You're researching venture capital trends in China. How do you know which online tools to trust?

- Clearly define your research goals and objectives to determine the specific information you need. - This will help you narrow down your search and focus on finding tools that align with your research goals.

I have been in business 30 years assisting clients with raising capital. If you cannot raise capital in the U.S., you will not raise capital in China. Forget about it. It's a waste of time unless you have a personal connection direct with a VC firm and they know you well enough to invest. If you are reaching out cold you will fail. So, if you are based in the U.S. raise capital here. If you cannot there is something wrong with your deal or with the people you are dealing with.

To understand VC trends in China, you can begin with credible media reports. Bloomberg, Reuters, South China Morning Post, Nikkei Asia, Tech in Asia, DealStreetAsia, etc. Then there are several newsletters on Substack, which give a good commentary on what's going on in China's tech and VC space. Explore those. The same is true for Medium posts. Third, look up reports by research firms/ consulting firms/investment banks/ brokerages/VCs that have a presence in China. They will give you nice context. Last but not least, connect with people who have worked in China, in the area you are interested in. If you can manage to speak to them, you will know more about ground reality.

To effectively research venture capital in China, start by clearly defining your objective: general market trends or specific firm details. Use diverse sources: industry reports for trends, financial platforms for firm specifics. Regularly update your knowledge via newsletters, blogs, and podcasts. Engage with the VC community for firsthand insights and always cross-verify information from multiple reputable sources for accuracy.

Tough question. Honestly, I don't trust much of the data coming out of China due to the totalitarian construct and the heavy hand of the government / CCP. In any situation remotely similar -- and not many frankly compare to China, I prefer to have a combination of seasoned, trusted research and trusted experts on the ground who can confirm it. That said, I have declined to engage in China in any fashion (despite many efforts to recruit) for duration. I see nothing on the horizon that would change my view. I'm not a fan of totalitarian governance structures, nor am I skilled at navigating the many obstacles, so it's best for me to simply avoid it.

- Rely on reputable sources such as established financial news outlets, industry publications, and research reports from trusted organizations. - Look for sources that have a track record of providing accurate and reliable information in the field of venture capital.

Bookmark Crunchbase for a global startup overview, China Money Network for localized VC buzz, Zero2IPO for in-depth industry reports, and ChinaVenture for innovation analytics. Search tip: combine specific keywords like "Chinese VC trends" or "startup investments in China" with these trusted sources. Regularly scroll through VC content on LinkedIn and join professional circles for the latest and most reliable insights. This approach is your shortcut to top-tier VC information for China.

- Cross-check the information you find across multiple sources to ensure consistency and accuracy. - Verify the credibility of the sources you come across by checking their reputation, credentials, and expertise in the field. - Look for supporting evidence or data to validate the information presented.

Only way to do this based on my experience: - have someone on the ground in China - know someone or get introduced to someone trustworthy in the space in China

1. Local VC firm websites. 2. International VC firm websites with a presence in China. 3. Financial news websites. 4. Business sections of major newspapers. 5. Industry-specific publications. 6. Investment blogs and forums. 7. Business and finance podcasts. 8. Official government economic reports. 9. University research publications. 10. Market research firms' reports. Remember, always cross-reference information for accuracy and currency.

For researching venture capital in China, there are platforms that aggregate data, such as Crunchbase or PitchBook, and these offer valuable information on investment trends, and key players on China VC. However, I'D compliment these with individual experts. I was working on a deal in China in 2019 and speaking from experience, the best way to go about this and the way I went about it was to have a contact who is a citizen in your home country, (for me it'S USA) that's also from China. This individual would have a vested interest in both countries. Not only that they will be perfectly positioned to help you understand the cultural nuances of China. You can have online tools, but having on the ground insights are invaluable. #vc

Most tools are good hygiene but nothing beats your network that gives you signals which can be used for extrapolation of trends. So be in the ecosystem and connect with the right people in all geographies.

I helped plant the seed for the first PE conference at Thunderbird University and attended. They invited a seasoned early PE pro who earned his international MBA from T-bird to do a talk--he had built a large and successful PE practice in China over the previous decade (the conference was in 2004 I think). The first-hand stories he told were excellent, demonstrating a masterful level of expertise on how to succeed in this challenging but still very lucrative and fast growing market and the time. His talk also served to convince me that I had no desire to engage in China.