The 6-day summer programme jointly offered by CUHK Business School and NYU Shanghai – “The New Venture Journey: Mindset Preparation and Skills Readiness” was successfully conducted on 25-30 August 2024.

The programme brought together 23 students from NYU Shanghai and the International Business and Chinese Enterprise (IBCE) programme of CUHK, representing seven regions including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Armenia, Columbia, Guatemala, Myanmar, and the United States. Participants came from different years of study, majoring in business, arts and science. By integrating students from both universities into mixed groups, the programme cultivated a dynamic learning environment that embraced diverse cultures, educational backgrounds and academic expertise.

The programme is comprehensively designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the foundational concepts, essential skills, and practical steps necessary for launching a successful business venture. Led by Dr. Anson AU YEUNG and Dr. Frank NG, the interactive workshops explored the key elements of building a successful startup, and delved into critical aspects such as market analysis, business model development, venture financing, pitch creation, and team dynamics.

Additionally, students had the opportunity to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world experiences through company visits. On Day 2 and Day 3, they visited Meituan and ClouDr Technology Group, prominent companies in the e-commerce and health sectors. Students had the invaluable opportunity to directly engage with top executives to gain unique insights into the industry landscape and company strategies.

The guest speaker sessions on Day 4 offered firsthand perspectives from real startup practitioners. Mr. Terry WOO, Founder of mYSTEPS, a fast-growing fitness brand in China, shared his entrepreneurship journey and mentality, reinforced students’ understanding of different entrepreneurial aspects, and inspired them to succeed. Mr. WANG Yi, Partner of JunHe LLP, a specialist in company listing and private equity fundraising, shared his legal and financial expertise, enabling students to quickly capture the technical aspects of starting a new business.

The programme concluded with a pitching contest which allowed the teams to apply their learnings. The teams successfully showcased their innovative business ideas and greatly benefited from the constructive feedback from a judging panel comprising faculty members from CUHK and NYU Shanghai.

This pioneering undergraduate collaboration between CUHK and NYU Shanghai brings together two groups of like-minded students who are eager to learn and build connections. They possess unique strengths and qualities that enable them to complement each other in teamwork and stimulated personal growth. This synergy has forged enduring friendships and professional networks between Hong Kong and Shanghai, two vibrant business centers in China.

This meaningful collaboration also marks the commencement of the journey of IBCE Batch 15, to provide them with a deep understanding of the Chinese business environment and instill in them a growth-oriented and innovative mindset essential for their future endeavors.

Owen ROUBENI, NYU Shanghai

The people involved were all willing to help and were very kind. I made many new friends. The concepts and interactive lectures were very engaging, informative, and fun. The network of speakers and company visits in this program was impressive. Maybe next year NYU Shanghai kids can go to Hong Kong!

Percy CHAN, CUHK

Big thanks to NYU Shanghai! Through collaborating on the pitching contest and exploring the wonders of Shanghai together, I have built deep connections with their student. Their open-minded mindset will push me to improve in the future.