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= Crayfish.io = Crayfish.io is a service provider offering expertise enabling businesses to engage with China through technology. It was founded by Ting Zhang and Jiao Li in 2017.

With a network of Chinese experts, its services provide a range of services to facilitate cross-border collaboration, from market entry to translation, recruitment, business development, cultural expertise, and digital marketing.

History
Crayfish.io was founded by Ting Zhang and Jiao Li in 2017. As Western businesses expressed an increasing demand for Chinese-speaking resources, Crayfish.io was formed to provide access to cost-effective expertise for the Chinese market. Use of the tech URL ".io" reflects its operation on an online platform.

It now operates with eight team members along with four advisors.

Services
Crayfish.io provides full business cycle support to prepare for business in China, both at an operational and strategic level. Its services include translation, marketing, cross-border e-commerce, recruitment and human resources, market research, legal and IP, China entry, partner engagement, supply chain, training and advisory, financing and investment, investor relations, corporate strategy, and government relations.

Additionally, Crayfish.io offers consulting services and online resources for learning marketing tactics. It also hosts and participates in educational programs and conferences, such as the Crayfish Accelerator Roadshow in conjunction with Cambridge Wireless; hosted in February 2020.

In 2019, Crayfish.io launched the “Crayfish Accelerator Programme”; a six-month program providing capital and support dedicated to helping UK business get ‘China-ready’.

China Accelerator Programme
The Company launched the Accelerator Programme in 2019 to help start-ups and small businesses become market ready by providing a combination of money and assistance. Training, business expertise and service delivery capabilities are offered over a six-month period, which is split up into a three-month 'China-Invest-Ready' phase and a three-month fundraising period. .

Described as an "exciting new initiative" (Cambridge Wireless) by Dr. Jian Cao, partner, UK-China Enterprise Ltd., the Crayfish Accelerator Programme is supported by St. John’s Innovation Centre, where the company’s headquarters remain.

David Gill, Managing Director of St. John’s Innovation Centre, in an interview with Cambridge Network, said “We are delighted to be backing this new initiative by Crayfish.io. Over the years, I have seen many start-ups fail in their attempts to crack China, and the Crayfish China Accelerator is just the sort of support they need to facilitate their business there”.

Starting from September 2019 with original anchor investor, Birmingham-based UK-China Enterprise Fund, Shenzen-based DB Investment Management Ltd. (DBI) joined the Accelerator in December 2019 as the second anchor investor with a US$3 million contribution. According to CEO Fred Cai, Crayfish.io was the “top choice” to work with and expand markets.

Reception
Crayfish.io has been described as trustworthy and experienced in its ability to guide companies through each step of entry into the Chinese market.