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Chengdu

Matt Vegh of Cloud Time

Matt Vegh is the quintessential old China hand, but more specifically, ‘the’ old Chengdu hand, which no one else gets to say. Fifteen years of boots on the ground in China’s most dynamic interior city will confirm that.

Everyone from Chengdu city governmental agencies, multiple municipalities and the provincial governments rely on Matt to help create strategic framework models across the full spectrum of the industry. He also penned the 12 step Eden report; an internal white paper for the internationalization of Chengdu, all of which has been implemented. His startup CloudTime is a stealth-mode global messaging platform, streaming video, gaming and multi-language, real-time, in-stream chat message translation in over 90 bi-directional language pairs. It is now utilizing patent pending micro-chip based technology that will change the mobile advertising world and propel the company on its way to being the very foundation of the IoT on a global scale.

“The essence of Chengdu is ‘confluence.’ The city blends so many important factors together and does it so well, that it is hard to imagine a more suitable location for an entrepreneur. Urban and rural integration, tradition with modernity, business with leisure, industry with the environment and the list goes on.” “Blend these things with centers of excellence in education, with UESTC, SWUFE and Sichuan University, among others, churning out a highly educated supply of recruits, especially in the IT sector, to fill what is – as far as I am concerned – the most ambitious, well-laid-out, and business-friendly technology zone in China. Finally, add to that, Chengdu and Sichuan as the center of the arts, both historically and in modern times.” Chengdu Pros:
Chengdu boasts excellent transportation systems and infrastructure, with both public and private auto use very convenient. The living is much more affordable than eastern centers, resulting in lower HR costs without sacrificing any quality. The lifestyle is also very well developed in the inland city, including unsurpassed natural scenic areas within an hour’s drive. Chengdu Cons:
Despite being a very large city with a well developed manufacturing and distribution presence, Chengdu suffers from its general ‘under-the-radar’ perception, and can present a steep learning curve for foreign investors unfamiliar with the city. Chengdu also has a lack of established tech savvy regional equity pools. In terms of lifestyle, the only big downside in the humidity and gloomy weather given that the city is surrounded by mountains. Guangzhou

Nick Ramil of Enter China

Nick Ramil is the co-founder of Enter China. Enter China is the leading community for entrepreneurs who want to manufacture products in China. We help entrepreneurs around the globe develop, validate, create and launch their products.

“We chose Guangzhou as it’s the capital and epicenter of the manufacturing province – Guangdong. Guangzhou is the center of global trade in China, and hosts the largest trade fairs and the immediate access to manufacturers is unbeatable.” Guangzhou Pros
As both a manufacturing city and a trade and commerce hub, Guangzhou is a very attractive option for startups looking to enter China. Like Shenzhen it has an advantageous proximity to Hong Kong, as well as a burgeoning expat community focussed on trade.

Guangzhou Cons
Unlike Shanghai and Beijing, Guangzhou is not a Mandarin focussed city, with most people talking in cantonese, this poses some barriers. The pollution and extreme weather also make it a bit less attractive for long-term residence.

Author Bio: Michael Park is the CEO and cofounder of LipSync, an on-demand translation startup based in Hong Kong.