Startup Funding Club (SFC) has recently signed an agreement with Chinese investment firms Linrun and Tsingbay to enhance the collaboration between the Chinese market and the UK’s early stage investment industry.
SFC, which was named the fifth most active Most Active Angel & Seed Investor in the world by Pitchbook Data, will work closely with both companies to nurture and support UK-based companies in the UK-China Innovation Center in Linrun Intelligent Valley’s science park. The development is based in Dongguan City, in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and will focus on smart manufacturing, AI, and new materials.
The science park is run by both Linrun Group and Tsingbay Investment and Management Ltd. The former has invested in over 30 domestic and foreign companies, and the latter is a venture capital firm that has already supported an SFC-funded company – Cognism – following an introduction by the UK-based investors.
Xianrong Ma, MD of Linrun, said: “We are in the AI era. The UK not only has leading AI tech, but also the top universities and research institutions as well as the most active working atmosphere for AI. We chose SFC — one of the best early-stage investment firms – as our partner to create higher value for the industry by connecting UK tech with the Chinese market.”
Stephen Page, CEO of SFC, said: “It is our honour to work with Linrun Intelligent Valley. I believe that introducing UK startups through Chinese science parks is one of the best ways to help them knock on the Chinese market’s door. We will be providing support in each case, and make sure that our portfolio companies adapt to China smoothly.