For business leaders at B2B tech firms, the core goal of exhibition participation can be summed up in one sentence: meet the most valuable contacts in the shortest possible time. The reality, however, often falls short. C-suite executives remain confined to closed-door forums and hard to reach; investors are inaccessible at networking sessions; industrial buyers can only be encountered by chance on the show floor. These three groups exist in separate circles, and it is considered a win to connect with just one of them at a typical exhibition.

Hongqiao Tech Week is designed to bring all three groups together in one venue. It is the flagship international tech festival built on the original London Tech Week IP. Guided by the Management Committee of Hongqiao International Central Business District, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, it is hosted by Informa Markets. Shanghai Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Center serves as the strategic innovation partner and GEC as another strategic partner. The event will be held from 20 to 22 November 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Read on to find out how it facilitates connections with industrial buyers, corporate executives and investors respectively.

I. Industrial Buyers: Delivered to your table via database and matchmaking

For B2B enterprises, industrial buyers sit at the top of the priority list. Hongqiao Tech Week offers a complete dedicated mechanism for this purpose.

Where buyers come from The organiser maintains a database of over 100,000 industry buyers. Approximately 30% of planned attendees are technical specialists and engineers, while nearly 40% are corporate executives, directors, partners and department heads. Most on-site visitors are technically literate and hold decision-making authority.

The event spans over 50,000 ㎡ of exhibition space, gathering 400+ exhibitors and 30,000+ professional visitors. All these attendees can be filtered and pre-booked according to your requirements — no more relying on random encounters at the venue.

Breakdown of planned attendees: 16% CxOs, managing directors, partners and board members; 20% vice presidents, directors and department heads; 30% technical specialists and engineers; 18% managers; 16% procurement and other professionals. Both decision-makers and operational stakeholders will be present, so you can find the right contacts for solution discussion and procurement negotiation.

How to connect 2,000 curated one-to-one business meetings are scheduled, covering procurement, channel partnership, industrial collaboration, investment and international expansion. Instead of cold outreach, the matchmaking system arranges your target buyers at the negotiation table for you.

Depth of industrial ecosystem Public industrial statistics show Hongqiao hosts more than 7,000 digital economy enterprises, over 3,600 automotive supply chain firms and more than 1,000 new energy companies. The broader Yangtze River Delta is home to 59,000+ startups and an economic output exceeding RMB 25 trillion. Your potential clients, suppliers and system integrators are highly likely to be within this dense industrial cluster.

These buyers are not randomly sourced. Leveraging Informa’s global tech event portfolio covering London, Africa and Singapore, the organiser has built a cross-border network of industry buyers and decision-makers. Combined with Hongqiao and Yangtze River Delta’s local industrial foundation, this forms the basis for targeted invitations. You will meet pre-qualified attendees with clear industrial profiles rather than passive foot traffic.

II. Corporate Executives: Forum and leadership dialogues create shared touchpoints

Senior executives rarely walk ordinary booth aisles, but they actively join forums and panel discussions.

Hongqiao Tech Week organises forums and leadership dialogues across six thematic tracks: Artificial Intelligence, Future Mobility & Energy, Smart Infrastructure, Smart Industry, Life Sciences & Health, and Startup Ecosystem, open to corporate decision-makers. Three practical tactics for targeting executives:

  1. Forums as networking zones: Attend forums in your target track. Panel sessions and coffee breaks create natural opportunities to engage senior leaders.
  2. Panel slots as thought leadership platforms: Secure speaking or panel seats to draw executives to you. Sharing insights on industry topics is a cost-effective way to reach top management.
  3. Closed-door sessions for in-depth talks: The event features an opening ceremony and government-enterprise closed-door exchanges, offering exhibitors access to government decision-makers and industry pioneers.

This “co-location” model has proven successful internationally. At London Tech Week 2026 China Pavilion, BYD and Denza took headline roles, while Tencent, DeepRoute.ai, Westwell and Airwallex showcased alongside each other in front of global tech decision-makers and buyers. As part of the same global ecosystem, Hongqiao Tech Week enables Chinese enterprises to turn the goal of connecting with international executives and buyers into tangible opportunities.

As a member of the same global event portfolio as London Tech Week, Hongqiao Tech Week grants access to international executive networks and overseas VC resources. It provides a rare domestic gateway for companies aiming to engage global senior leaders and APAC teams of multinational corporations.

III. Investment Institutions: Capital connections built within the Startup Ecosystem track

The Startup Ecosystem is one of Hongqiao Tech Week’s six core tracks — a standout feature among China’s comprehensive tech expos. Capital matchmaking is embedded into the core event framework instead of being treated as a side activity.

