Our 5th Anniversary

Plug and Play started its business in 1998, and successfully invested and incubated numerous internet giants including Google. The company was formally established in Silicon Valley in 2006.

In 2016, Plug and Play came to China and was headquartered in Beijing to leverage global resources to boost innovation in China. As the world’s leading innovation platform, Plug and Play China has incubated and accelerated startups, empowered leading corporations, and helped to build city innovation ecosystem with open innovation and synergy creation in the past 5 years in China.

On October 15th 2021, Plug and Play China "Brand Strategy Launch and 5th Anniversary" will be held in Beijing. We welcome all industry elites to witness this event online and offline.

In the future, we would continue to connect the best startups, corporates, and investors worldwide. Together we shape the future.

Our Milestones

  1. 1998

    Our story began in a "lucky building" outside of Stanford University: No. 165 University Avenue, Palo Alto, California, USA. Google, PayPal, Logitech and other technology giants today all started from there.

  2. 2006

    Plug and Play was officially established. The 18,000m2 space in Sunnyvale, the core area of Silicon Valley, is where we start our global innovation ecosystem.

  3. 2016

    This year, we came to China, and a brand-new journey started.

  4. 2016-10-18

    Plug and Play came to China and was headquartered in Beijing to leverage global resources to boost innovation in China.

  5. 2016-10

    With the completion of the regional centers in Shanghai, the Yangtze River Delta and the Yangtze River Economic Belt have been incorporated into our innovation roadmap in China.

  6. 2016-11-1

    Plug and Play Cross Border Innovation Platform was officially launched in China. We started our first Cross-Border Tour.

  7. 2017

    It is the first year of our corporate innovation service. We began to work with leading corporations in China to explore open innovation.

  8. 2017-1

    We had our first batch of corporate partners: Signify (Philips Lighting), Bosch, Daimler, Michelin and JD.com, China e-commerce giant.

  9. 2017-2-13

    Plug and Play China Acceleration Program - Mobility was launched for the first time, and started to source outstanding startups in China. During this batch, SenseTime received collaboration interests from Daimler and Valeo.

  10. 2017-6-28

    The First Plug and Play China Summer Summit kicked off. For the first time, we dived into the Chinese industry and introduced our "Open Innovative Solutions for Corporations".

  11. 2017-9-21

    Plug and Play China Fall Summit was on. Our four major verticals: Fintech, Supply Chain and Logistics, Brand and Retail, Travel and Hospitality, showcased their innovative achievements for the first time.

  12. 2017-12-13

    We introduced "Startup Autobahn" to China and started its first batch!

  13. 2017-12

    In the second half of 2017, more corporations chose to cooperate with Plug and Play China.
    Smart city started partnership with iSofyStone.
    Real Estate started partnership with Wanhua, Sumitomo Corporation and Hongkong Land.
    IoT started partnership with Sentiance (Belgian AI company) and introduced it to China.
    Mobility started partnership with SAIC California Capital, HELLA, Continental and Shanghai Autocity
    Travel and Hospitality started partnership with Star Alliance and formally entered aviation industry.
    We’ve also invested in many excellent startups such as ApplyBoard, ZiFiSense, CUSFAMIL, and KingWeather etc.
    Lan Huang, former deputy mayor of Nanjing city, and other important guests visited Plug and Play Silicon Valley office to exchange ideas on global innovation.

  14. 2018

    In this year, Plug and Play China launched a new office in Shenzhen, building networks in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We have also achieved many milestones:

  15. 2018-3-9

    Now one of the most successful verticals, Plug and Play Insurtech was formally established in China.

  16. 2018-6-29

    Plug and Play China responded to the development strategy of Xiong'an New District: we signed a strategic partnership agreement with China Resources Group to help Xiong'an develop high-end and high-tech industries and jointly create an innovation ecosystem.

  17. 2018-9-20

    Plug and Play China started innovation in Energy & Sustainability.

