Founder Sessions
Free conversations with international entrepreneurs considering starting a business in China.
Let’s talkPANNONIA OPEN CHINA
Build Something
in China.
Helping international entrepreneurs turn ideas into real businesses in China.
We started with a small café in Shanghai. Along the way, we learned first-hand what it takes to turn an idea into a real operating business in China. Now we want to share what we've learned with other international entrepreneurs — for free.
Built in Shanghai. Shared with you.
2026Our doors opened.
Our story is still unfolding.
OUR STORY
We started where
you are now.
Pannonia was built in Shanghai by international founders.
Opening Pannonia involved setting up the company, finding a location, working with suppliers, purchasing equipment, assembling a team, developing the menu and learning to use local platforms. An idea became a café with its own doors in Shanghai.
We know how many questions appear when you're trying to build something in a country that isn't your own.
That's why we created Pannonia Open China.
WHAT WE DO
From Foreign Founder
to Foreign Founder.
Practical experience.
Real conversations.
No consulting fees.
Coming Soon
Practical Guides
Practical insights from the journey of opening Pannonia in Shanghai.
Coming Soon
Founder Community
Connecting international entrepreneurs who are building, investing and creating in China.
Coming Soon
Founder Events
Our long-term goal is to bring international founders together through Pannonia events and meetups in Shanghai.
OUR MISSION
Make China
more accessible
to international
entrepreneurs.
PANNONIA
OPEN CHINA
OPEN CHINA
China offers extraordinary opportunities for people willing to build. Our goal is to help international founders better understand the local business environment, learn from real experiences and connect with the people and resources that can help them move forward.
OUR HOME. YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.
Born in Shanghai.
Built for China.
Pannonia started in Shanghai — one of the world's most dynamic international business cities.
We're proud to build our business here and to contribute, in our own small way, to a more connected international entrepreneurial community.
Thinking about starting a business in China as a foreigner, or opening a café or restaurant here? Our experience begins with one real place: Pannonia, at L’Avenue Shanghai.
Come and meet PannoniaOUR GOAL100INTERNATIONAL FOUNDERSA long-term ambition, one conversation at a time.
LOOKING AHEAD
100 Founders
Initiative
We have an ambitious long-term goal: help 100 international entrepreneurs take meaningful steps toward building businesses in China.
Whether that's understanding where to begin, meeting the right people, learning from another founder or eventually opening their doors — we want Pannonia Open China to help make that first step easier.
THE PANNONIA PARTNER NETWORK
Want to build
with Pannonia?
We're just getting started.
As Pannonia grows, we're interested in meeting entrepreneurs, operators, investors, landlords and partners who believe in what we're building.
We are not currently offering franchises. However, we're happy to hear from people who may be interested in operating a Pannonia location or working with us in the future.
Join the Pannonia Partner NetworkLET’S START A CONVERSATION
What do you want
to build in China?
Tell us a little about yourself. We'd love to hear what you're working on.
Prefer WeChat?
Bianka Vass
WeChat ID: vassbianka1929
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE
Thank you.
Welcome to Pannonia Open China.
We'll review your message and get back to you soon.
Get to know our caféPrivacy & your enquiry
PANNONIA uses the contact details and information you submit to respond to your enquiry and consider relevant conversations or future collaboration. Only our team and the services used to store and deliver your enquiry receive this information. We do not publish it. If you opt in, we may also send updates; you can ask us to stop at any time.
To ask about your information or request its deletion, contact Bianka Vass on WeChat: vassbianka1929.
Pannonia Open China is a community and experience-sharing initiative. We do not provide legal, tax, immigration or investment advice. Where professional advice is required, we encourage founders to consult qualified professionals and official Chinese government resources.