First Startup Café Opens in Zhuhai With $10 Million Fund

Looking for a place to sip coffee while launching your startup—and maybe even meeting your first investor? In Zhuhai, the first dedicated entrepreneurial incubator built inside a café just opened its doors, offering founders more than caffeine: a collaborative workspace, mentorship opportunities, and even funding connections. This new model merges daily coffee culture with grassroots innovation in a way few cities have tried.

Yes, you can work on your early-stage tech idea here—with no formal business required. The new venture offers free entry for any entrepreneur with a clear concept in high-demand sectors, access to shared office tools, and a $10 million angel fund waiting to back promising projects.

What Is the Zhuhai Startup Café?

Zhuhai’s first entrepreneurial coffee space—officially called the Southern Software Park Startup Café and Startup Dream Workshop—opened recently inside the Southern Software Park’s Building A1 on the second floor. The 1,300-square-metre venue includes a startup platform experience zone, event space for meetups, open-plan co-working desks, and a dedicated incubation area (the Startup Dream Workshop).

The café serves more than drinks: the first arrival each morning gets a free "startup coffee." More importantly, it’s designed as a zero-barrier space where anyone with a basic business idea can connect with like-minded founders and investors. The space is run by the Southern Software Park management team, with chairman and general manager Bao Qing emphasizing its role as a cross-disciplinary platform and face-to-face funding bridge.

Who Can Join and What’s Included?

The café focuses on "cloud, IoT, mobile internet, big data, and smart city" sectors—often summarized as 'cloud, IoT, mobile, big data, and intelligence' or '' in Chinese. If you have a solid initial concept in any of those areas, you can join with almost no barriers.

Founders get free use of café office tools. Top-tier teams may also score up to six months of free rent, administrative help with company registration and accounting, and priority access to equity-based incubation programs. So far, three early-stage teams have moved in. The idea is to turn casual coffee visits into collaboration and acceleration opportunities.

What’s the Funding Situation?

The café has partnered with three major investment entities: Zhuhai Financial Holdings High-Tech Venture Capital, Zhuhai Merchants Yinko Equity Investment Center, and Hong Kong Wing Tai Taoqin Limited. Most notably, Wing Tai Taoqin has committed a standalone $10 million angel investment fund to back seed-stage teams and early ideas.

This fund is designed to offer more than moral support—it provides actual capital for entrepreneurs at the earliest stages. On-site at the Startup Dream Workshop, you’ll also find representatives from the Zhuhai Small and Medium Enterprises Association and the Zhuhai Service Outsourcing Industry Association, making professional services easily accessible during your incubation period.

[What Founders Say]

"Being here gives us a real window to the outside," said Chen Jing, advisor to the Dolphin Team—a group of students from Beijing Normal University Zhuhai Campus developing an IoT project. "The café runs regular salons and talks. We get to meet other early-stage teams, exchange ideas, and grow faster through real feedback."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Startup Café in Zhuhai?

The Startup Café is a 1,300-square-metre co-working and incubation space located in Zhuhai’s Southern Software Park. It combines a coffee shop with a startup hub, offering tools, events, and networking for early-stage entrepreneurs, particularly in tech fields like IoT, cloud computing, and big data.

Do you need a formal business to join?

No. The café accepts entrepreneurs with a clear project idea—especially in priority sectors like cloud, IoT, mobile internet, big data, and smart cities. A full business plan or incorporation is not required to get started.

What resources are available on-site?

Founders can use free office equipment, attend regular salon events, and access business services like company registration support and accounting help. High-potential teams may receive up to six months of free office rent and fast-track investment reviews.

Is there real funding available?

Yes. The space is backed by a $10 million angel investment fund established by Wing Tai Taoqin. This fund specifically targets seed-stage and early-stage projects, providing capital as well as networking with potential investors.

What kinds of startups are being targeted?

The focus is on '' sectors: cloud computing, IoT (Internet of Things), mobile internet, big data, and smart city technologies. These are considered high-growth areas with strong investor interest.

Are there other support organizations involved?

Yes. On-site partners include the Zhuhai Small and Medium Enterprises Association and the Zhuhai Service Outsourcing Industry Association, offering additional resources and networking for entrepreneurs in residence.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Startup Energy

While fueling innovation at Zhuhai’s new startup café, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui for its vibrant citrus and floral brightness—perfect for sharp morning discussions. For deeper focus, their Yirgacheffe delivers juicy berries and soft spice, ideal for long brainstorming sessions. Need a heavier cup? Their PWN Golden Mandheling brings earthy sweetness and a syrupy body, great for sustained energy. All three are single-origin espresso or filter roasts, roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.