  18. 2018-10-22

    One big step of Plug and Play China cross-border innovation and globalization. Plug and Play China assisted the Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com to launch the "JD Silicon Valley Innovation Week" in the US.

  19. 2018-12

    In 2018, Plug and Play China open innovation ecosystem was perfectly built-up.
    Insurtech: Our first Insurtech Batch started. Also, we started partnership with Swiss Re, Munich Re, Sunshine Insurance Group, Willis Towers Watson, Taiping Life insurance, and Alfac. We invested in the first Insurtech startup Dowsure.
    IoT: We started partnership with Nanjing Qinhuai District, China Unicom, Huabei Group
    Mobility: We started partnership with Audi (China), Denso (China), FAW, Porsche, Dentsu.
    Fintech: Started first Batch in China, and partnered with Visa China, Lujiazui Financial City and BNP Paribas.
    Travel: Ctrip (Oasis Lab, Asia's largest tourism innovation center), the Chinese tourism giant, became our corporate partner.
    Real Estate: Cisco started partnership with us, aiming at building a 100-billion-level Smart City program.
    Supply Chain and Logistics: BASF started partnership with us.
    Energy and Sustainablity: Kering and us officially launched the Kering Generation Award in China. Also, PG&E partnered with us.
    We have made active early investments: we have discovered and invested in outstanding startups such as BotOrange, RoboticPlus.AI, Yours, InLinBot, NeuroBot, etc.
    From Plug and Play global perspective, Shaomin Lan, former Mayor of Nanjing city, came and visited Plug and Play in Silicon Valley, US. Spain's largest oil company, Trivago, Energie Steiermark, the fourth largest energy company in Austria, started a partnership with us.

  20. 2019

    2019 was a year of prosperity. Our innovation ecosystem in China continued to expand. We also valued globalization, and our satellite offices covered 30 cities around the world.

  21. 2019-3

    Plug and Play China Day was hosted for the first time:
    Over 1,000 guests attended and had an immersive experience of our innovation ecosystem.
    “Live Larger Than Life”, our first season of micro-documentary series, was released during this event.

  22. 2019-6

    We launched the FoundHER program in China. This program dedicated to helping Chinese entrepreneurial women around the world break the gender barrier in their career.
    Plug and Play China improved our Fintech ecosystem. We signed an agreement with Lujiazui Financial City, China Resources Land and Shanghai Land Group, aiming at building a Fintech innovation platform.

  23. 2019-7

    We launched an office in Wuxi to improve the regional layout of the Yangtze River Detta.

  24. 2019-9

    Plug and Play China and China Construction Bank have established China's first bank innovation incubation platform. The "Entrepreneur Harbor" Shenzhen Innovation Incubation Base, jointly operated by China Construction Bank and us, was officially launched.
    Plug and Play China participated in the Round A investment of auto-driving star company - AutoX. This round of investment was led by Dongfeng Motor, followed by Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund and other well-known investment institutions domestically and oversea.

  25. 2019-10

    Plug and Play China Institute of Innovation Ecosystem was launched.

  26. 2019-12

    With more leading companies, organizations and startups joined Plug and Play China innovation ecosystem, our "Open Innovation" platform was recognized by a majority of industries in China.
    Sinotrans,Sanofi,Sinochem Capital, Alliance Ventures - Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, Goodyear, Faurecia, ZJ Innopark, TUV, TOYOTA, Bank of Communications Pacific Credit Card Center, Intel, CMIC, Lujiazui Financial City, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Faurecia, Nantong, Nissay, Socr, China Continent Insurance, Yutong, Nantong Central Innovation District, Shell, PICC, Budweiser, Marriott International (Asia Pacific), Jin Mao Real Estate, HOFAN, Bank of Nanjing and Xinhe Yijia became our partners.
    We have invested in outstanding startups with core technology such as Authing, Hexaflake, and OneSight AR etc. International innovation and communication went further. Wenzu Shen, deputy secretary of the Nanjing Municipal Party Committee, and Huaijing Yang, General Manager of SAIC Donghua, visited the Plug and Play in Silicon Valley US, and exchanged ideas on innovation.

