Alumnus, Class of 2010, Statistics, BNBU
Founding Partner, Shenzhen Yinqian International Business Service Co., Ltd.
Director and Compliance Officer of Hong Kong Trust License, WALLETS TRUST LIMITED
President of the Hong Kong Cross-border Finance Association
Wang Qian didn't start his entrepreneurial journey with a grand vision. It came from watching the career ups and downs of his parents' generation. Some lost stable factory jobs overnight. Others rose quickly in finance, only to fall due to tighter rules and fierce competition. He learned that no industry stays safe forever.
"If an industry is packed with grads from China's top universities, it's already peaked and heading down," he says with a laugh. So, in 2010, after graduating from BNBU with a Statistics degree, he skipped the banking and government jobs his family wanted. Instead, he went to City University of Hong Kong for a Master's in Business Quantitative Analysis, starting a winding path of exploration and entrepreneurship.
Riding the Wave, Learning to Steady After the Fall
Wang Qian's startup journey has been anything but smooth. After grad school, he tried many things: fintech, a milk tea startup with alumni, opening his own shop, franchise promotion, and institutional work at a securities firm where he felt boxed in. His early ventures paid off fast, letting him drive a luxury car at 28. But when the market cooled, things turned sharply. His biggest lesson came from a bad stock trade. False information cost him a heavy loss, equivalent to a small Shenzhen apartment.
"Early success made me overconfident. I thought I was great at making money, so I stopped being cautious," he says. That failure was a wakeup call. It taught him that to go further, he needed deeper experience and better judgment.
A Market Gap: Shock That Led to a Startup
The path to a stable business began at "xCurrency”, founded by his alumnus Chen Jiaxin. The company needed to set up an overseas listing structure, which required "Circular 37 Filing." This was a bank handled procedure delegated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). But one bank said, "We can't do it." Another said, "We can, but we won't."
"I was shocked. Why can't some banks do it, and why won't others?" Wang Qian dug deeper. Talking to banks and researching, he found the issue. This work was unprofitable and risky. If a company didn't comply, the bank faced penalties. So, a huge gap appeared. Companies going global had demand but couldn't find professional, reliable services. Either that, or prices were too high for smaller firms.
"With so much demand, and since I'd figured out how to do it, why not start my own company and just do this business?" Wang Qian recalls thinking.
Launching Cross Border: Bridging Companies and Regulators
That opportunity led Wang Qian to co found Shenzhen Yinqian International Business Service Co., Ltd. in 2019 with like-minded partners. The firm focuses on cross border compliance, covering ODI registration, VIE structures, overseas license applications, and other key steps for SMEs going global.
He recalls the early challenge wasn't lack of demand. It was that clients couldn't find reliable providers. Very few consulting firms offered such services. Among cross border lawyers, a small number were professional but expensive, while most were not professional at all.
"The reason is simple. Chinese lawyers' bar exams don't cover this content. They test domestic law, not cross border business," he says. To gain experience and connections, he chose to "buy experience." He hired the best lawyers or overseas consultants at high prices, even if it meant making no profit or losing money. As cases piled up, the company built a reputation and found its niche: bridging enterprises and regulators, helping both sides understand each other better.
Wang Qian's company's business location
Starting with Statistics: Logic as the Entrepreneurial Foundation
Wang Qian credits his BNBU studies with leaving a deep mark. "Statistics is a great stepping stone for finance," he says. He didn't appreciate it much back then, but years later, he realized that math and stats training sharpened his logical thinking. When dealing with complex policies and client needs, that logical training has been a huge asset.
Also, BNBU's whole person education required even science students to do frequent presentations and group projects. His speaking, teamwork, and coordination skills were all honed during his student years. "These later became the most valuable parts of my entrepreneurial journey," he says.
Classmates Supporting Each Other: The BNBU Experience Continues on the Entrepreneurial Path
Classmate bonds have been a major support for his entrepreneurship. The “milk tea project”, “xCurrency”, and later partners all came from the alumni network. "Our cohort had a unique energy. Many came from business families, and we dared to try entrepreneurship early," Wang recalls. He also notes that BNBU's location in the Greater Bay Area offers advantages. Students get more exposure to Hong Kong universities and a different business culture early on. That's why BNBU graduates think differently, whether at work or starting up.
"Being able to do business in Hong Kong has a lot to do with BNBU," he says. "My BNBU background helped me get a master's in Hong Kong and gain Hong Kong status." Applying for licenses in Hong Kong requires people with Hong Kong status as core management. "It really depends on my having that status back then. It allowed me to try things and build the licensing experience and ability I have now," Wang Qian says.
Learning by Doing: Letting Entrepreneurship Take Root
As a business owner, Wang Qian values "entrepreneurial attitude" over degrees. He gave an example. An employee was sent to ask a client for a new audit report but couldn't explain why the old one wasn't acceptable. "If you're just passing messages, you have no value," he said bluntly. If it were him, he would use AI tools and connections to quickly find the problem and report back to the client.
"Entrepreneurial attitude means owning the problem and doing whatever it takes to find the answer." He tells this not only to his staff, but also to college students still finding their way.
When it comes to the employment difficulties facing college students today, Wang Qian is very direct. "A degree isn't as valuable as it used to be." What really impresses employers, he says, are internships and practical skills. Media students should be able to create a video channel to promote products. Language students should communicate like native speakers, not just score high on tests.
He advises students to step out of their studies and into practice. Do more internships and accumulate hands-on experience. When job hunting, that is far more valuable than just "showing off book knowledge."
Looking back on over a decade of ups and downs, Wang Qian has come to believe: "Not everyone needs to start a business, and not everyone is suited for it. But no matter your role, approach it with an entrepreneurial attitude."
When others retreat, he persists. When others avoid challenges, he faces them. That resilience and attitude have kept his entrepreneurial journey moving forward.
Written by Peng Jianing, Class of 2022, BNBU MCOM undergraduate
【Company Introduction】
Shenzhen Yinqian International Business Service Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Yinqian International Business Service Co., Ltd. was established on May 31, 2019. The company specializes in providing cross-border business services, including overseas bank account opening, company registration, and legal capital flow management. It has an advisory team comprising financial experts and foreign-related lawyers.
Industry: Cross-border Business Services
Location: Room B1102, Rongchao Economic and Trade Center, No. 4028 Jintian Road, Fuzhong Community, Lianhua Street, Futian District, Shenzhen
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