's home pages

HAX

• HAX is a two-stage program that starts in Shenzhen and finishes in San Francisco. Companies that are admitted to the program will spend four to eight months in Shenzhen co-developing technology, followed by two to three months in San Francisco, where we will work with you on business development, fundraising, and growth.
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis, with 4 to 5 teams selected per month to join the program in Shenzhen.
• Equity-based only
• Go to accelerator's home pages

Microsoft ScaleUp

• Selected teams will be offered office space for 4-6 months in the Microsoft Asia Research Institute in Beijing, mentorship from opinion leaders, experts and Microsoft Azure cloud resources worth 3 million yuan.
• Program available in both Beijing and Shanghai, with two rounds of application for each location every year.
• Go to accelerator's home pages

Plug and Play

• Program duration: 180 Days
• Go to accelerator's home pages

XNode

• 8-week program for 0% equity that is focused on market entry acceleration for growth stage scaleup businesses. The program supports teams to localize their products/services to China and prepare a tangible business plan that clearly articulates the vision, opportunity, execution plan and required resources to go to market in a lean and efficient way.
• Go to accelerator's home pages

TAIWAN

Startup Global Program

• A Taiwanese accelerator for startups that work with electronics products and are looking for a suitable manufacturing or commercialization partner. Accelerator companies are accepted from the following industries: AI & Big Data, IoT & Smart Device, Digital Health, AR & VR, Mobility, Green Tech.
• Go to accelerator's home pages