FAQ

We charge an application fee to cover for the cost of the recruitment procedure and ensure the commitment of applicants.

A special "Early bird offer" for any application submitted before the 5th of October 2017 is running since September 13th: apply now and benefit from a 100 euros fee instead of 300 euros.

To know all about IPR in China, read the guidelines of the Regional Economic Service of the French Embassy in Beijing.

You can reach Impact team at:

• Gaëlle DECOLNET, our Beijing-based project manager at +86 15801646026 or [email protected]
  
• Robin OLIVERES, our Hong Kong based project manager at +33 (0)1 40 73 31 39 or [email protected]
• The Impact China Team at [email protected]

Applicants can only use once the email address for applying. If you want to first log in to skim through the application questionnaire, we advise you to use another email address. If you have any question, please send us an email and we will guide you through the application process.

If the problem persist contact us!

When launching in China, most companies waste a significant amount of time and money understanding the dynamics of the local market, designing the right go-to-market strategy, getting familiar with their new ecosystem, setting up their organization, etc. With the support of its local network, the Impact team gives you all the necessary tools to be operational quickly, kick start your business development and increase your visibility locally.

Because of our status and partnership with Bpifrance, we are able to offer this program at a great price and well below its actual cost.

Not being selected does not mean that we do not want to work with your company. We receive a high volume of applications and our jury selects the ones they believe will most benefit from the program, at the time being. We work with more than 140 companies every year all over China and should you not be selected for Impact China of this year, you can try next year or we will be eager to discuss other options for potential collaborations and consider an individual programme.

Participants are responsible for all personal costs not directly related to the program: international flights, housing, and all costs of developing their company’s business in China. Impact will provide participants with the domestic flights during Phase 1 and 2, logistics support and translators during all B2B meetings.

Before coming to China, successful applicants will have to get a Visa. You will have to apply for a Single Entry Visa or multi-entry visa of category M (before applying, please confirm with our team). Beware that the processing time takes usually 6 working days. We recommend that you apply for a visa one and a half months before the scheduled date of entry into China, and not more than three months before. You will need: 1.Completed application form 2.Passport 3.1 color-identity photo 4.Round-trip airline tickets 5.Hotel reservation 6.Invitation letter: For our team to provide you with your invitation letter, send us beforehand your personal details (full name, fonction title in your company, date of birth & passport number).

You have two options for applying to a VISA for China. You can either apply:

1) Via the Chinese Visa Application Service Center
1.Paris : 25, Rue de Bassano, 75 008 Paris – 9.00-15.30 (submission of applications)
2.Marseille : 165, Avenue du Prado, 13 008 Marseille – 9.00-15.00 (submission of applications)

Regular service: the processing time is usually 6 working day
Express service: the processing time is usually 3 working days.

2) By postal services (Marseille only)

The processing time is usually 10 working days.

In addition to the application material mentioned above, you will have to attach:

1. A prepaid return envelope (Metropolitan France only) with your complete address clearly written on it
2. The completed postal Postal Visa application form

We advise you to use reliable postal services such as Chronopost to send your visa application material to the Visa Center.

The Visa Center will contact upon receipt of your application to proceed to online payment.

For further information, consult the website of the Chinese Visa Application Center.

The application will be submitted to a jury panel of French and Chinese experts composed of venture capital firms, industrial players, innovation directors of big tech companies and entrepreneurs. See the panel of Impact 2017

They will shortlist the best candidates according to the quality of the application submitted and 10 established criteria such as (non-exhaustive list):

• the level of innovation of the product or solution (assessment of how beyond the state-of-the-art the solution is on the Chinese market)
• the business model (Sufficient resources and / or a real and sensible financial plan to sustain development in China)
• Team ability and motivation to develop the business internationally

After the selection, a complementary interview can be held to answer any additional information the panel could need.

Every jury shall be bound by a confidentiality clause

No. We do not take equity in return for the benefits of Impact.

Impact works exclusively with French tech companies. More precisely, our program is dedicated to the ones that are launching in China or have already a first contact with Chinese market.

• What we accelerate: their market entry process. The first 12 months are so critical that we’ve designed a specific program to tackle that.
• Unlike typical accelerators, we select companies that already have a working/proven product and that can show a track record or demonstrate some market traction.
• Unlike most accelerators, we don’t take any equity in participating companies.

If you don’t feel comfortable sharing some of your business data, don’t. Yet remember our jury does need to have the clearest vision of your company’s potential while evaluating your application therefore we strongly advise you to share as much details as you can.