3Sigma Bootcamp Application Countdown | Seeking Frontier Tech Founders Ready to Break the Paradigm

五源资本五源资本·June 28, 2021

The essence of innovation is stepping outside the boundaries of established paradigms — even when that means a kind of madness others won't understand.

3Sigma Bootcamp

Co-hosted by 5Y Capital and Synced (机器之心), the 3Sigma Bootcamp will take place from August 4 to August 8, 2021 in Shanghai. If you're a young entrepreneur in hard tech dreaming of breaking paradigms, this will be a one-of-a-kind collision of ideas and hands-on training.

Participant screening for 3Sigma Bootcamp is already underway on a rolling basis, and registration closes on July 10. To apply, click "Read More" below.

01

Meeting Your Kind

3Sigma Bootcamp will gather 25 highly promising entrepreneurs focused on different frontier technology fields. Since we first announced recruitment, we've received over 200 applications in just two weeks. Among them are researchers from top universities at home and abroad, as well as founders and executives from tech giants and unicorn companies. Thank you all for your enthusiastic response.

Selected participants include: Student C, assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, expert in robotic perception and manipulation

Student C, tenured professor at South China University of Technology, former research professor at Harvard Medical School, with multiple publications in Nature and Cell in biochemistry and nanotechnology

Student D, Harvard Business School MBA, serial entrepreneur in life sciences

Student L, co-founder of a unicorn robotics startup

Student Q, MIT PhD candidate, Tsinghua University Electronic Engineering undergrad, first-author on multiple top conference papers in AI/robotics

Student W, general manager of AIoT business at a leading AI chip company

Student X, product manager at ByteDance, former Facebook engineer

02

About 3Sigma Bootcamp

3Sigma Bootcamp offers participants a comprehensive evolution of professional thinking, spiritual guidance on the entrepreneurial journey, and relationships that may have long-term impact in the future.

During the 4-day, 4-night closed-door camp, we've arranged more than 8 hours of programming daily, with over 20 heavyweight guests from various fields helping participants build foundational entrepreneurial thinking from perspectives of innovation, business, and philosophy, and gain forward-looking understanding of their industries.

We've chosen a private venue for the camp, hoping to make 3Sigma Bootcamp a space that sparks genuine collisions — fireside chats with industry leaders, themed parties, and various sports and recreation facilities create opportunities for deep interaction and genuine exchange.

03

Heavyweight Mentors

This year's 3Sigma Bootcamp brings together top mentors from multiple frontier technology fields. Veteran entrepreneurs who have founded unicorn companies will share practical experience, leading investors will share years of accumulated venture capital insights, and cross-disciplinary luminaries will guide participants to open their entrepreneurial thinking from perspectives of society, art, and philosophy, stimulating forward-looking mindsets.

04

Application Guide

The most cutting-edge tech entrepreneurs will converge at

3Sigma Bootcamp to kick off their entrepreneurial journey

Who We're Looking For

Researchers currently enrolled at universities worldwide, researchers at technology companies, current or aspiring entrepreneurs, focused on fields including

Applied Technology: AI, autonomous driving, robotics, chips, 3D printing, graphics simulation, etc.

Frontier Technology: Quantum computing, brain-computer interfaces, aerospace, etc.

Biomedicine: Computational biology, synthetic biology, multi-omics analysis, tumor immunology, nucleic acid therapies, bioinformatics, etc.

Other exploratory directions with massive potential for disruption

Q&A

Q: When and where is the event?

A: Evening of August 4 — August 8, 2021 (Wednesday through Sunday, 4 days and 4 nights), Shanghai

Q: How much does 3Sigma Bootcamp cost?

A: There is no fee for this event, and we will cover all accommodation and meals. Participants are responsible for their own round-trip transportation to Shanghai.

Q: Do I need to have a clear entrepreneurial direction to apply?

A: All are welcome to apply. If you already have a venture project, you can upload your business plan during registration, and may ultimately win million-dollar angel-round investment from the startup challenge. Those without a clear entrepreneurial direction are equally welcome.

We have always believed that imagination for the future matters more than past experience, and determination to start a company matters more than whether you currently have a concrete direction. If you have strong enough resolve, 3Sigma Bootcamp is your first stop.

Selection Process

Q: Is there a selection process after applying?

A: The selection process consists of two steps: preliminary screening and video interview, conducted on a rolling basis. We will notify applicants of results as early as possible — interested candidates should apply soon.

Application Channel

3Sigma Bootcamp

05

The Original Vision Behind 3Sigma Bootcamp

3Sigma represents "three standard deviations" — the interval where most values fall in a normal distribution model. But we believe that real change often begins outside the range that people habitually pay attention to.

Thus, 3Sigma also symbolizes the belief that 5Y Capital has long upheld — that the essence of innovation is stepping beyond the boundaries of established paradigms, even when that means a kind of madness that others won't understand.

5Y Capital supported Xiaomi, Kuaishou, Agora, Horizon Robotics, Xpeng Motors, and other technology companies at their earliest stages, accompanying and witnessing the growth of multiple unicorns and even decacorns. The entrepreneurs we've backed have never been constrained by past experience, but constantly reinvented themselves. In this sense, we are the same kind. As one of China's earliest institutions focused on early-stage venture capital, 5Y will continue searching for more rare, imagination-driven entrepreneurs, accompanying them to break out of their comfort zones and jointly create value that belongs to the future.

06

About the Organizers

5Y Capital

5Y Capital (formerly Morningside Venture Capital) currently manages approximately $5 billion in USD and RMB dual-currency funds, with limited partners from internationally renowned sovereign wealth funds, family offices, fund-of-funds, and university endowments. 5Y Capital seeks out, supports, and inspires lonely entrepreneurs, providing them with support ranging from spiritual backing to all operational aspects of running a business. 5Y believes that if the "you" that others see as crazy begins to be believed in, the world will become a different place.

5Y Capital's portfolio includes Trip.com Group (NASDAQ:CTRP), JOYY (NASDAQ:YY), Xiaomi (HK:01810), Kingsoft Office (STAR Market:688111), Agora (NASDAQ:API), Xpeng Motors (NYSE:XPEV), Kuaishou (HKEX:1024), WeDoctor, SenseTime, Horizon Robotics, Pony.ai, and more.

Synced (机器之心)

Synced is a leading professional information service platform for artificial intelligence in China. Through media, events, community, databases, and research reports, it delivers high-quality information and knowledge to professional users, and provides technology brand communications, marketing, professional insights, and decision-making support to relevant enterprises, so as to promote the development and implementation of AI technology and drive digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of industrial companies.

As of 2020, Synced had reached 2 million professional users and provided various services to hundreds of well-known AI-related enterprises.

07

Thanks to Our Partners

Thank you to all partners for your support of 3Sigma Bootcamp!

ACE Berkeley Chinese Entrepreneurship Association

ACSSPU Princeton University Chinese Students and Scholars Association

AlbertaAI Alberta Artificial Intelligence Association

CBAIA China-Britain Artificial Intelligence Association

CMU China-U.S. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit

Confederation of Chinese Alumni Associations

HCSSA Venture Club Harvard Venture Club

KWCSSA Waterloo Chinese Students and Scholars Association

MITCEO

UTCSSA University of Toronto Chinese Students and Scholars Association (St. George Campus)

UTMIST

ID8 Lab

Listed in no particular order

5Y Capital (formerly Morningside Venture Capital) currently manages approximately $5 billion in USD and RMB dual-currency funds. We believe that if the "you" that others see as crazy begins to be believed in, the world will be a better place.

BEIJING · SHANGHAI · SHENZHEN · HONG KONG

WWW.5YCAP.COM