Beyond Expo West @Sunstone: From Market Visibility to Capital Structure Readiness
About this event
Expo West is where brands get discovered.
You meet buyers.
You spark retail conversations.
You build momentum.
But once the show ends, real operational questions begin.
Are you structured correctly for retail expansion?
Are you prepared for multi-state tax exposure?
If purchase orders increase, is your financial setup ready?
What happens if an investor reaches out next month?
Growth creates opportunity, but it also creates complexity.
During Expo West week, Sunstone × UHY brings founders together for a practical conversation about the first 90 days after major market visibility, and how to make sure your legal, tax, and capital structure supports the next stage of growth.
This session is designed for brands that are scaling and want to avoid costly structural mistakes.
Key Discussion Topics
The First 90 Days After Expo West
Structural decisions that impact retail expansion and operational risk.
Tax & Multi-State Exposure
Sales tax nexus, entity structure, and how growth affects your tax footprint.
Investor Readiness
How structure, financial discipline, and compliance influence fundraising.
Building for Sustainable Growth
Aligning corporate structure with long-term capital strategy and exit potential.
About the Speaker & Institution
Melanie Chen
Partner, UHY LLP
Melanie leads UHY’s Asia practice and advises growth-stage companies on cross-border transactions, U.S. tax structuring, SEC reporting, and capital market readiness. She is licensed as a CPA in California and New York, and as an attorney in both New York and China. Her experience spans private high-growth companies and publicly listed enterprises navigating U.S. capital markets.
Franky Yu
Senior Legal Counsel, Miniso USA
Franky Yu is Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Legal at Miniso USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Miniso Group (NYSE: MNSO). Previously, Franky practiced at an international law firm, where he served on the defense team in a high-profile, eight-week federal criminal trade secrets trial, successfully securing a full acquittal. He has extensive experience advising Chinese businesses and individuals on cross-border disputes, U.S.–China trade compliance, import/export regulations, and evolving global privacy laws. Franky is licensed to practice law in New York, California, and Washington, D.C.
Ruming Liu
Partner at MagStone Law, LLP
Ms. Liu is the founding partner of MagStone Law, LLP and a seasoned corporate attorney with over 20 years of experience advising startups at all stages on formation, venture financings, licensing, compliance, strategic partnerships, and M&A transactions. She has also guided numerous investment groups, venture capital funds, and private equity funds in connection with their investment activities.
About UHY
UHY is a top 20 global accounting network with more than 40 offices across the United States. The firm has long supported companies navigating U.S. capital markets, including PCAOB audit preparation and SEC disclosure compliance, serving both high-growth private companies and publicly listed enterprises.
Sunstone Stage Connects is a weekly gathering that brings together founders, investors, and the community to spark ideas, share insights, and build meaningful connections.
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