By Niccolò Schlueb, Junior Project Manager Innovation & Entrepreneurship
In September last year I started my work as Junior Project Manager in the department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. It feels like the last 6 months passed in a heartbeat and now I am sitting in the plane home and writing my farewell blog.
I still remember that I was fairly nervous during my first few days. My first task was to design a website for the Asian Consumer Electronics Show (CES), something I had never done before. Luckily, the swissnex China team welcomed me warmly and everybody was happy to help whenever I needed advice. This really made it easy for me to settle in and adjust to the fast-paced working environment in Shanghai. Two weeks into work, I was already involved in the planning of market validation and entry camps for two Swiss startups. I arranged meetings with possible business partners, customers and distributors for the CEOs of Insolight and Faitron. My project leader Simin made sure that I was always up to date on everything that happened around our busy department. Thanks to her, my tasks for swissnex China were plentiful and diverse.
One of my highlights was the Venture Leaders Fintech Program in Hong Kong, a weeklong roadshow showcasing Switzerland’s top startups in banking and financing innovation. I joined the program with meetings during the day and pitching events in the evening. I supported the coordination of the ten startups’ appearance at the Fintech Conference. Furthermore, I was trusted with the organization of one of our satellite events and the highlight of the program: The startups were competing for the swissnex China innovation award and pitched their ideas in front of over 100 invited guests and a high-class jury on the 100th floor of the ICC – Hong Kong’s tallest skyscraper. I feel happy to have contributed to the success of the program and am proud to have helped promote Switzerland’s innovative edge in the center of the emerging fintech markets.
Next to numerous insightful encounters and all the bridges that we have helped build between China and Switzerland, I am most grateful for having had the possibility to work with so many inspiring and wonderful people. All the memories and the experiences I have acquired at swissnex China will certainly continue to serve me in the future. Jiayou swissnex China!