  27. 2020

    Another extraordinary year. The epidemic was invading, but our innovation ecosystem kept expanding against the pandemic. In 2020, Plug and Play China has accelerated over 1,100 startups and partnered with 100 corporate partners.

  28. 2020-2-10

    With the outbreak of COVID-19, Plug and Play China launched the "Innovation Under COVID-19" program and donated money and materials for epidemic prevention.

  29. 2020-3

    Plug and Play China upgraded our Shanghai office into Yangtze River Delta Innovation Center, making it the second-largest innovation carrier in the world after Silicon Valley.

  30. 2020-5-18

    The "Nanjing International Agricultural Innovation Acceleration Platform" established by Plug and Play China and Nanjing National Agricultural Innovation Park was officially launched. We would jointly promote Nanjing National Agricultural Innovation Park as the only government cooperation agency in East China. Plug and Play China Agricultural Urban Acceleration Batch would fully integrate into the Plug and Play international innovation ecosystem.

  31. 2020-8-6

    Plug and Play China Day kicked off in Wuxi, China. Our digital innovation platform "Playbook China" (Playbook China) was officially released.

  32. 2020-9

    Plug and Play China’s first unicorn startup arrived! ApplyBoard is a Canadian company focusing on education technology.

  33. 2020-11-24

    Plug and Play China Fintech program started a strategic partnership with Shanghai Pudong Developing Bank.

  34. 2020-11-25

    One big step of Plug and Play China Sustainability!
    End Plastic Waste Innovation Platform Shanghai was officially launched, becoming the fourth regional program after Silicon Valley, Paris, and Singapore. The platform was jointly created by Plug and Play China and Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

  35. 2020-12

    Plug and Play China welcomed our new corporate partners!
    FinTech: China Everbright Bank (CEB), Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, and BNP Paribas Personal Finance Group -Cetelem.
    Mobility: FAW Hongqi, Dongfeng Group, SAIC Donghua and Hyundai Mobis.
    Early Investment: We invested in Flexiv, DatenLord and other outstanding startups.
    From the global perspective, we located new offices in Toronto, North Dakota, Detroit, Chicago and Osaka.

  36. 2021

    In the fifth year of entering China, we continued to create values to our partners.

  37. 2021-3-24

    Plug and Play China Wuhan Technology Innovation Center officially unveiled.

  38. 2021-6-18

    Plug and Play China launched the first innovative community ”in+hub”, co-initiated with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.

  39. 2021-6-23

    Plug and Play China Day 2021 was held in Nanjing. Plug and Play China and Nanjing achieved strategic partnership and launched”1+N” innovation ecosystem program.
    Plug and Play China launched the first Carbon Neutrality Innovation Initiative: We would work together with corporate partners, investment institutions, startups and other partners to promote the process of carbon neutrality.

  40. 2021-6-24

    Plug and Play China launched the first Mobility innovative platform: NXT powered by Plug and Play was officially launched on Jun 24th, 2021, focusing on cross-domain application scenarios and innovative practices from the mobility sector to IoT, Energy, Supply Chain, Health, Fintech, Insurtech, Brand & Retail, etc.

  41. 2021-6

    Plug and Play China has invested in outstanding startups such as Multiway Robotics, Melephant, and FX Expert.
    Our portfolio company - Roboticplus.AI, a provider of intelligent building solutions, recently announced the completion of a Series B financing of more than ¥100 million.
    Our unicorn startup ApplyBoard has raised $300 million in series D funding.

  42. Future

    If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. In the journey of innovation, our story continues.

Watch the Live Broadcast of the 5th Anniversary

Sign up now
X

扫码关注 Plug and Play China

plug and play 中国,创新咨询,开放创新,创新生态
X