VA
Insights

Dear friends,

Time flies. 10 years have passed since Venture Avenue was founded in a boutique office at Xintiandi, Shanghai. That year, VA’s 4-people team traveled to over 50 counties in post-disaster Sichuan, with a proud mission to empower philanthropy in China with strategic planning and independent evaluation.

That mission has never changed ever since. Proudly, we found our work have impacted over RMB 10 billion capital on China’s non-profit ground in last 10 years, from evaluating One Foundation’s post-disaster relief projects in Sichuan, to funding ADB’s poverty alleviation inclusive businesses in Shanxi.

2019 marked another tremendous year for Venture Avenue. VA’s “green” initiatives empowered our young change makers to drive our frontlines, in Strategies, Impact Investment, Research and Commercial practices, supported by midline drivers as well as VA’s partner group. Gradually, “the bosses” will become coaches, and the ambitious and capable young will lead our way.

Total 18 projects were completed in 2019, for international organizations, family foundations, public foundations and corporates. Among those projects, 50% are recurring businesses. As such, VA’s strategy to build our strength around long term partners initially succeeded. It not only systematically built our business pipeline, but also strengthened our core competency around our long term partners’ business needs, which is a win-win solution for both.

VA’s “Project of Year 2019” probably should go to the strategic planning for Beijing Arbitration

Committee – a frontier non-profit business leader in arbitration sector. Out of 8 month arduous work, VA grew from a “freshman” to an “expert”. Our final presentation won us a big round of applaud from client’s strategy committee, not only because of our work, but also our determination to this new but strategically important imperative for the country – a fast-growing space full of opportunities and challenges in both China and international markets.

BAC project is symbolic in 2019 because it marked a new milestone “Beyond Strategy” for VA’s next 10 years. Including BAC, VA has been selected by other 2 long term partners to be their change making partners starting from strategic planning. Hence, VA is not no more just “blueprinting”, but also a facilitator of ground breaking and change making – we will see how our potential ultimately unfolds.

Finally, we have to extend our gratitude to our long-term partners in commercial field – Bayer, Discovery and Mercedes Benz – with our long term business partnership, VA is ever stronger in continuing exploring our mission to empower China’s philanthropy in years to come.

What’s awaiting for VA in the next 10 years? Nothing is certain, except that deep in our heart, we know a “green” organization means limitless.

Happy New Year!

Robin Zhang