CM Advisory tree emblemCM AdvisoryAffiliate of CM Venture

For startups & growth companies

Understand China.
Build the right business.

A four-stage pathway from understanding the market to assessing business fit, developing a plan and progressing commercial partnerships.

For international hard tech companies

Your China business pathway

Assessing whether China fits your business is a key decision before planning. Engage at the stage that suits your company, or combine stages around your priorities.

01

Explore

China Founders Expedition

Twice a year · Group expedition

Five days in Shanghai combine industrial visits, market briefings and working sessions around your company’s China questions. Two expeditions each year.

What you take away

An opportunity-and-risk note, company-specific feedback and a follow-up call within 30 days.

What we work on

Understand China before making a commitment.

A first-hand introduction to China’s industrial ecosystem, business environment and ways of working. Meet industry participants, visit companies and test the assumptions behind your interest in the market.

Explore the expedition ↗
02

Assess

China fit assessment

Tailored business assessment

Assess customer demand, competition, technology fit and economics before deciding whether to proceed.

What you take away

An evidence-based assessment of why China may or may not be attractive, the assumptions still to validate, and whether to proceed now, revisit later or focus elsewhere.

What we work on

Is China a good fit for your business?

We apply the business assessment skills developed through venture investing to examine your technology, business model and competitive position in China. We consider customer demand, routes to market, local competition, economics, and the capabilities and adaptations needed to operate successfully.

Discuss China fit ↗
03

Plan

China business plan

Business planning advisory

Define target customers, routes to market, resources and measurable commercial milestones.

What you take away

A China business plan with priorities, resource requirements and measurable commercial milestones.

What we work on

Turn a positive assessment into a business plan.

Define the target customers, value proposition and route to market. Develop the partnership or operating model, local resource requirements, financial assumptions and milestones needed to test and build the business.

Discuss your business plan ↗
04

Partner

Partnerships & commercialisation support

Introductions & ongoing coordination

Qualify industrial partners and support technical discussions, pilots and licensing opportunities.

What you take away

Qualified partner opportunities, a defined collaboration plan and support through the agreed commercialisation stages.

What we work on

Build the relationships that help the plan work.

Identify and qualify industrial partners, customers and relevant manufacturers. Support introductions, technical and commercial discussions, pilot development, licensing opportunities and follow-through as collaborations progress.

Discuss partnership support ↗

CM Venture portfolio experience

Econic: building a China partnership
for industrial scale

CM Venture team visiting Changhua Chemical
CM Venture and Changhua Chemical

A UK technology company. A Chinese industrial partner. A shared commercial opportunity.

CM first met Econic in 2019 and saw two requirements for commercial scale: a commercially oriented CEO and an industrial partner in China. CM decided not to invest at that stage.

Econic returned to CM in 2022 with a new CEO. CM introduced Changhua Chemical to the new leadership and played an instrumental role in the licensing agreement announced in June 2022. CM then invested in Econic’s Series D round in August 2022, after the agreement.

The partnership progressed from technology licensing to commercial production, illustrating how investment judgement and industrial relationships can support commercialisation.

Explore the Econic × Changhua journey ↗

The founder’s perspective

Keith Wiggins on building in China

Econic’s CEO reflects on industrialising technology, China’s manufacturing transformation and the value of deep partnerships.

Read Keith’s April 2026 article ↗

How the partnership began

Finding the right partner to scale

In a July 2024 interview, Keith explains the fit with Changhua and CM Venture’s introduction. The conversation captures the partnership’s early development.

Read the July 2024 conversation ↗

Begin a conversation

Discuss your next step with us

Speak with our team ↗