For China, mainland and diaspora worldwide

Helping Chinese tech startups go global, and Chinese professionals accelerate their careers.

助力中国科技初创企业走向全球,助力中国专业人士加速职业发展。

SkilledUp Life connects ambitious Tech Founders with skilled Volunteers, wherever they are based. For the Chinese community, that means Tech Founders building in mainland China and beyond, and Chinese professionals gaining relevant experience and skills to advance their careers through SkilledUp Life volunteering.

SkilledUp Life 将雄心勃勃的科技创始人与世界各地的技能型志愿者联系在一起。无论身在中国大陆还是海外,科技创始人都能在这里组建团队,中国专业人士也能通过志愿服务积累相关经验与技能,推动职业发展。

World map with mainland China highlighted in red, alongside China and its global tech impact statistics

Our targets for 2030 · 2030 年目标

100,000

Chinese professionals worldwide

Gaining experience and skills at multi-national tech startups where English is the official language, to advance their careers.

50,000

Chinese graduates and students in the UK

Gaining experience and skills at UK tech startups, to help them land their next paid job in the UK.

10,000

Tech startups in China

Going global by tapping into a growing community of skilled Volunteers from 158+ countries.

1,000

Tech Startups founded by Chinese Tech Founders outside China

Growing rapidly through our growing Volunteer talent pool.

Our mission, close to home

Equal access to opportunity, regardless of where you are based.

机会平等,无论身在何处。

Location should never decide who gets to build a company or who gets to build a career. SkilledUp Life brings Tech Founders and Volunteers together on one platform, so distance and geography are never the barrier.

🌏

Built for mainland and diaspora alike

Chinese Tech Founders and professionals contribute and benefit in the same way, whether based in mainland China, Hong Kong, or anywhere else in the world. One platform, one set of rules, for everyone.

🤝

A bridge, not a border

Talent does not stop at a border, and neither do we. Chinese Volunteers collaborate remotely with tech startups anywhere, and Chinese Tech Founders reach a global Volunteer community of 69,000+ skilled professionals.

The scale of opportunity

A community too large to ignore.

一个不容忽视的庞大群体。

Mainland China and the global diaspora together represent one of the largest talent and founder pools in the world.

👥
1.41 billion
Population of mainland China
🌐
60+ million
Chinese diaspora, living in over 200 countries and regions
🚀
142,000+
Tech Startups in mainland China, including 248 unicorns
💡
41
US billion-dollar startups co-founded by immigrants from China

Sources: Tracxn, August 2026; National Foundation for American Policy, June 2026.

A global community, open to the entire Chinese community wherever they reside.
69,000+
Volunteers
158+
Countries
225+
Tech startups helped
6+
Years in operation
Choose your path

Two ways in, one mission.

两条路径,同一个使命。

Whether you are building a tech startup or growing your career, there is a dedicated path for you.

For Chinese Tech Founders

Build your team without the capital.

Access 69,000+ skilled Volunteers worldwide to go from idea to revenue and beyond.

Tech Startups in China: go global by tapping into Volunteers from 158+ countries.
Tech Startups founded by Chinese Tech Founders abroad: grow rapidly with a global Volunteer team.
Tech Founders: do not let a lack of capital hold you back.
For Chinese Volunteers

Gain real, referenceable experience.

Build demonstrable skills and a track record with ambitious tech startups, remotely and flexibly.

Chinese professionals worldwide: advance your career at multi-national, English-speaking tech startups.
Chinese graduates and students in the UK: gain experience with UK tech startups and land your next paid job.
Earn a genuine reference from real Tech Founders.

"It has been a pleasure volunteering as a front-end developer alongside such a talented, supportive and passionate team. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this meaningful mission, and I have learned a lot from volunteering with all of you."

Lawrence Zhou
Lawrence Zhou
Vue.js Front-End Developer Volunteer

"Volunteering with SkilledUp Life was an incredible experience that had a big impact on my professional development. Being part of the product team and collaborating with colleagues from different backgrounds and cultures helped me improve my communication skills, especially in an English-speaking environment. This experience gave me the confidence to show that I can collaborate well in an international setting and helped prepare me for my current job with Lenovo."

Ye Wang
Ye Wang
UI/UX Design Volunteer, now at Lenovo
Follow along, in China

Find us on WeChat and Xiaohongshu.

在微信和小红书上关注我们。

Behind-the-scenes stories, opportunities, and updates from SkilledUp Life, shared where the Chinese community already spends time.

WeChat · 微信

Message us on WeChat.

Scan the code with WeChat to add SkilledUp Life. Ask a question, follow updates, or start a conversation in English or Chinese.

SkilledUp Life WeChat QR code
微信扫一扫
Company account
🏢

SkilledUp Life

@skilleduplife

Tech startup spotlights, Volunteer stories, and open opportunities, straight from the platform.

Tap to reveal
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@skilleduplife

Founder account
🌱

Our founder

@manojranaweera

A closer look at building SkilledUp Life, leadership lessons, and life running a global tech startup.

Tap to reveal
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@manojranaweera

Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, is one of the most trusted platforms for the Chinese community. Follow both accounts to get the full picture.

Questions

Frequently asked questions.

常见问题

Do I need a visa to volunteer?

No. Every opportunity is fully remote, so you volunteer from wherever you live. There is no visa, relocation, or travel involved.

Can I volunteer from mainland China?

Yes. Volunteers in mainland China, Hong Kong, and across the global Chinese diaspora all take part in exactly the same way, on one platform with one set of rules.

How good does my English need to be?

English is the official language of the tech startups on SkilledUp Life, so you should be comfortable reading, writing, and speaking in English with a multi-national team. Many Volunteers find their confidence grows quickly once they start.

How do time zones fit in?

Teams span many countries, so most collaboration happens asynchronously, with calls arranged at times that suit everyone involved.

Can tech startups based in China use SkilledUp Life?

Yes. Tech Founders in mainland China and abroad access the same global community of 69,000+ Volunteers from 158+ countries. See the pricing plans for tech startups.

What do Volunteers gain?

Relevant, referenceable experience with ambitious tech startups, new skills, an international network, and a genuine reference from real Tech Founders.

Wherever you call home, your mission starts here.

无论您身在何方,您的使命从这里开始。

Choose the path that fits you today. Both lead to the same global community of Tech Founders and Volunteers.