How we work

We test your case in the market before you build anything. You commit stage by stage, and only on evidence.

There are three ways to work with us, from guidance to running the operation for you. You pay us no fees in any of them. Under some models you trade through our Chinese company until the case is proven. Under others you form your own at the start. Either way, your trademark is registered before you approach partners. We set up only what you need to test the market. The full structure comes after the evidence does.

Get a first read on your case

What staged entry means

Staged entry means setting up only the minimum legal and operating presence needed to test commercial assumptions in the market. The full entry structure is built only once those assumptions are validated.

Minimum viable presence

Enough standing to sign agreements, meet distributors and hold real commercial talks. This is not entry. It is what makes the test possible

The test

We check demand, how the partner behaves, whether your price holds, and whether the channel works. This is where the go or no-go call is made.

Full entry structure

Built only after the evidence supports it. Legal entity, team, channel, launch.

Three stages

Every engagement runs through the first two stages. The third is there if you want us to stay. Most companies set up an entity, agree with a distributor and plan for launch before anyone has tested whether the commercial case holds. The cost of being wrong is then at its highest.

01

Market validation

What we do: Test demand, the partner, and whether the numbers work.

What you get: Evidence to make a go or no-go call.

Validation

02

Entry planning and building

What we do: Build the plan, then build the business. Phasing, positioning, channel, partner, legal structure. Then the pilot, the localisation and the launch plan.

What you get: A business ready to launch.

Entry planning

03

Operations

What we do: We keep watch over how the Chinese company is run. That is the monitor and controller role. We take the meeting and act for you when China needs an owner present.

What you get: Someone on the ground with the standing to act for you.

Market entry

Three ways to work with us

You can engage us at one of three levels

01

Advisory

Make it ready

Test the market with the help of people on the ground. Get expert advice on how to run the validation and entry planning. You lead the project. We support you on the ground.

Deliverable: De-risked process.

02

Incubation

Make it happen

Like advisory but we plan and build, while you run the business once in operation.

Deliverable: a working commercial setup in China.

03

Venture build

Make it stick

Like incubation but we monitor operations. We run it and step in when things go wrong.
Deliverable: a steered operation, with Shaeps as venture partner.

Compare models

Detailed comparison of engagement models

Swipe

Model

Advisory

Make it ready

Incubation

Make it happen

Venture build

Make it stick

Overview

Shaeps general role

Provide expert advice on how to run the validation and entry planning. Provide on the ground resources for specific tasks.

Like Advisory but Shaeps plan and build, while you run the business once in operation

Like Incubation plus we run monitor operations and step in when things go wrong (“first responder”)

Lead

Client

Shaeps

Best suited for

Companies prepared to invest fully in building long-term China presence

Companies with few resources (funds and skills) or with lower risk appetite

Companies with few resources (funds, skills) and with lowest risk profile

Client risk / reward balance

High

Medium

Low

Shaeps services

Placement: funding, partners

Client / Shaeps

Shaeps

Organisation: company formation, team recruitment, approvals

Client / Shaeps

Shaeps

Legal entity

Client forms Chinese entity at the beginning of the process

Client forms Chinese entity. Shaeps LEEMIAN SPV may act as the front-end for launch planning

Planning

Client

Shaeps

Operations

Client

Shaeps

First responder in extraordinary events

Client

Shaeps

Client's expenses

Company setup costs

Normally < RMB 40,000

Other up-front costs (e.g. trademark and IP protection)

Client

Equity share to Shaeps ¹

Ask us

Client's rights

IP right

Client maintains all rights

Client maintains all rights. IP developed after launch in China is shared

Notes

1) Or equivalent performance-based remuneration

Close comparison

How we run it

Work is hands-on

Very little of it is desk research. We test before we recommend.

We start with validation

That settles whether the case holds. Planning and building delivers a business ready to launch

No consulting fees

See how we are paid