Innovation in products, processes, and services is essential for companies and societies. Innovation to meet pressing needs, to increase productivity, safety and efficiency. Boosting productivity increases living standards. Seeking innovation, China and the United States both invest over 2% of their gross domestic products in research and development. In this conversation, we’ll talk with Gary Rieschel, a highly successful venture capitalist with deep experience in both China and the U.S. We’ll look at how innovative China has been. Has innovation in China changed over the past two decades? How can innovation be nurtured? How might U.S.-China rivalry spur or stifle innovation?
Gary Rieschel established Qiming Venture Partners in Shanghai in 2006. The company now has 70 employees and manages over $5 billion. Its been involved with some of the key pioneers in vital sectors. Its portfolio includes major brands such as Xiaomi, Bilibili and Meituan Dianping, consumer oriented robotics, and health sciences (data platforms, pharmaceutical research and testing, medical devices). Prior to building Qiming, Rieschel was founded and led other venture capital firms, Softbank China Ventures, SAIF Partners and Ceyuan Ventures. Ahead of that he was a senior executive at Intel, Sequent Computer, Cisco Systems and Softbank. Long concerned with environmental and international issues, he helped create the China Greentech Initiative. He’s been involved with the Rocky Mountain Institute’s China initiatives, the Asia Society, The Nature Conservancy, and many other organizations. He’s a trustee of Reed College. Rieschel returned to the U.S. in 2015 to launch Qiming’s U.S. operations.
This event is co-sponsored by Asia Society Southern California, Los Angeles World Affairs Council, and USC Marshall IBEAR MBA Program.
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