How China Actually Builds Tech Giants with Mark Greeven

What makes China’s innovators and entrepreneurs so relentlessly driven, and how is their ecosystem mindset redefining global innovation, investment, and AI development? In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski talks with Mark Greeven, Professor of Management Innovation and Voice on China Innovation, and Dean at IMD Business School, to unpack the mindset that is powering China’s innovation revolution. Drawing from over two decades of on-the-ground experience, Mark explores how Chinese entrepreneurs blend fierce competition with deep collaboration to build resilient ecosystems. From the pivotal role of government policy and alumni funding networks to China’s pragmatic, mass-adoption approach to AI, this conversation reveals what truly sets China’s tech scene apart from Silicon Valley. Investors and business leaders will gain invaluable insights into how cultural values, policy alignment, and ecosystems are shaping the next generation of global innovation.

What makes China’s innovators and entrepreneurs so relentlessly driven, and how is their ecosystem mindset redefining global innovation, investment, and AI development?

In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski talks with Mark Greeven, Professor of Management Innovation and Voice on China Innovation, and Dean at IMD Business School, to unpack the mindset that is powering China’s innovation revolution. Drawing from over two decades of on-the-ground experience, Mark explores how Chinese entrepreneurs blend fierce competition with deep collaboration to build resilient ecosystems. From the pivotal role of government policy and alumni funding networks to China’s pragmatic, mass-adoption approach to AI, this conversation reveals what truly sets China’s tech scene apart from Silicon Valley. Investors and business leaders will gain invaluable insights into how cultural values, policy alignment, and ecosystems are shaping the next generation of global innovation.

What you will learn:

How Chinese entrepreneurs balance intense competition with collaborative ecosystem building
Why government policy alignment is crucial for startup success in China
The funding sources in Chinese tech, from global VCs to local alumni networks
How Chinese universities are transforming into powerful startup incubators
Why the Chinese AI strategy focuses on mass adoption and open-source development
The unique characteristics of Chinese tech leadership: constant sense of urgency, ecosystem thinking, and balanced visibility
How China's next generation of entrepreneurs combines a global mindset with traditional cultural values
The strategic approach to scaling deep tech ventures in China's current environment
Why China's startup ecosystem differs from Silicon Valley's model and how it drives innovation differently
The role of university-industry partnerships in driving Chinese tech innovation

Mark Greeven is Professor of Management Innovation and Dean of Asia at IMD. A Chinese speaker with over 20 years of experience in China, he collaborates with companies like Alibaba, Ping An, Haier, Bayer, and Bosch to accelerate innovation and build business ecosystems. A Thinkers50-ranked management expert and contributor to Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review, Mark is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Future of Global Retail and Pioneers, Hidden Champions, Change Makers, and Underdogs.