New Beijing alumni chapter head vows to strengthen alumni bonds and connect CityUHK with local industries

Tang Lin

·Founder of Beijing Oneverse Technology Co

·Chief Financial Officer of Chengdu Qili Technology

·Master of Business Administration (Executive)

·Bachelor of Business Administration (Honors) in Accountancy and Law

Tang Lin, a 39 year old alumnus of City University of Hong Kong, was elected chairman of the CityUHK Beijing Alumni Chapter earlier this year, vowing to expand the chapter's role as a platform to foster alumni bonds and as a bridge between the university and the thriving technology and business sectors.

Academic foundation fuels entrepreneurial career

Tang enrolled in the university in 2005 and earned a dual bachelor's degree of accountancy and law. He believes it has laid a solid foundational skill set for his corporate governance and investment and financing decision-making.

After several years of entrepreneurship, Tang pursued an EMBA at the university in 2020. "The academic studies, together with the CityUHK alumni network, gave me the confidence to expand into the artificial intelligence and technology sectors, and also helped me find like-minded entrepreneurial partners," he said.

He pivoted into the AI sector, launching Beijing Oneverse Technology Co that develops AI powered agents for video game production.

He also invested in smart manufacturing and is chief financial officer of Chengdu Qili Technology Co. The company has developed intelligent unmanned forklifts and palletizing robots, which are deployed across warehouse logistics, industrial manufacturing, and chemical sectors.

Decade-long service to alumni community

The CityUHK Beijing Alumni Chapter, founded in 2013 as the university's first regional alumni organization on the Chinese mainland, covers alumni in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province, and Northeast China.

Tang first joined the chapter's executive committee in 2016 after relocating back to Beijing from Hong Kong and has since served as secretary general, vice chair, and chairman. Tang has organized dozens of alumni activities, covering industry salons, corporate visits, and cultural and sports events.

"My original motivation for joining the alumni chapter was quite simple, to reconnect with my university classmates in Beijing," Tang said. "Over time, however, I've also made many new friends and gained fresh perspectives on both my career and daily life."

"CityUHK is the most defining label of my life. At 39, I have been a CityUHK community member for 21 years," he said. "This alma mater stands as my solid backing throughout my career, especially after I joined the Beijing Alumni Chapter. I met my wife via a CityUHK alumna and about one-third of our wedding guests were fellow CityUHK graduates."

Active engagement drives industry collaboration

The Beijing Alumni Chapter is an active hub for alumni engagement. Every month, one executive committee member takes the lead to organize an alumni dinner on a cost-sharing basis. Discussion themes are set in advance, according to the host's industry background, covering sectors such as AI and finance. So far, these regular gatherings have facilitated some business collaborations among alumni-owned companies.

The installation for the sixth Executive Committee of the Beijing Alumni Chapter was held during the CityUHK Beijing alumni dinner hosted by CityUHK on June 27. Some 260 alumni and university representatives came together for the vibrant event. Tang appreciated that the reunion has helped to foster alumni bonds.

New plans to expand influence and support students

Looking ahead, Tang says the new executive committee is committed to engaging more closely with senior alumni, many of whom have achieved remarkable success across diverse industries.

He adds that the new executive committee will strengthen collaboration with the university to enhance CityUHK's influence on the Chinese mainland.

"We also hope to foster exchanges and facilitate practical cooperation between CityUHK's cutting-edge technologies and Beijing's industrial sectors," he said.

Tang added that the alumni chapter hopes to enhance CityUHK's visibility through short‑video content on Xiaohongshu and plans to expand to other social media platforms such as Douyin and WeChat Channels, targeting young online users to increase the university's brand reach on the Chinese mainland.

The university's Academy of Innovation also launched a global internship program for undergraduate students. Tang and the chapter's executive committee members have referred some openings to students. "The goal is to give undergraduates early exposure to cutting-edge technologies and appreciate the real hardships of building a startup," Tang said.

He further notes that the chapter will roll out more internship openings targeting Beijing's core tech, finance, and cultural creative businesses operated by alumni. He also aims to create a direct referral system to connect outstanding interns with alumni companies' hiring needs.

With a clear vision for the future, Tang is confident that the Beijing Alumni Chapter will continue to grow as a platform for professional development, cross sector collaboration, and lasting friendship among CityUHK alumni. "It's about building a community that supports each other — in life, in career, and in contributing back to our alma mater."