Future Healthcare 100 Summit: Where Innovation Meets Connection
The Top 100 Future Healthcare Forum, which began with its inaugural online summit in 2015, returned to a virtual format in 2022. Over these seven years, the forum has grown from an offline event with 500 attendees to one attracting more than 5,000 participants, witnessing the evolution of healthcare innovation in China and long since becoming a home for Chinese healthcare innovators.
In 2022, our Top 100 Forum, like many others, faced various challenges. The event was initially scheduled for April, then postponed to May, and later considered for further postponement to June. In May, our team convened a meeting to discuss whether the Top 100 Forum should be postponed again.
There are two main issues:
If postponed, the duration of the delay is uncertain (primarily due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic), while the Top 100 Forum has a strong time-sensitive character.
If there is no postponement, the event will still be held in mid-June, but as an online forum. However, we have never organized an online forum on such a large scale before.
Discussion concluded swiftly. The decision was made to grant no further extensions.
The Top 100 Forum team has signed a binding commitment to complete all preparations for the online forum within the remaining month and a half. Furthermore, we aim to go a step further: rather than simply migrating the offline forum to an online format, we intend to develop it into a new product with stronger internet-centric attributes.
Having decided to host the forum online, we must address two key questions: What is the core value of the Top 100 Forum? And how can we ensure that the online format delivers this value?
From a product perspective, the Top 100 Forum has consistently delivered value on two fronts. First, it facilitates the dissemination of knowledge and information, which has always been VCBeat’s core focus. By staying attuned to industry trends and providing valuable insights to our users, we have approached the forum as a content product, designing its structure through editorial planning sessions. Second, the offline forum serves as an optimal platform for face-to-face interaction and networking; the exchange of business cards and mutual connections via WeChat have become hallmark features of each event.
However, the most significant realization of these two values stems from the recognition by our users. Prior to deciding to transition to an online forum, we conducted surveys among our business clients, guests, and audience members. This aspect was particularly moving for us, especially given that the vast majority of business clients expressed their support. This support was driven not only by our mutual cooperation over the past many years but also by the collective solidarity demonstrated during the pandemic.
With no more worries to hold us back, all that remains is to take action. Our efforts are primarily divided into two parts: first, ensuring the recording of high-quality content; and second, establishing effective communication channels with participants of our Top 100 Conference.
There are many stories behind the content recording process, but we will not elaborate on them here. Let us return to the main theme of this article: how to resolve the communication channel issues for the Top 100 Forum, namely, how to build an online professional network. This requires addressing two key questions.
First, who are the members of your professional network?
The core of the Top 100 Forum’s professional network is built upon its participating users. Its defining characteristics include a precisely targeted audience, real-name verification, clearly defined sectors, and relatively specific needs.
Take the user persona of the previous Top 100 Forum as an example.
Speakers: 279 in total, including 4 academicians, 8 ministry-level leaders and foreign officials, 25 academic, research, and clinical experts, 71 investors and industry experts, 69 representatives from listed companies and unicorns, and 102 representatives from innovative enterprises;
Listed Companies: Four lists covering medical services, innovative devices, digital health, and innovative pharmaceuticals, featuring 400 companies with a total valuation of RMB 1.05996 trillion; 270 award-receiving entities attended the Top 100 Gala in person.
Listed Investment Firms: Northern Light Venture Capital, Proxima Ventures, Chende Capital, Ruicheng Investment, Qiming Venture Partners, Baidu Ventures, Sequoia China, Matrix Partners China, 5Y Capital, CDH Investments, Legend Capital, Hillhouse Capital, Honghui Capital, GTJA Investment, Changling Capital, etc.;
On-site attendees: Over 3,800 in total. Executives including CEOs, COOs, founders, directors, partners, presidents, and CTOs accounted for 52%, constituting the core attendee group. The second-largest attendee segment comprised professionals from marketing and public relations departments, representing 31%.
Drawing on the previous Top 100 Forum as a reference, we can gain a general understanding of its user structure. For this year’s Top 100 Forum, our focus is to bring these distinguished guests and users online, facilitating more convenient connections. As of now, our user composition is as follows:
232 Online Guests: Including 3 Academicians, 3 Ministry-Level Officials & Foreign Dignitaries, 28 Academic/Clinical Experts/Scientists, 40 Executives from Listed Companies, 62 Investors & Industry Researchers, and 96 Entrepreneurs;
Coverage Areas:Nucleic acid therapeutics, cell and gene therapy (CGT), innovative small-molecule drugs, ITBT, digital therapeutics, life science tools, personalized diagnosis and treatment, AI-assisted diagnosis, cardiovascular disease, ophthalmology, brain science, health management and health insurance, Internet+ smart hospitals, assisted reproductive technology, rehabilitation robotics, pharmaceutical companies’ digital marketing...
Coverage across the industry chain:Translation of Scientific and Technological Achievements, Partner in Healthcare Funds (LPGP);
Currently, we have invited 100+ speakers to join our professional network; some are listed below:
(Listed alphabetically by first name initial; ranking is not sequential.)
No more blind searches. Connect with your desired contacts in advance and invite them into your network.
Second, how can the value of professional networks be realized?
The Networking Circle feature is the result of joint development by our internal R&D team and external partners. We were under significant pressure to launch it within just over a month, but our objectives were clear: we aimed to address the following issues:
Timeliness: Leveraging the WeChat ecosystem for seamless communication and timely reminders;
For this year’s online Top 100 Conference, we conducted secondary development based on the WeChat ecosystem via mini-programs, ensuring that participants can receive timely notifications and initiate direct contact when networking online.
Orientation: Listen and share, exchange business cards with guests;
During the guest speaker’s presentation, an entry point to their professional network can be displayed. After listening to the talk, you can send a friend request to the speaker. This feature faithfully replicates the offline conference scenario of exchanging business cards after a speech, while simultaneously eliminating the negative experience of crowds flocking to the stage and enhancing the overall experience for the guest speaker.
Exhibition Capability: Online Cloud Exhibition Hall, seamlessly integrating display and communication;
The exhibition hall also facilitates networking-based interactions. While company profiles are presented in 3D within the virtual hall, attendees can send digital business cards to exhibitors via the networking portal. Following initial contact, they can directly initiate online video conferences, allowing exhibitors to present product decks and engage in timely discussions with potential partners.
Instant online chat, video conferencing, or product PPT presentation
Comprehensiveness: You can search for your partners within the conference's networking circle;
You can search for the contacts you wish to reach by attendee or by company.
Privacy: Restrictions on the number of connections and search functionality;
After sending a "Business Card Exchange" request online, you can view the other party's name and job title, but their contact information remains private. Upon mutual agreement to exchange business cards, both parties may initiate the sharing of WeChat IDs or phone numbers, or schedule an online video/voice meeting after their initial communication. This approach facilitates mutual interaction while safeguarding privacy to a certain extent and minimizing unwanted disturbances.
Sustainability: An Everlasting Conference and Exchange;
Throughout the year, we will sustain operations through various online and offline activities and promotional initiatives to continuously drive traffic to the conference’s official mini-program and website. The conclusion of the on-site event does not mark the true end; guest presentations will be archived, enabling more industry professionals with emerging needs to join our professional network in the future.
Finally, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our friends at VCBeat for their support of the Top 100 Forum. As this was our first attempt and the development cycle was relatively short, there may still be areas where the user experience falls short. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
As we prepared for the Top 100 Conference, the pandemic situation was already turning for the better. Our industry will continue to move forward with courage and collective effort. See you at the Top 100!
Scan the QR code now to register—attend sessions, network, and discover resources!