On August 30, Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE: WDH) founder and CEO Shen Peng was appointed as Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong University (HKU) Business School's North China Alumni Association, with a term running from August 2026 to August 2028. The appointment letter was formally presented by Professor Cai Hongbin, Dean of the HKU Business School.
In response to his appointment, Shen Peng remarked, "Dean Cai Hongbin once taught me economics in his classroom, and now he has personally placed this responsibility in my hands. I will leverage my experience in entrepreneurial practice, corporate management, and inclusive health initiatives to unite alumni strength in North China, support the growth of young talent, and ensure that alumni camaraderie and the spirit of our alma mater are carried forward."
Shen Peng shares a deep connection with the HKU Business School. In September 2021, he delivered a keynote speech titled "Over a Decade of Entrepreneurship: Practice and Reflection" at HKU's Centennial Campus, sharing his entrepreneurial journey and insights with faculty and students. By 2022, he officially became an alumnus of the school. Between 2023 and 2024, he was elected to serve on the school's Faculty Council. In September 2024, when the North China Alumni Association was formally established, Shen Peng was appointed as its Executive Vice President.
Shen Peng is a serial entrepreneur. He joined the Meituan founding team as its 10th employee in 2010 and co-founded Meituan Waimai in 2013. In 2016, he founded Waterdrop, leading the team to launch platforms including Shuidi Chou, Shuidi Bao, and Yifan Pharma, transforming the company into a leading insurance technology and healthcare platform in China. Under his leadership, Waterdrop remains committed to using technology to upgrade inclusive health protection. Its collaborative "Jinqing Bang" medical insurance anti-poverty initiative with Jinyun County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, was selected as a global best case in poverty reduction. The company adheres to an "AI-native" strategy, with its proprietary "Shuishou" large model deeply integrated across the insurance service process. To date, it has filed nearly 200 AI-related patents and invests close to RMB 300 million annually in technology R&D.
Beyond business practice, Shen Peng has consistently prioritized youth talent development and alumni ecosystem building. He has previously been appointed as an MBA alumni mentor at Zhejiang University, a mentor in the "Intelligence Illumination Mentorship Program" at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, an industry mentor at Central University of Finance and Economics' School of Finance, and a visiting professor at China University of Political Science and Law's Business School. He frequently visits university campuses to share his entrepreneurial experiences, encouraging young students to root themselves in their industries and pursue pragmatic innovation.
Established in 2001, the HKU Business School is one of the university's youngest and most dynamic faculties, with an annual student body exceeding 7,000. It ranks first in Asia in the UTD international academic research rankings. Positioned with the mission of "Rooted in Hong Kong, Integrated into China, and Oriented Towards the World," the school continues to foster integration and development between Hong Kong and the mainland. The North China Alumni Association is a key component of the school's global alumni network strategy, designed to create a lifelong interactive platform that empowers connections among alumni while strengthening ties between alumni and the institution.
Looking ahead, Waterdrop will continue to deepen its collaboration with top universities and alumni organizations. By leveraging its strengths in technology and industry resources, the company aims to build more platforms for young talent to gain hands-on experience. While pursuing high-quality corporate growth, it will also actively fulfill its social responsibilities, cultivating outstanding individuals who combine innovative capability with a strong sense of duty for both the industry and society.