We get European and Asian businesses to the right room — and stay until the deal is done.
CBH Connects is a founder-led advisory firm. We specialise in market entry, sourcing, and strategic partnerships across the Europe–Asia corridor. On the ground in Vietnam. Networked in Germany and China.
What CBH Connects Is
Most cross-border consulting fails at execution. We don't leave
CBH Connects was built on a simple observation: European and Asian businesses fail in each other's markets not because the strategy is wrong — but because no one follows it through to the end
We don't hand you a report and exit. We stay in the work — at the factory, in the distributor meeting, at the negotiating table — until the objective is achieved
Every engagement is led personally by the founder. We deliberately limit the number of active clients so that each one receives senior, undivided attention
Our Positioning
“CBH Connects is the independent cross-border execution partner for European and Asian businesses who need more than advice — they need someone in the room ”
What We Do
Three service lines. One standard: execution.
Sourcing & Supply Chain
Build a smarter Asian supply chain
For European manufacturers, brands, and distributors who need a more resilient production base — or a China+1 strategy that actually gets executed
Market Entry & Sales Strategy
Enter a new market and win share
For companies entering ASEAN or Europe for the first time — or relaunching after a failed attempt. We build the roadmap and stay involved until you have traction
Strategic Partnerships & Deal Sourcing
Find the right partner and close the deal
For founders, family businesses, and corporates pursuing joint ventures, distribution alliances, or cross-border buyer and seller introductions
How We Engage
Every engagement is scoped around your objective
MODEL 01
Retainer Advisory
Ongoing strategic counsel on a monthly retainer. Ideal for companies with active cross-border operations that need a consistent, senior sounding board
MODEL 02
Project Mandate
A defined-scope engagement with clear deliverables and timeline. Typical use: market entry diagnostic, supplier audit, or partner identification
MODEL 03
Transaction Support
Deal facilitation from origination through to letter of intent. A success fee is agreed in advance and disclosed at engagement start
Why CBH Connects
The gap between strategy and execution is where deals die
Embedded, not detached
Most consultancies deliver a deck and walk away. We stay involved through implementation — factory floors, distributor meetings, contract negotiations. The engagement ends when the objective is achieved, not when the slides are done
Bilingual and bicultural by default
Founder-led with lived and working experience across Germany, Shanghai, and Ho Chi Minh City. We translate not just language — but business culture, expectations, decision-making norms, and unstated priorities on both sides of the table
Networks that actually open doors
Our value is not a database. It is a high-trust network of factory owners, distributors, lawyers, regulators, and operators built over years of in-market work. These relationships cannot be replicated from a desk
Engagement-based, not commission-based
Every CBH Connects mandate is scoped and delivered on a transparent fee basis. We do not accept referral fees, introducer commissions, or success payments from manufacturers, brokers, or capital providers tied to our recommendations. Our recommendations serve one interest only: the client's outcome
Who We Work With
We are not a fit for everyone. Here's who we are built for
European Clients
- Mid-sized businesses (€5M–€100M) entering or expanding in Vietnam, China, or Malaysia
- Manufacturers seeking supply chain resilience or China+1 diversification
- Family-owned businesses managing a cross-border transition or succession
- Founders preparing for joint ventures or strategic partnership
Asian Clients
- ASEAN manufacturers and brands seeking European distribution, partners, or buyers
- Companies entering the German or broader EU market for the first time
- Family offices or corporates pursuing acquisition or JV opportunities in Europe
- Operators needing on-the-ground European deal coordination
Sectors of Focus
Founder
Wai Hon Tran
Founder & Principal Advisor
Every CBH Connects engagement is led personally by the founder. No delegation to junior analysts. No handoffs after the kickoff call.
CBH Connects exists because most cross-border consulting fails not because the strategy is wrong — but because no one is willing to follow it through to execution
Having lived and built across Germany, Shanghai, and now Ho Chi Minh City, the firm was founded on a different model: real cross-border value is created by people who are physically present, culturally fluent in both directions, and willing to stay involved long after the kickoff meeting ends
The name reflects the work. We Connect parties who would not otherwise find each other. We Bridge the cultural and structural gap between markets. We Handle the work that other advisors hand back to the client
Wai Hon Tran is also Co-Founder & Executive Director of Mervanda Capital, a Labuan-regulated investment fund focused on cross-border acquisitions of German SMEs. CBH Connects mandates are scoped and delivered independently of Mervanda's investment mandate; any potential overlap is disclosed to clients at the outset of an engagement
“CBH Connects is intentionally small. We work with a limited number of clients at any one time — so that every engagement gets senior attention from start to finish, without exception.”
Let's talk about your cross-border objective
Every conversation starts with understanding your situation — no pitch, no commitment. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit