WITH a new upsurge of starting businesses and a national policy encouraging entrepreneurs, both local youths and young people from Hong Kong are looking for business opportunities in Shenzhen, but experts remind the young entrepreneurs to aim high while being realistic, Shenzhen Evening News and Xinhua reported.

    The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub was opened in December last year and began to operate as an incubator dedicated to youth entrepreneurs from the mainland, Hong Kong, and people from other countries who wish to launch their careers.

    Many young Hong Kong entrepreneurs are chasing their dreams by living a “twin-city” life, split between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

    Chen Zhihao, 30, who is originally from Hong Kong, is now a board member of a financing corporation in Shenzhen. Chen came to Shenzhen to explore a new path on the mainland nine months after his first job in Hong Kong.

    “The atmosphere for starting a new business is very active on the mainland, and there is more room for career development here,” said Chen.

    Like Chen, Huang Wenbin used the entrepreneur hub in Qianhai to set up his own business. Huang’s company focuses on pet health management. Huang thinks Shenzhen possesses an encouraging and resourceful environment for new businesses.

    “In Hong Kong, there aren’t resources (like in Shenzhen). The cost of starting a business is enormously high,” said Huang.

    Though many people are rushing into the city for their entrepreneurial dreams, experts from universities remind them to act with caution and to focus on feasible ideas.

    Zhang Yueting, one of the entrepreneurs, said there are mainly two types of people who are trying to start a business. “One kind of entrepreneur wants to create a new business because they have innovative ideas, while the other type of person is trying to start a business simply because they want to set up a company.”

    In China, most young people fit into the second category. They often follow a Copy to China (C2C) model by catering to customers’ needs and preferences rather than bringing out original ideas.

    The report also reveals that young Chinese entrepreneurs favor creating smartphone applications for e-commerce and online video games. Setting up online platforms for traditional industries is also popular, although some scholars say it shows a lack of creativity.

    “Our young generation lacks key abilities including imagination and open-mindedness that boost the establishment of successful and innovative businesses,” said Zhang Wei, director of creative business projects in Tsinghua University.

    Earning profits ranks as the first motivation for many young people to be entrepreneurs. A survey conducted by Renren.com revealed that over half of college students want to make money by starting a business.

    (Zhang Qian)