Matthias Heger

Helping Your Brand Enter China The Smart Way!

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

About

Helping Beverage Brands Master the Chinese Market | Co-Founder www.china-incubator.com | 25Yrs China Experience | 15Yrs Experience in the Spirits industry between China, US & Europe | Co-Founder Ming River Baijiu

Experience

  • Co-Founder China Incubator at China Incubator
    Oct 2025 - Present · 9 mos

    Boutique beverage consultancy specializing in the China market. China Inbound Validation Model: Developed a proprietary framework to de-risk market entry for beverage brands through phased testing and data-driven market-fit analysis. Importer Prospecting: Identifying and vetting high-performance import partners. We leverage an extensive industry network to match brands with distributors who align with their specific category and volume goals. Smart Route-to-Market (RTM): Architecting lean, execution-focused entry strategies that avoid the high overhead of traditional agency models. Strategic Consulting: Advising on pricing strategy, local compliance, and brand positioning to ensure sustainable growth in the Chinese landscape. www.china-incubator.com

  • Co-Founder, Director European Operations & Head of Digital Marketing at Ming River, Inc
    Jan 2018 - Jun 2025 · 7 yrs 6 mos

    Category Creation: Pioneered Baijiu in the West, taking it from a niche product to a recognized spirits category in the US and Europe. Strategic JV Management: Co-managed the landmark partnership between our private founding team and Luzhou Laojiao, one of China’s largest distilleries. Global Scaling: Built the brand’s footprint across multiple international markets, navigating complex supply chains and route-to-market strategies. Responsible for operations in 10 European markets. Strategic Exit: Stepped down following shifts in US tariff structures that fundamentally changed the category's growth dynamics in that market. I’m now applying the execution-led insights from this journey to help brands enter the China market via China Incubator.

  • Co-Founder & Partner at Capital Spirits Limited
    Jan 2015 - Dec 2018 · 4 yrs

    Co-founder and managing partner at the leading consultancy for baijiu internationalization.

  • Project Director at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
    Jan 2013 - Dec 2014 · 2 yrs

  • Junior Investment Manager at DEG
    Jan 2011 - Dec 2012 · 2 yrs