Recently, Xie Yifei, founder of weida Holdings, was invited as a guest speaker to attend the “FutureFactory Hardware Innovation Day,” part of the Global Tech Network series of events co-hosted by the Luohu District Bureau of Science and Technology, Industry, and Information Technology; Puyue China Greater Bay Area International Innovation Center; and FutureFactory. She shared her observations and insights at the event. We have compiled her key points and reflections from the event to revisit this dynamic dialogue on innovation with you.

1.ONE
The “Reverse Migration” of Teams from Top Universities: Shenzhen, Asia’s Hub for Hardware Innovation

Many young teams from across the ocean attended the event, including startups as well as entrepreneurs from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, and the University of Waterloo. The discussions primarily centered on smart manufacturing and next-generation hardware.
What struck me deeply was that for many of these young people from abroad, this was their first time in China and their first time in Shenzhen—and they had signed up for this event on their own initiative because they’d heard that Shenzhen is “Asia’s Silicon Valley.” Some of them hadn’t even registered their companies yet and were still in the early stages of research, but they had already ventured out of their home regions to broaden their horizons.

2. TWO
The Purest Force of Innovation: The Confidence to Have Ideas and Take Action

In them, I see something very pure: they have ideas, are willing to express them, and dare to take action. That simple sense of confidence, in particular, really moves me.

3. THREE
Staying True to Our Original Aspirations: Capturing the Raw Energy of Innovation

The initial motivation for starting a business can actually be very simple—we mustn’t let the hardships along the way make us forget why we set out in the first place. Today, these young people have once again shown me that raw energy of innovation. That’s why I want to capture this moment.
Finally, I’ve included project descriptions for these teams at the end of this article. If you’re interested in their direction and projects, feel free to take a look.