Our Team

Xavier Ferre

Xavier holds an MSc and PhD in Computer Science. He is associate professor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), acting as Rector’s Delegate for Asia at UPM from 2021 and Co-Director of the Sino-Spanish Campus at Tongji University, Shanghai (China). His research activity is linked to the UPM Center for Biomedical Technology, in its Active Ageing Lab, where he researches on usability and UX in mobile applications, technology adoption and UX for older users, and integration of usability practices into software development.

He teaches courses on Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering, and Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship, both at UPM and Tongji University.He has carried out research stays at the Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL) – University of Maryland, at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), and at Tongji University, where he was appointed as High-End Foreign Expert by the Chinese government in the period 2015-2017.

He has more than 10 years experience on the innovation ecosystem in China and the greater Asia-Pacific area, allowing him to be mentor during these years to numerous startups with an interest in emerging markets, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
In his role as Rector’s Delegate for Asia at UPM he is responsible for the expansion of Xiji Incubator activities, in its mission to offer support to entrepreneurs at different stages and from different partners.

Pablo Rabadán

Pablo Rabadán holds a BSc in Industrial Design Engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and two MScs – one in Industrial Organization and another in International Leadership, having attended institutions such as MIT, Harvard, and Cambridge University.

Pablo has experience in strategic consultancy, as a product and strategic designer with companies such as Frog and Mormedi, having collaborated with brands such as Airbus, IKEA and Siemens. Pablo has also hands on experience leading creative teams as the Design Coordinator of BEST Madrid, coordinating projects at local, national and European level.

In the realm of entrepreneurship, Pablo founded StyleMate, utilizing AI and behavioral science to provide insights into user behavior for fashion brands. Pablo also contributed to the global discourse as a TEDx speaker in Shanghai with his talk “Lose the Fear to Lose”.

The Founders of Xiji Incubator

Claudio Feijóo

Claudio Feijóo holds an MSc and PhD in Telecommunication Engineering and an MSc in Quantitative Economics. He is full professor at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) where he is the Director for Entrepreneurship, leading programs on education, launch and acceleration of tech-based startups and spin-offs. At academia, he teaches on Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship and pursues research on the future socio-economic impact of emerging technologies. Currently, he is also the Executive Secretary of MetaRed X España, an initiative to strengthen university entrepreneurship support units, as well as the responsible of two EU-wide projects on entrepreneurship: EELISA Unfolds (part of EELISA European University and supported by EIT Digital) and Clean Cities ClimAccelerator (part of EIT Climate). From 2014 to 2020, his key responsibility was to reach agreements for cooperation and launch joint research and innovation projects with the best technology universities in Asia. He also set up Xiji Incubator, the first incubation program for Spanish-related entrepreneurs in China.

Claudio has worked on assignments on five continents for main international institutions. His employment record includes spells at the European Commission and the Spanish Ministry of Industry. He also has a 20+ years’ background as founder and mentor of startups and is experienced in managing the implementation of innovative projects. He has been member of the jury for main international startup contests on many occasions. He regularly lectures at international seminars and for postgraduate courses. He also guest edits for major academic journals, having authored more than 300 publications in books, journals and conferences. His latest book addresses the role of technology innovations within international geo-strategy.

Laura Millán

Laura is Investment Director at ChinaLink ESGt, a leading venture capital firm in Shanghai, managing assets over $5 billion. She leads strategic investment initiatives, identifies opportunities in AI, biotech, and renewable energy, and conducts financial analysis and market research. Laura builds and maintains relationships with founders and stakeholders to align investment objectives with long-term goals.

Laura co-founded Xiji Incubator in Shanghai, managing it from 2018 to 2024. She designed and implemented a program for startups in Asia, providing essential tools and resources. As Program Director, she ensured seamless program execution and supported over 150 startups.As a lecturer and startup advisor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid since 2020, Laura has trained and mentored over 320 startups, raising more than €157M. She also coordinated the EELISA “Change Makers” course, benefiting over 3,000 participants globally. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Product Design from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and a master’s degree in International Leadership & Entrepreneurship from Fundación Rafael del Pino (MIT & Tongji University). Her research focuses on design methodologies applied to business models, and she has significant experience in digital marketing for luxury brands in China.

Our Collaborators

Ella Mary Taylor

Ella Mary Taylor, Content Strategy Expert, supporting Xiji Incubator social media management and nearing completion of her Business Administration degree at East China Normal University, skillfully blends event coordination, marketing, content strategy, and financial acumen.

Her career highlights include leading marketing initiatives for Hisense Trésor, and enriching her financial background being in charge of executive talent search through her role at Lincoln. She has showcased her event organization expertise by playing a key role in coordinating marketing, logistics and on-site operations for top-tier events like TEDx Shanghai AEBS, S-Tron China, TECOM Shanghai, and TECOM Hangzhou.

Ella also spearheads The Rising Talent Series and The Expats Excel Webinar Series, offering key insights into succeeding in China’s dynamic cross-cultural business landscape. As a curator of the EcoSparks Sustainability Podcast, she showcases her commitment to environmental advocacy, merging her professional expertise with her dedication to making a difference.

Other members

Jiaxi Zheng (Claudia)