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Professor Jiandong Huang offers three key pieces of advice for research students aspiring to build their own ventures.
 

In 2021, Professor Jiandong Huang, Chair Professor of Synthetic Biology, teamed up with his PhD student Dr Qiubin Lin to build Delonix Bioworks, a biotech company dedicated to developing next-generation genetically engineered bacterial vaccines.  Today, Delonix has developed into a leading biotech company that has won multiple awards in China and globally, including Champion in the Boehringer Ingelheim Innovation Prize. 

Drawing from Dr Lin’s remarkable journey—from a PhD student at HKU to a successful entrepreneur in synthetic biology vaccines—Professor Huang offers three key pieces of advice for research students aspiring to build their own ventures, directly inspired by the qualities that fueled his success.

First, focus on real problems.

Always ask yourself, 'Who will this help?' or 'What problem does this solve?' Don't just learn lab skills. Think about how your work can change lives. That is what gives a startup real value.

Second, learn to bounce back.

Starting a business is hard. You will face money problems, strict rules, and failed tests. Use your time in the lab to practice not giving up. The toughness you build as a student will save you when things get hard in your startup.

Third, be a good person.

You cannot build a business alone. You will need partners and investors. So, be kind to your lab mates and teachers. Always offer to help. People want to work with good, honest people.

To sum it up: stay curious, solve real problems, never give up, and be a team player. That is how you take an idea from the lab and turn it into a successful company.