About Bruno Bensaid
Arrived in Shanghai in 1997 for a year studying Chinese at one China's top-10 universities. I then moved to Singapore in 1999 to join the APAC Finance team of Cisco Systems. Back in China (2002), I co-managed the China operations of French VC-backed Mobile Internet startups (we helped one of them raise financing from a Hong-Kong based VC).
In 2006, I started helping French VC firms and portfolio companies expand into China and later officially joined Ventech (a US$ 500-Mil Fund) as the "first China employee".
In late 2008, I started Shanghaivest, an investment banking advisory firm. It started focusing on cross-border M&A transactions between Europe and China in 2010 when a DLA Piper Partner joined me as a co-founder.
On the non-profit side: He founded the Shanghai Chapter of MobileMonday (a mobile industry community) in 2006 and joined the Steering Committee of AngelVest, a pioneering China-based angel investment organization in 2010.
I share my time between Europe and China, and I am a regular speaker and moderator at technology and investment conferences. Contributor of several articles and theses on China investment, cross-border M&A and technology environment in China.
Specialties: mobile technology, cross-border M&A and Investments with China, early-stage and seed financing, venture capital, private equity, mobile and internet, coaching, psychology of negotiation and working across cultures, public speaking
Episode Content:
Bruno, so what you’ve been up to these days? I know you are all over the place.
Tell us a bit about Shanghaivest and Angel vest
Let’s go to the startup’s side first. Is it hard to raise money these days in China? Any particular fields that are easier?
What kind of trends you see with Chinese Investors right now? I definitely see a change in Israel, where for the past to years Chinese investments in Israel are up in 50%. Seem like the Chinese are buying the world.
What will be the best way to get involved in the VC world in China?
what to look for in a startup and team of entrepreneurs?
Which interesting companies you’ve seems recently coming from China among smaller ones that you see interesting potential?
million $$ question, do you really need a partner to succeed in China?
Where do you see the opportunities for investments in the next few years?
how can people get in touch with you?
Episode Mentions:
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