Incubator Visits
Berkeley Summer House
Space Upgrade: Previously unnamed, the space was upgraded this year to " o Berkeley Summer House" by its original owner to address the lack of shared gathering and flexible workspaces for local entrepreneurs.
Events and Networking: Hosted events here, inviting Zhejiang University alumni working and entrepreneuring in the Bay Area for exchanges. The space offers stunning views overlooking the ocean and the campus.
Plug & Play
Service Model: Operates on a paid membership model serving large corporations, connecting them with startups.
Highlights: The host introduced unicorn companies they’ve invested in, first-round investment details, acquisition cases, annual events, and how corporate members connect with startups. The space design incorporates natural elements, and the local weather is ideal for extended outdoor activities.
Stanford StartX
Founded by alumni of Zhejiang University and Stanford, it offers AI-powered psychological services to university campuses. Last year, Pika had just been operating for a year and has now been acquired by Meta. Last year, Flourish had only Stanford as a client, but this year, several prestigious domestic and international universities have become paying customers.
Starting Gate for Global Expansion
The partner shared strategies for Chinese companies expanding into the U.S., including market entry, understanding local markets, and compliance, supported by a detailed PPT. Attendees asked questions on topics of interest.
Other Visits
Hangzhou’s Silicon Valley Hub
This hub serves as both Hangzhou’s official base in Silicon Valley and a workspace for startups. The manager shared that about 30% of the teams are from China, while 70% are local startups, and the space maintains solid occupancy rates year-round.
Overall Impressions
Diverse Styles: The four incubators visited each had distinct characteristics—some investor-led, others founded by real estate developers, some leveraging university alumni networks, and others drawing on local Chinese resources.
Vibrant Entrepreneurial Atmosphere: The visits revealed an active startup incubation scene. For those involved in angel investing, there is much to learn from these advanced practices.
Video from: 花姐天使投资 on WeChat Video Channel
