Exclusive: From Syracuse Grad To Cross-Border Innovator Liu Yuanchu

(MENAFN- GetNews) “If there had been a viable path to launch my startup in the U.S. back then, my first company might have taken root in New York,” Liu Yuanchu reflects, sitting in the office of Hebei Hengxiang Information Technology Co., Ltd. His tone carries a hint of regret as he looks back on his 2015 graduation from Syracuse University, but it's overshadowed by quiet resolve.

Today, the 31-year-old is far from the uncertain international student who had to return to China. He holds over 20 original intellectual property rights, has drafted 6 industry standards, and holds key leadership roles at four enterprises. The elevator safety intelligent supervision platform he built now monitors 450,000 elevators, and he has emerged as a critical bridge linking technological innovation between the U.S. and China. In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Liu shares how he turned the disappointment of being“forced to leave” into a massive opportunity for cross-border innovation.

A Regretful Start: A Broken Startup Dream Reveals a Gap

Reporter: When you graduated from Syracuse in 2015, you already had a startup idea but had to return to China. How did that feel at the time?

Liu: It was unexpected, even disorienting. I had already conceptualized an elevator safety monitoring startup and connected with some local U.S. resources. But after consulting experts, I realized U.S. immigration policies are extremely unfriendly to foreign student entrepreneurs-federal law allows us to work for other companies after graduation, but there's almost no legal path to stay and launch our own ventures.

I wasn't alone. Many international classmates at Syracuse faced the same dilemma: we came to the U.S. with ideas and passion, received top-tier entrepreneurial education, yet had to take our fully developed concepts back to our home countries due to visa restrictions.

Reporter: Did this“regretful experience” ultimately shape your career direction?

Liu: It was a happy accident. After returning to China, I entered the investment industry, starting as an investment manager at Legend Capital, focusing on healthcare and AI sectors. On the job, I noticed a critical gap: many high-quality U.S. technologies struggled to take root in China, while domestic market demand remained urgent-exactly the“supply-demand mismatch” I'd observed during my studies.

For example, I led the cross-border transfer of PDOX precision oncology technology. The U.S. developer had advanced R&D capabilities but lacked understanding of China's clinical validation processes and regulatory frameworks; domestic hospitals needed the technology but had no compliant channels to access it. Having a grasp of both U.S. technical logic and China's industrial landscape, I acted as a“translator” and“bridge-builder.” This experience convinced me that cross-border technology transfer is a vast blue ocean.

From Investment Manager to Ecosystem Builder: Breaking Barriers with Technology

Reporter: You transitioned from investment manager to entrepreneur, now overseeing enterprises in tech, healthcare, and insurance. How did you pull off this cross-sector success?

Liu: The core is solving common problems with technology. At Legend Capital, I secured a 400 million RMB investment quota for Junlebao Dairy by seeing the logic of its industrial chain integration. When I founded Hebei Hengxiang in 2019, I built the elevator supervision platform because I identified a gap in special equipment informatization-these seemingly unrelated projects all share the same essence: using technology to boost efficiency and compliance to ensure implementation.

Today, the synergies between the three enterprises are clear: Elevator supervision data from Hebei Hengxiang supports more precise risk control models for Beijing Orient Insurance Brokerage's“Huiqi Insurance” products; U.S. medical device technologies introduced by Aosiaopeng gain access to domestic hospitals through Hengxiang's channels. This cross-domain ecosystem gives us a unique edge in cross-border collaborations-when engaging with U.S. healthcare firms now, we can offer end-to-end services covering technical assessment, policy adaptation, and market launch.

Reporter: Unlike many entrepreneurs, you also develop software and draft industry standards. What drove this approach?

Liu: It's a“foundation-first mindset” born out of necessity. Early in my cross-border work, I found the industry lacked uniform standards-there were no clear guidelines for due diligence dimensions, technical adaptation metrics, or cross-border data compliance. Everyone followed their own methods, leaving many high-quality projects stuck in limbo.

So I decided to build the fundamentals myself: first, developing a“blockchain-based market development data analysis system” to address cross-border data trust issues; then launching a“data-driven investment benefit simulation evaluation system” to refine cross-border project valuation. These tools were later adopted by multiple institutions, boosting industry efficiency by 25% to 80%. Building on this, I led the creation of 6 industry standards-my way of ensuring cross-border collaborations have clear rules to follow, sparing others the detours I took.

A Two-Way Future: Setting Up Shop in the U.S. to Fulfill a Past Dream

Reporter: You recently established a company in the U.S. Is this a way to make up for past regrets?

Liu: It's more of a“mutual commitment.” Back then, I was forced to leave due to policy constraints; now, I'm proactively building two-way innovation. We plan to bring China's mature elevator supervision technology and special equipment informatization solutions to the U.S. market, while introducing American smart healthcare and clean energy technologies for localization in China.

For instance, our elevator supervision platform already enables real-time monitoring and emergency rescue for 450,000 elevators in China. This“tech + supervision” model is in high demand in many U.S. cities. Through our U.S. subsidiary, we've already secured cooperation intentions with institutions in New York and California. Next, we'll adapt to U.S. regulatory policies, allowing Chinese technology to serve public safety overseas.

Reporter: What advice do you have for international students in the U.S. with entrepreneurial aspirations?

Liu: First, don't fear having a“Plan B.” I was forced to return to China and found an even larger market. Second, cherish the resources available during your studies-learn about local technological and industrial logic, as these will be invaluable for future cross-border collaborations. Finally, trust that truly valuable technologies and ideas can succeed anywhere. The demand for innovation between the U.S. and China is growing stronger; as long as you find the right fit, you can create real value.

From an international student pushed away by immigration policies to an entrepreneur building bridges between U.S. and China innovation, Liu's journey proves that true opportunity often emerges from regret. Today, he's not only fulfilling his own past dream but also building the bridge he once lacked for countless other cross-border entrepreneurs. In the future, this bridge will connect even more technological resources, writing a new chapter for U.S.-China collaborative innovation.

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