Hong Kong’s MBA scene is shifting fast. More professionals are looking beyond traditional career paths, chasing innovation and startups. CUHK Business School is responding by tailoring its programmes to fuel this new wave of entrepreneurial energy. Danny Chen’s journey shows how an MBA can flip a career from finance to leading a biotech-focused venture.
After a decade in finance, Chen faced a crossroads familiar to many professionals. Despite a strong CV, he sensed something was missing. He recalls, “Ten years after graduation, I was hitting a bottleneck. There was an urge to redefine myself, to break out of the path I was on and discover a new version of me.” As Chen puts it, “I don’t want to become obsolete when the world is changing too fast.”
He embarked on an MBA at CUHK, motivated by a hunger for faster growth. “I wanted to develop myself faster. One of the best ways to do that is to push yourself. Like learning to swim, you have to jump into the pool first; otherwise, it’s hard to learn.”
CUHK MBA: Bridging finance and entrepreneurship
At CUHK, Chen began connecting the dots between his finance background and the entrepreneurial world he wanted to enter. The programme didn’t only teach theory, it offered real-world exposure to startup ecosystems, investor thinking, and strategic decision-making.
Alumni insight, entrepreneurial action: The birth of a venture firm
In 2023, while completing his MBA, Chen co-founded New Atlas Capital to offer financial advisory service to early-stage biotech ventures. The idea emerged from CUHK’s alumni network, where venture capital (VC) professionals from mainland China pointed out a gap: brilliant biotech founders often struggled with fundraising. Chen saw the opportunity to bridge it. “The MBA became my gateway to exploring uncharted territory,” he says. “It pushed me to think like an entrepreneur, not just a finance guy.”
“I took more than one course from this professor, which was unusual. I got a lot of inspiration from Professor Au,” he recalls.
The Deep-Tech Lab, in particular, stood out. “That course is like an incubation,” he explains. “The programme lasts a year. MBA students work on a start-up project for two or three months.” The class offered more than lectures. It gave Chen exposure to innovation in action.
CUHK’s faculty played a direct role in Chen’s next leap. “Professor Au was more than a teacher. He was a connector,” Chen explains.
When Illuminatio Medical Technology’s founders sought a COO, Professor Au recommended Chen for the role. That referral led to Chen’s first operational leadership position in a medtech startup: a real-world test to apply what he’d learned in the MBA, strategy, fundraising, development, and adaptability.
“It was a completely unknown world to me. But that’s the point. That’s what the MBA prepared me for. To lead in uncertainty,” he says. “Vision is rarely the problem for early-stage startups. Execution is. It’s about picking the right team, putting people in the right roles, and making the vision happen.”
When the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Club, a Student Club under CUHK MBA’s Ecosystem of Future Leader Scheme, needed new leadership, he stepped in as president. “I didn’t want the club to be founded and then die a few months later,” he says. Chen explains, “I wanted to let MBA students taste what entrepreneurship and venture capital are and let them have a community and connection with entrepreneurs in Hong Kong.”
For Chen, the club was more than events. It was a space where students could share ideas, connect with speakers, and engage beyond the classroom. “An MBA isn’t just about studying. Students also need to learn how to connect with society.”
The club bridged the gap between the classroom and Hong Kong’s start-up scene. Chen’s peers could explore entrepreneurship hands-on, an experience that mirrored his journey.
In Asia, particularly in the biotech and tech sectors, government-backed funding is on the rise. Finance professionals who understand both capital and policy now have the edge. Chen’s role at Illuminatio Medical Technology, a CUHK spin-off, reflects this.
“In China, US-dollar VC funds are fading,” he notes. “Founders now need to work with local governments. It’s no longer about selling the vision. They need to navigate policy and politics, too.”
Chen holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Hong Kong. He remains passionate about bridging finance and innovation and supports early-stage founders from lab to market. His shift from finance to startups shows how mid-career professionals can reinvent themselves.
He isn’t stopping there. His goal? “To be a good leader.”
For finance professionals eyeing similar transitions, his experience shows that finance skills alone aren’t enough. It takes courage, networking, and giving back. Choosing the right MBA, one that equips leaders for Asia’s venturescape, is essential.
Chen says, “You need to understand why you’re doing an MBA and your objective. A CUHK MBA is focused on entrepreneurship.”
He advocates for active contribution and giving back to the university and peers. “An MBA isn’t only about receiving; you’ve got to give something back to the programme, your peers, and the university. That’s where the rewards come.”
Chen’s story is proof that with the right mindset and the right MBA, a finance career can become a springboard to something more ambitious.
CUHK gave Chen a platform. The coursework opened doors, and the alumni network brought real opportunities. To see what an MBA can do for you, visit: https://mba.cuhk.edu.hk
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