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Northumbria University Professor chases multimillion pound business startup initiative

Professor Yu Xiong of Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School is working to bring a multimillion pound business startup model to the region.

As board director of Cocoon Networks - Europe’s first Chinese capital-backed investment firm - Professor Xiong is playing a leading role in setting up an incubator space using a 70,000sq ft building belonging to the London Stock Exchange near Liverpool Street Station. The incubator will help tech startups to take their products to market.

The company spent £13m to renovate the building, and then created a £50m angel fund and £80m creative fund to the Cocoon Incubator to support member start-up companies.

Professor Xiong is now working on bringing this initiative to the North East and supporting the Northern Powerhouse proposal.

An expert in technology management, he is also the initiator and director of the China UK Entrepreneurship competition, currently in its ninth year. He has mentored more than 200 companies and was recently invited by the British Council to address the China UK Education Policy Week in Beijing.

Currently he is leading the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills North East China Business Development programme as well as helping startup businesses to explore opportunities in China. Prof Xiong’s contribution to China UK Innovation collaboration made him a 2012 London Olympic Torch Bearer.

He commented: “I’m very willing to make a contribution in supporting business development in the North East, especially for those startups with potential to grow in the Chinese market.

“It is my mission to create the best growing environment to startup companies, which includes convenient location, fund access, mentor, and a gateway to the massive China market.”

Cocoon Networks announced the plan of a new London-based venture capital (VC) fund earlier this year which will target European technology start-ups.

The fund will support tech businesses that have potential to grow in the Chinese market and will look to invest in a range of industries like financial technology (fintech), biotechnology, medical devices, creative industries (e.g. fashion technology).

John Zai, the Founder and CEO of Cocoon Networks, added: “The North East needs to find a better destination for its innovation so it can earn the value it deserves. This destination, obviously, should be China.”

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