Shenzhen, China Startup Guide

This article is originally found here: 

https://www.globalfromasia.com/shenzhen-startup-overview/

Thought it was about time I catch people up with the status of the booming startup scene in Shenzhen, China. I am constantly getting emails asking where a good coworking space is in Shenzhen, or what hardware incubators there are – so it has inspired me to convert some of those longer email answers into a proper blog post.

I plan to make this a living document, please leave a blog comment below or reach out to me and let’s make this a complete document! I hope that I am including everyone on this first attempt, but the market has been growing and changing so fast, please do not be offended those who may be in other organizations that I did not include – let me know and I’ll add you!

Startup Industry Is Booming in China!

Seriously, there are startups getting funding based on powerpoint, at massive valuations. I’m hearing about the crazy high salary offers being made to programmers around China. A good friend who is an amazing technical dude and CTO of many companies, is now deciding between six tech startups who are begging him to join them.

There is definitely a lot of money and support systems in place here in Shenzhen and the rest of China – seems the main thing lacking is entrepreneurs and technical talent to fulfill this growing demand on the investment side.

Makes Me Think Back To The Early Days in 2010 / 2011

I have been in China since end of 2007, and would consider myself an entrepreneur, opening a small office for my e-commerce business to source products. I wanted to be around more entrepreneurs, but it was so fragmented and spread out. I was part of the first coworking space Szteam in Shenzhen, and it was just too early. Now would be a perfect time, there are so many popping up all around this city. But I do worry there are too many coworking spaces.

This Boom Is Also Fueled By Government Support

The Chinese government is really pushing for innovation in its ecosystem. They have been working hard for a couple years now to incentivize business people to setup programs and infrastructure for entrepreneurs – and now it is really kicking in! While anywhere in the world, if a local government pushes for something things happen, but in China – this is really how things move quickly. When the government wants something, it seems to always happen. The citizens know this, and jump on board full steam ahead.

Think this is a reason for this massive growth of the startup scene across China. Again, hope more entrepreneurs can come out of their cubicles to take advantage of this – it is mainly geared towards benefitting the local Chinese entrepreneurs rather than laowai like me. 

Shenzhen is Known for Hardware

This city is the center of the electronics hardware ecosystem, globally. We’ll go through some of these companies later, but those not familiar, there is 99999 the Hua Qiang Bei electronics marketplace in the central Futian district of Shenzhen. That is really worth at least a half day trip, you can get lost in blocks and blocks of buildings that are jam packed with little vendors selling anything from PCB boards to mobile phones to solo wheels. Any kind of gadget or component you can think of – it is there. It is a 5 block radius big Radio Shack (at least what Radio Shack used to be…).

Many hardware enthusiasts get lost in this market dreaming up all kinds of new product ideas, buying a quantity as low as one piece and can go up to cartons and even get connected to the manufacturer to run thousands of pieces. If you have any interest in hardware, you need to visit Hua Qiang Bei one time in your life at least!

Coworking & Hackerspaces

Coworking and hackerspaces have very similar ideas, except a coworking space isn’t geared towards gear-heads. A coworking space just has desks and working area and some lounging. But a hackerspace will be more like your garage where you try to build a piece of hardware, you will have solders, cutting knives, all kinds of materials and almost what may seen as junk by your mom and chucked – but very useful little gadgets.

Honestly I am not a hardware guy (ironic I know, I live in Shenzhen) and normally hang out in coworking spaces, but let’s list out a few of the current options here.

Shenzhen Hackerspace Options

Here are a few of the hackerspaces I know of, I have a feeling I am missing some so please let me know so I can keep this fresh!

Chaihuo

The original hackerspace in Shenzhen, this spawned out of SeeedStudio when they moved to a bigger office back in 2010 / 2011 timeframe. It is currently in OCT (Overseas Chinese Town) and the website can be found at [ChaiHuo.org](http://www.ChaiHuo.org). There are regular events too.

TechSpace

Founded by IBM engineers, Tech Space is just to the West of High Tech Park and across from Shenzhen University. They have a few different rooms, a big space with tons of equipment. You can check them out at [techspace.cn](http://www.techspace.cn)

Shenzhen Coworking Options

Good old coworking, I always wanted to host a space since I remember learning about this term in 2007 when I was still in NYC! I’m happy to see Shenzhen has a few popping up now.

Tech Temple

I met Tech Temple at a startup event in Beijing last summer, and the space is amazing! They now have two spaces in Beijing, and in April (in a couple weeks as I write this) they will open their third location, here in Shenzhen! I hear the opening party is on April fifth, you can check out about all the Tech Temple locations at [Techtemple.cn](http://www.techtemple.cn)

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