China Connect Summit - Founder Pitch Event

​Founder Pitch Event China Connect Summit 2026 Zurich, Switzerland | October 2, 2026

​Not every founder needs Chinese capital — but for the ones building hardware, robotics, or deep tech, China's manufacturing scale, component supply chains, and speed of iteration are becoming impossible to ignore. And for Chinese investors looking outward, Europe is where a lot of the frontier research and go-to-market discipline lives.

​The Founder Pitch Event puts these founders directly in front of the room. We select 8-10 startups to pitch live to a curated audience of Chinese and European investors — founders who want to tap into China's hardware and manufacturing edge, or build real go-to-market bridges between the two ecosystems.

​Who Should Apply

​We're looking for founders who are:

• ​Raising and open to both European and Chinese investors, strategics, or CVCs

• ​Building hardware, robotics, or deep tech and want access to China's supply chain and manufacturing capacity

• ​Exploring China as a go-to-market or partnership opportunity

• ​Ready for direct, structured feedback from investors who've backed category leaders in China and Europe

​Format

• ​Live pitches from 8-10 selected founders

• ​Structured investor feedback and Q&A

• ​Curated introductions between founders and relevant investors in the room

• ​Closing reception — drinks and continued conversation with the wider China Connect Summit community

​📍 Location

​Zurich, Switzerland — venue to be shared upon confirmation of attendance.

​🎟️ Participation

​Startup slots are selected on a rolling, invite/application basis — space is limited to keep the room high-signal. Investors and allocators are also welcome to attend and meet the founders. Reach out to apply or request an invitation.

​🌏 About the Host
Varen Partners is a specialized investment firm dedicated to navigating China's evolving investment landscape, investing directly in Chinese growth-stage companies and next-gen venture funds.

​With on-the-ground presence across Europe and China, we give global institutions, family offices, and sophisticated investors a high-conviction gateway to capture opportunity in China.