Yuan Yu, founder of Shanghai-based quantitative hedge fund Mingshi, recognised an opportunity when several intern prospects studying in the US said they were struggling to complete their PhDs amid university funding cuts and stricter visa policies under President Donald Trump.
“They told us that their supervisor’s funding had been cut, so they couldn’t continue their studies,” said Yuan, whose investment firm manages US$2.5 billion in assets. “They felt lost and didn’t know what to do. This…