Events

Time: 1:30 - 5:35 PM (Beijing)

📍 Address: Z-Link+, 3F 39 Dongzhimen Outer St, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Launched by Columbia Global Centers | Beijing and Zhongguancun Collaborative Innovation Center, the 'Pioneer Open Mic' business incubation program provides young entrepreneurs of Columbia University and other Ivy League schools with access to life-changing opportunities to empower their talents and passion for innovation.

Learn more about the program and apply HERE.

The third roadshow of the program will focus on how emerging social media platforms can expand their users, build stronger connections, and evolve with the technology and needs.

During this event, entrepreneurs from Peking University, King's College London, University of Washington, University of Pennsylvania, and the National University of Singapore will share their entrepreneurial projects, stories, and visions. Representatives from the Beijing Center, Zhongguancun Collaborative Innovation Center, and Columbia alumni clubs will also attend the event and give remarks.

Speakers

Jiayi Wu, Founder of Startown

Wu graduated from the National University of Singapore and had worked for six years on programming education in Singapore, which provided her experience in observing the social lives of young people in not only Singapore but also many other countries in Southeast Asia. Startown was founded to satisfy the needs of social networking for young people in Southeast Asia.

Renyou Yu, Founder of Topos

As a liberal arts student interested in the Internet since elementary school, Yu has a rich experience in entrepreneurial failure. From China to the U.S. and back to China, Yu has been exploring the internet for the possibility of the future. At this roadshow, he will present the exciting stories behind his social network utopia, Topos.

Yuexing Sun, Founder of Zhixingheyi

Sun enjoys traveling to different places just like anyone else at his age. However, he takes this hobby one step further by founding a traveling agency that plans trips and creates surprises for its users. Zhixingheyi plans trips according to its algorithm analysis of the user’s information. It then generates a Blindbox of traveling plan which is tailored to the user’s preference. Users will enjoy the surprises from their journey into the unknown.

Yuchen Jin, Founder of AlphaLink

Jin graduated from the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania with an MBA degree. He noticed many young people are facing difficulties and challenges in job-hunting and social networking. Aiming to tackle these pain points, Jin developed AlphaLink to provide an all-in-one social networking service through gathering resources from colleges, universities, and top companies. Looking for alumni networks, job opportunities, or even soul mates will never be any difficulties for the users of AlphaLink anymore.

Chao Xiong, Founder of BitHere

Xiong graduated from Peking University with a degree in Theoretical Physics. As a fan of the metaverse and augmented reality technology, Xiong has been seeking a way to merge AR technology into daily social networking since three years ago. He believes the internet is accelerating its integration with the physical world, and information flows should be tangible to everybody. BitHere is an AR-based social product that defines a new way of social networking by providing 3D content creation and sharing experience to its users, and thus creating an AR-based social metaverse.

Hao Li, Founder of Flex

Flex is committed to creating a social network for Gen Z. Centered around business, emotion, and hobbies, the app aims to provide its users with in-depth and high-quality connections. The company has established partnerships with many overseas alumni and industry organizations. Its team members come from diverse backgrounds in sociology, psychology, information science, computer science, finance, and international relations. 

Agenda

1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

• Sign in

2:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.

• Opening Speech and Introduction

2:20 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

• Pioneer Pitch by Jiayi Wu, Founder of Startown

2:45 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.

• Pioneer Pitch by Renyou Yu, Founder of Topos

3:10 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.

• Open Mic Hours: Brainstorming open mic for everyone to present

3:50 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

• Pioneer Pitch by Yuexing Sun, Founder of Zhixingheyi

4:15 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.

• Pioneer Pitch by Yuchen Jin, Founder of AlphaLink

4:40 p.m. - 5:05 p.m.

• Pioneer Pitch by Chao Xiong, Founder of BitHere

5:05 p.m. - 5:35 p.m.

• Pioneer Pitch by Hao Li, Founder of Flex

Reminders

• Event language: Chinese
• Please plan to arrive no earlier than the sign-in time.
• If you have any questions, please email [email protected]