Surviving a Pandemic in China 2022

China's continued grueling Covid control measurements, combined with the downturns in real estate and other factors, have added uncertainty to China's economic recovery.

According to Caixin, On Sept. 2, 33 cities, including seven provincial capitals, were currently under partial or complete lockdown for weeks due to the epidemic, and more than 65 million residents were affected.

China's economy is still in a repair phase after the strict epidemic control policy implemented in the year's first half. Adverse impact factors such as the epidemic, natural disasters, and climate change have increased, the consumer market is shrinking, and the support for the low-income population needs further strengthened. UBS chief China economist recently shared in a press conference shared real estate is now the main drag on China's economy.

Facing natural obstacles, many companies, from cooperates, and SMEs to startups, have felt the need to gear up to lower risks and find new opportunities to prepare for the coming 'winter .' How is 70/30 surviving this challenge as a food tech startup?

The fact is that most new startups fail. The path to success entails obstacles, pivots, and wrong turns. Covid might be a once-in-a-lifetime nightmare for many Startups, but excellent entrepreneurs strive to optimize their chances of success at all times. In 7030, we believe we have done many things right, surviving and thriving a pandemic as a young startup, and we'd love to share my two cents.

1. Action Plans, Not Freeze or Run.

It is human nature to freeze or run facing a scary road blocker, whether a bear in the woods or unpredictable pandemic development. Risks can be scary, but they shouldn't paralyze you. Looking at the challenge in the eyes and creating plans will give you a sense of control.?

Create one or multiple action plans with specific trigger times on them, so when the date comes, you know what to do and do it.?

This plan should help you survive 12 to 18 months without more funding. It would force you to make some tough but necessary decisions. Plan with your co-founders and make sure everyone is on the same page.?

2. Be quick to say no or delegate.?

Be clear about what is vital to your survival. You and your core team are the blood of your startup. It's not helpful if your blood cells are all trapped in unimportant and urgent tasks. Be quick to say no or delegate tasks that do not help you stay in the game. Keep the results (or your vision) in mind, and make sure your co-founders see it, too, so you can reduce time spent on trivial tasks as an organization and focus on what is helpful.

3. See your team member's strengths and put them in fitting roles

As core team leaders/CEOs, it's more helpful to focus on what you do best during a difficult time. Remember, it's the same for everyone. Everybody is happier when doing what they do well. It would also help you save energy, stay motivated for the marathon, and push you to sharpen your skills towards excellence. In 70/30, we try to check in regularly with people to equip everyone enough to do what they like to do. You might see this as a luxury. However, the chance for a happier team to develop resilience and overcome challenges is much higher than a team with a weak spirit.?

4. Be responsible to your team

Safety is the fundamental need for a person without which no one can function well. As a leader and employer, it is your responsibility to stay informed and make necessary changes in the office to ensure workplace safety. Analyze risks related to the pandemic and make feasible moves, such as providing access to living resources if there is a lockdown. Appoint a leader or create an executive plan if you need to go into center quarantine. If it is beyond your ability, show your team you have anticipated these risks.?

Second, know your team's realistic work efficiency during a lockdown and give the support they need to adjust - some of them might not have a workspace or full mental availability with a lockdown upon them. So working from home doesn't suit everyone. Give options to your employees when possible and stay connected with them through regular zoom calls.?And the last, very important, don't make things worse by creating panic.

5. Initiate regular conversations with your investors and potential investors

Especially in a time like this, investors need to know you are reliable and dedicated. Stay closely in contact with them and stay transparent. Listen to their concerns, and walk them through your decision-making process if they want. But again, don't create unnecessary panic.?

6. Continue fundraising work

You still have a go. There are always investors looking for opportunities, even in downturns. Chances are high that if your business is robust during 'normal' time, it would still perform well during a pandemic. Some investors might see this as an excellent time to enter the market, and some may like how you pulled it off while your competitors are not. The point is, you are still in the game so keep playing. Stay away from slow dying.

7. Rest, Breath, and Adopt Healthy Habits

Let's face it. It's stressful for us mortals to navigate our startups through times of extra certainty. The on-and-off travel restriction, the on-and-off lockdown, the on-and-off life. If you are a dedicated manager, you must know when and how to take breaks to recharge quicker and better.?

Walk away from your desk and take time to foster or focus on healthy habits to release stress and help you sleep better. It can be different for people, but there are generally accepted 'good changes you can try. Try to reduce the alcohol and coffee intake, eat a wholefood plant-based dominant diet, exercise, meditation, do breathing exercises, talk to your loved ones, take a walk in nature, and make altruistic gestures to benefit others. No good managers are alone, wolf, in my opinion. So it's likely that your positive changes would significantly impact your team morale too.?

8. Be a calm leader

Your team might be looking at you for some signals. Find ways to remain as calm and disciplined as possible. It's okay to feel threatened or anxious. Process your emotion responsibly and show calm leadership. It's not anyone's fault. When you are shaky, you stress your team, especially the good employees who take ownership of the company. You don't want to lose your hard-earned trust in them.?

Survival of a business also requires a synergy of a set of skills. We have seen that when the leadership is calmer and more robust, the exchange flow and togetherness in the team will unfold and strengthen by themselves.

9. Lead with your mission

Confucius has said, in chaos, an unshakable sense of mission leads to achievements. This is a time to test if you have a real mission or just mission decoration on your website. As a leader/founder, how aligned you are with the company mission during a difficult time can influence people greatly. You would win respect and a deeper connection with your team by being an example.?

Here you have it. The actions that helped us to survive during the pandemic at 70/30. We put into strategic work and not only survived but thrived through the pandemic. It did not become a crisis for 70/30, and we are taking the company to the next level!?

We are launching our series A round of funding for scaling-up production of the mycelium protein, growing the research and development team, and bringing out exciting new products created for the Chinese consumer!

About 70/30 Food Tech

70/30 Food Tech makes functional plant and mycelium-based ready meals and develops its biomass protein. 70/30's philosophy is that 70% of what we eat should be made up of a variety of plant-based whole foods, and 30% of our food should be fun. Founded in 2020 by F&B consultants working in?China's plant-based sector, the startup makes functional meal plans for the busy white-collar professionals living in tier 1 cities of the country. Its mission is to improve human health and battle climate change by making healthy food convenient, accessible, and affordable for all.