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Hundreds of entrepreneurs at the Entrepreneurship Street in Zhongguancun celebrate its anniversary. Some were successful entrepreneurs, and some had just stepped onto the road of entrepreneurship.
According to statistics, the Entrepreneurship Street has successfully incubated more than 600 corporations since its launch on June 12, 2014. More than 350 corporations have received investments. The average investment for each corporation reached five million yuan ($805,500). The total financing exceeded 1.75 billion yuan ($281.93 million).
The 200 meter long street witnessed entrepreneurs chasing for their dreams in the past year. Entrepreneurs not only use the work space, electricity, and Wi-Fi, but also enjoy support from service providers.
Entrepreneurs work on product designs in cafés, learn from case studies at the road show center, and look for financing at investment institutions. The most popular role is investors. Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi Technology visited the Entrepreneurship Street last September. Nearly 200 people gathered at the Binggo Café. Famous venture capitalists such as Xu Xiaoping, Shen Nanpeng, and Deng Feng frequently visit the Entrepreneurship Street.
Entrepreneurship Street welcomes entrepreneurs even they have only immature ideas. Many incubators can be found in the street, including Innovation Works, Garage Café, and 3W Café. After getting a free desk, entrepreneurs are ready to find partners, team members, and Angel Investors. The incubators not only help entrepreneurs enact strategies, but also support the entire process from an idea to a registered business. The incubator is also a spiritual homeland for entrepreneurs.
The services provided by the Entrepreneurship Street are becoming more complete. But the entrepreneurs have to face higher thresholds and fiercer competition. It is difficult to persuade investors and pursue further development for weak ideas.
The country continuously emphasizes on innovation and entrepreneurship. The State Council last year revealed six measures to promote employment and entrepreneurship. The government work report also advocates public innovation and entrepreneurship.
In the early May this year, Chinese Premiere Li Keqiang visited the Entrepreneurship Street, communicated with entrepreneurs and heard their suggestions. Since Li took office in March of 2013, he has investigated universities five times and has shown concern about college entrepreneurship. He also encouraged students to focus on entrepreneurship.
Vice Premiere Liu Yandong and Guo Jinlong, party chief of Beijing did field research at the Entrepreneurship Street in Zhongguancun.
Located in the core area of Zhongguancun Science Park, the Entrepreneurship Street was occupied by the Haidian Book City a year ago. The book city was a place for book lovers. But as electronic reading materials arose in recent years, public reading habits changed. Few people visit traditional book stores. Now, the place has become the most energetic entrepreneurship foundation in China and an area for entrepreneurs.
Since its launch, Entrepreneurship Street has further strengthened public services and made efforts to build a public service platform. The "online plus offline" service integrates administrative affairs, professional consulting, policy guidance, and innovative presentation and also develops dynamic and mobile features.
The platform involved more than 60 governmental departments and institutions. When the first service window issuing integrated registrations opened in Haidian District, a total of 65 start-ups registered. The one-stop entrepreneurship service hall provides great convenience to entrepreneurs. Premiere Li appraised the service pattern of operational institutions on Entrepreneurship Street.
With theme of "Change", the Second Entrepreneurship Season start as part of the anniversary celebration of the Entrepreneurship Street. The Entrepreneurship Season started on June 12 and will last to June 18, during which themed events will be launched every day.
The Entrepreneurship Service Bazaar was launched on Entrepreneurship Exhibition Day during the Entrepreneurship Season. Up to 40 entrepreneurship service providers gathered at the street for talent recruitment, legal consulting, intellectual property, technology, and investment and financing. The bazaar provided opportunities for entrepreneurs to solve problems with the institutions face-to-face and on-site.
A panel discussion on entrepreneurship services was held simultaneously at the Binggo Café. Experts, service provider representatives, investors, and entrepreneurs discussed the development and upgrade of the entrepreneurship services.
The Entrepreneurship Street also announced the reconstructed No. 11 Building during the anniversary celebration. The 9,000 square meter building will be used for more start-ups.