For companies seeking investor meetings, this means:

IV. Priority framework & action checklist

表格

Your Objective

Hongqiao Tech Week Mechanism

Pre-event Action

Source industrial buyers

100,000+ buyer database + 2,000 matchmaking sessions

Book 10–20 target buyers on the matchmaking system

Engage corporate executives

Six-track forums & leadership dialogues

Review speaker list and shortlist 3–5 priority contacts

Meet investment institutions

Startup Ecosystem, pitches & investment matchmaking

Prepare BP and a 3-minute elevator pitch

Tap into industrial ecosystem

Yangtze River Delta industrial base & park resources

Compile a list of target industrial parks and clusters

V. Four steps to meet all three groups in one exhibition

  1. Use the matchmaking system 1–2 months in advance: Book separate sessions for buyers, executives and investors. Transform your exhibition trip into a structured meeting calendar rather than casual wandering.
  2. Prepare three sets of materials: Case studies for buyers, strategic value propositions for executives, and business models for investors. A single generic pitch will not work for all audiences.
  3. Reserve time for forums: Panels and networking breaks within your target tracks are prime occasions to approach executives. Study speaker line-ups ahead of time.
  4. Follow up within 48 hours post-show: Nurture newly established connections promptly and convert leads into business pipelines.

Do not overlook brand exposure. A network of over 60 media partners amplifies your visibility during and after the event. Document your meetings and partnerships to extend influence beyond the three on-site days. Include media coverage in your exhibition KPIs, instead of only counting the number of contacts met.

A practical tip for first-time participants: avoid immediately booking large premium booths. Prioritise matchmaking and forum engagement. Pre-schedule 10–20 target contacts and add relevant forums to your agenda. This combination costs far less than a deluxe booth and lets you validate attendee quality and deal potential. Once validated, upgrade booth packages or sponsorships in subsequent editions for steady growth.

Budget allocation principle: validation first. Secure core investment for matchmaking credits and basic booth space, then allocate incremental budget for speaking slots and media exposure. Early-stage teams can leverage the low-barrier startup booths and pitch channels in the Startup Ecosystem track to test capital outreach at minimal cost. Direct every budget item toward activities that help you meet the right people.

In short, the core strength of this exhibition is not venue scale, but the reliable, repeatable access to high-value contacts. Master this mechanism and your exhibition spend changes from an expense to a sustainable growth driver.

Place exhibition participation within your annual business roadmap: it should not be a one-off trip, but the starting point of a year-round outreach pipeline. Pre-event outreach via matchmaking system, concentrated on-site meetings, and post-show conversion form a closed loop. Once established, you can reuse this workflow in future editions instead of starting from scratch. For business leaders, a stable repeatable connection mechanism delivers greater long-term value than temporary on-site buzz.

Hongqiao Tech Week follows a simple core logic: bring three groups of stakeholders that normally require attending three separate events into one venue and unified matchmaking system. It is well worth serious consideration for B2B enterprises aiming for multi-thread business connections at a single event.

For most B2B companies, the value hierarchy is generally: industrial buyers > corporate executives > investors. Buyers directly drive orders; executives enable strategic partnerships; investors open capital channels. If your business is in the 0-to-1 phase, investors may move up the priority list. For companies scaling from 1 to N, buyers and executives become your main battlefield. There is no universal ranking, but clarifying your priorities before reserving booth and matchmaking resources maximises efficiency.

Preparations beyond the exhibition itself matter greatly. Compile case brochures, product demos and founder profiles into concise 3-minute elevator pitches. Tailor your narrative: focus on strategic value for executives, implementation cases for buyers, and business models plus growth trajectories for investors. One company, three tailored pitches — this is the foundation of efficient high-level meetings.

Matchmaking rules and forum agendas are generally released in advance. Keep an eye on official channels to shortlist targets and research speaker backgrounds early. Shift your mindset from “deciding who to meet after arriving” to “finalising meeting schedules before the event”.

Time budgeting is also important. The 2,000 meetings are spread across three days, alongside cross-track forums and pitch sessions. You can schedule dozens of meetings per day. The fuller your calendar, the closer you get to meeting buyers, executives and investors all in one show. The rest is simple: prepare your contact list, lock in your schedule and let the platform’s mechanism work for you.

FAQ

Q1: Is business matchmaking exclusive to exhibitors? Can professional visitors book meetings? A: The exact access rules and booking terms for matchmaking are subject to official announcements. Visit the official website or WeChat account to learn about participation options, register your interest and obtain official guidelines in advance.

Q2: Do I need to book a booth to meet investors? A: The Startup Ecosystem track hosts innovation pitches and fundraising matchmaking. Participation pathways (exhibition booth, pitch application, professional visitor pass) are subject to official releases. Early-stage projects may prioritise pitch applications, while mature enterprises can evaluate booth plus matchmaking packages.

Q3: We are a small team. Is it possible to connect with senior executives? A: Yes, with the right strategy. Join forums within your target tracks, take advantage of panel discussions and networking breaks, and apply for speaking or panel opportunities. A high proportion of attendees are senior decision-makers, creating more on-site conversation opportunities than many expect. Study speaker lists and agendas beforehand and allocate time to the right sessions.

Q4: Where can I get the forum agenda and matchmaking information for Hongqiao Tech Week? A: Check the official website (hongqiaotechweek.com) and official WeChat account for latest updates. Agendas, speaker line-ups and matchmaking arrangements are subject to official releases. Register your interest early to receive first-hand materials.