From April 17 to 18, the inaugural WorldVentures: Young Entrepreneurs Network was successfully held at Wenzhou-Kean University. Over 20 students from University of Nottingham Ningbo China and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University gathered at WKU for a two-day immersive experience. Together, they explored diverse pathways to innovation and entrepreneurship while building a cross-regional, cross-cultural collaborative network.

The event officially opened with remarks from Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Professor Zhiwu Xie, who highlighted WKU’s continued commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship education. He noted recent developments such as the introduction of new programs in innovation management, and emphasized that WorldVentures serves as a valuable platform for cross-university collaboration and experiential learning.

Professor Hing Kai Chan, Dean of the College of Business and Public Management further underscored that entrepreneurship is not only about launching ventures, but about cultivating a mindset—one that involves identifying opportunities, thinking critically within constraints, and collaborating effectively across diverse contexts.

Module One: Entrepreneurial Process Simulation

With no preset scripts or ready-made solutions, students embarked on a true “from zero to one” entrepreneurial journey. Working in mixed teams, participants navigated the full entrepreneurial process, from identifying market needs and refining value propositions to designing revenue models, marketing strategies, and financial projections. Within a limited timeframe, teams iterated rapidly, transforming initial ideas into structured business concepts.

The room buzzed with discussion and debate. Some teams focused on everyday campus challenges, while others targeted emerging consumer trends. In the final stage, each group delivered a 5–10 minute pitch, confidently presenting their ideas and responding to questions with clarity and creativity. A peer-voting session further encouraged critical evaluation and mutual learning, reinforcing the spirit of “learning through competition.”

The following winners are：

First Prize Winners: Chen Shiqi, Li Yu, Hu Xiangyun, Wu Xintong, Yang Xinao

Second Prize Winners: Lu Yukun, Yu Sisui, Liu Jiayi, Dawa Yangzong, Liao Xueqing 

Third Prize Winners: Ji Yizhou, Yuan Ruohan, Sun Haoran, Liu Yutong, Dong Jianye

Module Two: ResourceLab Innovation Challenge

If the morning session tested business logic, the afternoon pushed creativity and execution to the limit.

Each team received an “Innovation Kit” containing random physical objects, constraint cards, customer personas, and simulated seed funding. They were required to develop a viable solution under strict conditions: a maximum monthly cost of ¥50 per customer, 100% recyclable materials, operations manageable by a team of three or fewer, and a service radius within 5 kilometers.

Faced with questions such as How can we maximize limited resources? and How do we balance sustainability with practicality?, students collaborated closely, leveraging their diverse strengths. Some focused on structuring the business logic, others on creative ideation, and others on refining implementation details.

Within tight deadlines, seemingly disconnected resources were transformed into innovative and feasible solutions. The final pitches showcased a wide range of ideas—from practical, everyday solutions to forward-thinking concepts—demonstrating students’ creativity and problem-solving capabilities.

The following winners are：

First Prize Winners: Yang Wenqian, Yin Ximi, Ye Tianlan, Xiao Jingyang, Hu Xiangyun

Second Prize Winners: Yang Xinao, Lin Mofei, Liu Yutong, Xu Wenya, Wang Xiangyuan

Third Prize Winners: Li Yu, Liu Yijiao, Wu Xintong, Yang Zixian, Xu Xiaoxi

Beyond the Competitions

In addition to intensive competitions, students and faculty from UNNC and XJTLU visited Semir Group, a leading Chinese fashion brand of Wenzhou, to gain insights into its development, business model, and innovation strategies. This visit provided a valuable opportunity to observe how entrepreneurial concepts are applied in real business contexts.

Participants also toured the WKU campus museum, where they learned about the university’s development and gained a deeper appreciation of Wenzhou’s strong entrepreneurial culture.

Looking ahead, WKU aims to develop WorldVentures into a signature platform by expanding participation to more universities and fostering a broader network of young entrepreneurs. Through sustained inter-university collaboration, the initiative seeks to cultivate future business leaders equipped with global vision and innovative thinking.

Acknowledgement

The event was jointly organized by the College of Business and Public Management, the Institute of Asia Industry Competitiveness, the Association for Career & Innovation, the Collaborative Innovation Center on International Supply Chain for Private Enterprises in the Digital-Intelligence Era, and the WKU Education Development Foundation.

Here we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to:

• Faculty Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Candy Lim Chiu 

• ACI Supervisor: Ye Zheyi 

• Student Organizers: An Yuetong, Lou Xinyu, Shui Yuhan, Tang Yinwen, Liu Yutong

以创新为帆，以协作作桨，一场汇聚三校青年创客的盛会圆满落幕！

4月17日至18日，WorldVentures: Young Entrepreneurs Network 青年创业者论坛在校举办。来自宁波诺丁汉大学、西交利物浦大学的20余名学子齐聚温肯，在为期两天的沉浸式交流中，他们共同探索创新创业的多元路径，搭建跨区域、跨文化的青年创业协作网络。