Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) China has partnered with start-up accelerator Chinaccelerator in a deal that will see both companies working together to connect tech start-ups with SMG’s clients across the market.

The partnership will provide SMG China with direct access and priority to harness the velocity of the new companies, and connect them with the business needs of its clients.

According to Chinaccelerator, the company handpicks “a small number of promising start-ups and invest a small amount of money ($30,000) for up to 7% equity of each start-up”.

The start-ups will then move to Shanghai for three months where they work intensively with Chinaccelerator to shape the company and refine their pitch to investors.

Each cycle concludes on Demo Day, when the start-ups present their companies to a select audience.

With the new partnership, Starcom and Chinaaccelerator will work together to organise SMG’s own Demo Day, where the start-ups will be showcased to SMG’s clients, and the SMG Hackathon, where SMG clients will work with start-ups to solve a business challenge.

Vivian Zhu, head of digital, data and analytics at SMG China, said: “We’re excited to be the first media agency in China to partner with Chinaccelerator.

“In the age of technology-enabled intimacy, not only will this partnership see us connect tech start-ups with our client business needs, we will also be helping our clients evaluate, cultivate and grow with the start-ups, culminating in a win-win situation,” she added.