Seeking Pioneers at the Frontier of Technology | 5Y Capital's 3Sigma Bootcamp Opens Global Recruitment
A collision of ideas and hands-on practice spanning technology and business — register now to join.
How many steps does it take to turn today's frontier technologies into tomorrow's engines of change?
No matter how fast, fragmented, or unpredictable the world becomes, this is the question we believe most deserves our thought and action.
To that end, 5Y Capital and Synced launched the first 3Sigma Bootcamp in 2021. From August 4 to 8, 25 young founders in hard tech will gather in Shanghai for an intensive collision of ideas and hands-on practice — from technology to business — alongside veteran tech founders, cross-disciplinary guests, and seasoned investors. If you dream of breaking paradigms and are certain you're exploring roads few travel, let's formally meet at the entrance to 3Sigma Bootcamp.
3Sigma: A Vision
Over three centuries, the normal distribution has gradually become humanity's universal model of the world. This mental tool has enabled countless discoveries, yet it has also fostered an illusion — that values clustered around the mean carry natural legitimacy. Conversely, when a sample deviates from the average by more than three standard deviations, it becomes an anomalous outlier.
Yet transformation often begins beyond the bounds of conventional attention. In every era, innovators who reshaped human life faced a choice — to bravely follow the call of intellect, or to submit to the safety rules the majority revered. Without exception, they chose the former.
Behind the name 3Sigma Bootcamp lies a long-held conviction at 5Y Capital: the essence of innovation is stepping outside paradigm boundaries, even when that looks like madness in others' eyes.
Throughout 5Y's investment history, we backed Xiaomi, Kuaishou, Agora, Horizon Robotics, and Xpeng Motors at their earliest stages, accompanying and witnessing the growth of multiple unicorns and even hundred-billion-dollar companies. Those exceptional founders were never constrained by past experience; they constantly reinvented themselves. In this respect, we are kindred spirits. As one of China's earliest institutions focused on early-stage venture capital, 5Y Capital will continue seeking scarce, imaginatively ambitious founders, supporting them to break through their comfort zones and co-create value that belongs to the future.
3Sigma: The Bootcamp
We expect 3Sigma Bootcamp to deliver new perspectives, sharper entrepreneurial direction, and deeper spiritual sustenance for participants.
Who Should Apply
Researchers currently enrolled at universities worldwide, researchers at technology companies, active founders, and aspiring founders.
Focus Areas
Applied Technology: AI, autonomous driving, robotics, semiconductors, 3D printing, graphics simulation, and more
Frontier Technology: Quantum computing, brain-computer interfaces, aerospace, and more
Biotechnology: Computational biology, synthetic biology, multi-omics analysis, tumor immunology, nucleic acid therapeutics, bioinformatics, and more
Other exploratory directions with massive potential for disruption.
What You'll Gain at 3Sigma Bootcamp:
- Everything About Entrepreneurship and Capital Markets
We will invite founders from leading tech companies and unicorns, plus cross-disciplinary luminaries, to share their experience and insights on innovation and value creation. Senior investors from 5Y will also meet face-to-face with participants. We hope for multidimensional collisions of perspective that refresh your understanding of entrepreneurship and industry.
A sneak peek at some of our guests:
- Million-Dollar Investment
On the final day of 3Sigma Bootcamp, we will hold the 3Sigma Entrepreneurship Challenge. The top three teams will win cash prizes and have the opportunity to receive a million-dollar investment from 5Y Capital.
If you already have a mature business plan or are at the angel stage, you may register to compete.
If you're not yet ready to start a company, you can observe founders' pitch practice up close.
- A Profoundly Transformative Experience
We want 3Sigma Bootcamp to become a space for genuine collision. After extensive site visits, we've set the first three days at a private venue with lawns, indoor tennis courts, a gym, a private cinema, and various spaces designed to catalyze conversation and reflection. Beyond daily talks and exchanges, a series of engaging activities will help participants build deep connections.
Link to 3Sigma Bootcamp
Time & Location
Evening of August 4 through August 8, 2021 (Wednesday–Sunday, 4 days and 4 nights), Shanghai
3Sigma Bootcamp Application Process
The application deadline is July 10, 2021. Scan the QR code below or click "Read More" to apply:
Q&A
Q: Does 3Sigma Bootcamp charge fees?
A: This event is completely free. We will cover all accommodation and meals. Participants are responsible for their own round-trip transportation to Shanghai.
Q: What is the admissions process after applying?
A: Selection involves two steps: preliminary screening and a video interview, conducted on a rolling basis. We will notify applicants of results as early as possible; we encourage interested candidates to apply promptly.
Q: Do I need a clearly defined startup direction to apply?
A: If you already have a venture, you may upload your business plan during application and ultimately have the chance to win 5Y Capital's million-dollar investment through the Entrepreneurship Challenge. Those without a clear direction are equally welcome — you may find like-minded co-founders during Bootcamp.
3Sigma Organizers
5Y Capital (formerly Morningside Venture Capital): Currently manages approximately $5 billion across USD and RMB dual-currency funds. LPs include internationally renowned sovereign wealth funds, family offices, funds of funds, and university endowments. 5Y Capital seeks out, supports, and inspires lone founders, providing support from the spiritual to the operational. 5Y believes: if the you that others see as crazy begins to be believed in, the world will become a different place.
5Y portfolio companies include 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 others.
Synced: A leading Chinese AI professional information service platform. Through media, events, community, databases, and research reports, Synced delivers high-quality information and knowledge to professional users while providing technology brand communications, market promotion, professional insights, and decision support to enterprises — advancing AI technology development and commercialization, and driving digital transformation and intelligent upgrading across industries. As of 2020, Synced had reached 2 million professional users and provided diverse services to hundreds of well-known AI-related companies.
Click "Read More" to apply.
5Y Capital (formerly Morningside Venture Capital), currently manages approximately $5 billion across USD and RMB dual-currency funds. We believe: if the you that others see as crazy begins to be believed in, the world becomes a better place.
BEIJING · SHANGHAI · SHENZHEN · HONG KONG
