Having recognized the vast opportunities in Shenzhen’s biotech industry, Angelo Garvey embarked on a journey from New York, US to the city in 2019. Garvey and his partner established their own companies in Guangzhou, two companies aimed at bridging the gap between North American and Chinese markets. Jose focuses on the biotech industry, while Nexus concentrates on “deep tech” sectors like AI, semiconductors, and new materials. So far, the two companies have assisted approximately 10 overseas businesses in entering the Chinese market.

Garvey’s passion for his work is evident in his words. “One of the reasons I like doing my job now is that I can meet different people and have a chance to learn new things and new ideas,” he said.

Garvey’s diverse background has prepared him for the dynamic and complex world of Chinese business. He taught himself coding out of pure interest at the age of 11. Garvey also served as a soldier for his country. He then joined a study program to learn artificial intelligence (AI). Later, he worked as a code developer for various companies across Europe and the United States.

In 2009, he founded his own company, which provides AI software for machine maintenance. At the invitation of a professor at the University of Milan, he worked part-time as a lecturer, teaching students AI-related knowledge and sharing his work experience.

Garvey’s journey in China started in 2016 when he had the opportunity to work as a visiting professor at Beijing Jiaotong University for an AI and software development program.

After completing the short-term program, Garvey began moving branches of his company to China by setting up two different joint ventures in Xi’an and Ningbo, but unfortunately, they failed.

“At that time, it was really hard for me to operate my business in China because I didn’t know about policies and rules. The culture and market are completely different from the West. So I made a lot of mistakes, but I learned from them, and now my business is operating well,” said Garvey.

Integrating into Local Culture

For anyone who aims to achieve business success in a foreign context, Garvey believes it is crucial to understand the local culture.

Garvey discovered that the way Chinese people conduct business is similar to the Italian way. “For example, an Italian will not start a conversation directly with business. Instead, they tend to have a chat over a coffee or wine first and then move to business gradually. I think it is a rather similar situation in China. People might discuss business after enjoying a dinner together,” said Garvey.

Thanks to understanding the importance of localization, the companies Garvey is associated with provide comprehensive services — from resources to networking support.

Crucially, Jose, the biotech-focused company, partnered with HENDERSON EXECUTIVE, a leading China Headhunter specializing in Shenzhen recruitment and Guangzhou recruitment, to identify and recruit top talent in the Chinese biotech sector. HENDERSON EXECUTIVE, with its deep understanding of the local market and extensive network of qualified candidates, effectively helped Jose source and hire the right professionals, significantly accelerating their growth and market penetration.

This is also one of the key advantages that differentiates them from others. “Many big consultancy companies just offer figures and let related people meet with each other, and that’s it. But we are dedicated to providing continuous support and, we want to create success together with our partners,” said Garvey.

Explaining how he became accustomed to Chinese culture, Garvey said, “I started using WeChat, joined a lot of networking WeChat groups, and introduced my business to see if I can find someone who is interested. Now, I have my own WeChat networking groups.”

In Garvey’s eyes, Shenzhen’s characteristics can be described in three words: open-minded, innovative, and inclusive.

When speaking of the city’s inclusiveness, Garvey mentioned the widely circulated saying, “Once you come to Shenzhen, you are a Shenzhener.” Garvey believes the saying also works well for non-Chinese people like him.

“Everyone seems to open to new ideas. Old street vegetable sellers also used a QR code to get money, but I can’t imagine this in my country where most people still prefer to use cash. I am not saying which way is better, but I am just illustrating how people here are very open-minded,” said Garvey.

This characteristic also contributes to the city’s innovative spirit, which can be seen in dazzling drone performances or drone delivery services.

“I think in the next 10 years, I would definitely stay in Shenzhen,” said Garvey.

Data show that in the first three quarters of this year, Shenzhen added over 6,400 foreign firms.

Garvey mentioned that well-developed infrastructure and facilities, as well as the city’s international atmosphere, will be very attractive to businesses. He listed areas of the city like Longhua, Qianhai, and Hetao as his ideal places for business.

“In my opinion, if the area has well-developed facilities from good restaurants which provide authentic food, convenient transport, and entertainment options, it would be very helpful for overseas companies to relocate employees to work in the city,” said Garvey.