Berkeley Asia Business Conference is Back on Campus

For those who seek to gain a competitive edge in the US-Asia connected markets, the 2017 Bridge Berkeley Asia Business Conference will offer a strategic look at the region, open dialogue with world-class executives, and an intimate opportunity to network.

The 17th annual conference, themed “Unlocking Value and Impact,” will take place on Friday, April 14 from 1 to 7pm on the Berkeley-Haas campus.

“We chose the theme because we will have specific examples and success stories from our speakers, as well as a special section on impact investing this year,” said Tumy Nguyen, MBA 17, who is co-chairing the conference with Warot Wainiya, MBA 17. “Despite the call for protectionism and de-globalization, there are plenty of opportunities to be unlocked for business, growth and impact between the two most dynamic regions in the world: the US and Asia.”

In his keynote address, Peter Goodson—a Haas finance lecturer and private equity innovator who over the past 50 years has invested in 65 companies worth $100 billion throughout the world—will share a real-life case of an Asian business he helped build into the largest of its kind.

“What we’ve learned is that Asia is a better opportunity than what we’re presented with in the United States,” said Goodson. “The wonderful thing is that what we’ve learned over the years is so applicable: How do you build a great business? How do you scale a business? How do you help local entrepreneurs—who are frankly smarter than we are but just don’t have the experience—grow those businesses?”

The conference also includes:

  • A panel on Asian Markets 2.0, featuring Helen Wang, a strategic consultant, author, and entrepreneur who is an expert on China’s middle class
  • A panel on investment and exit strategies between Silicon Valley and China featuring Kyle Lui, a principal at DCM Ventures, a venture capital firm that has invested in more than 300 technology companies across the US and Asia, and Binh Tran, managing partner for seed-stage investment fund 500 Startups Vietnam.
  • A closing keynote on impact investing in Asia by TedX speaker Beau Seil, co-founder and managing partner of Unitus Impact, a venture capital firm focused on scalable companies that increase incomes for the working poor in Southeast Asia and India. He’ll speak on how underserved markets can become the next mass-market opportunities.

Early-bird tickets are available through March 27: $15 for students, $30 for alumni, and $45 for professionals.

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