Asia Startup Pulse

We've discussed the value of Guanxi when starting up in China, but there is another cultural phenomenon here commonly known as "giving face". This can be one of the most difficult pills to swallow for foreigners starting up in China but can prove to be an extremely valuable asset for those that can pull it off well. This episode really dove deep into how to mitigate your frustrations with some of China's systems and bureaucracy, and where to look for opportunities in them instead.

Jared has demonstrated the "cowboy attitude" perfectly in his path to China, leaving behind a great corporate offering post MBA, liquidating his assets, and bringing his wife and two kids to China on a whim of interest in the Middle Kingdom. Now a family of 6(!) Jared is growing his newest child Cinnaswirl into one of Shanghai's hottest brick-and-mortar startups.

Thank you to our sponsors, Chinaccelerator, People-Squared, and our syndication partner Technode! A huge thanks to Vivian, Darren, David who help us make the show and everyone who listens! Thank you!

China is the largest market place for internet lending in the world, almost quadrupling the rest of the world combined at nearly $60 billion in 'originations' (where loans are being 'originated'). We discuss why this is the case talking about the 'black economy' in China that has moved online, and the lack of the ability to gain credit or obtain a proper credit score. We also talk about the role that internet banks are going to play in this field helping small to medium businesses obtain loans in the future.

Tharon also educates us on the proper terminology in which to use when discussing P2P which should be referred to as internet financing, marketplace lending or, her favorite, inclusive finance, because we're helping to finance each other.

A huge thanks to our sponsors Chinaccelerator, People-Squared, and our syndication partner Technode!

And as always, thanks to our team, David, Darren, and Vivian.

Stanford before it was cool; Yahoo! before internet mail and search; Walmart e-commerce in China:  To say Mr. Lee has been ahead of the game would be a serious understatement. Joining BTCC as CEO in 2013, Mr. Lee has grown BTCC to become China’s no. 1 Bitcoin giant, and one of the largest Bitcoin exchanges in the world.

Thank you to our sponsors, Chinaccelerator, People-Squared, and our syndication partner TechNode, and thank you to our team, David, Vivian, and Darren.

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Milo is an expert in advertising, who knows how to bridge the gap between big business and the solutions startups bring to the table. He is an Expert in Residence at Chinaccelerator who helps teams develop their story and message. He has worked at many of the big names in advertising and brings his experience and approach to startups in today's cast.

Beyond crafting your message for impact and reach, the most important part of your pitch is understanding your audience better than anyone else. Milo talks about how advertising is changing in China and what is needed to stay ahead of the curve, innovation.

Thanks to our sponsors Chinaccelerator, People-Squared, and syndication partner Technode.com

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Greg gives us insight into how he has raised money from leading investors, SOSV and 500start-ups. He tells us his passion for informing and inspiring the marketplace through client obsession to boost their net promoter score. Greg, as “a chief everything officer”, shares how to run a start-up like he runs ultra-marathons and why entrepreneurs should “start before they are ready!”

Greg Nance, ultra-marathoner, ultra-motivator and entrepreneur out of Cambridge University in 2012 joins the podcast and brings exciting news! Today Greg announces the launch of Dyad (formerly ChaseFuture), a mentorship driven education service helping young people discover their strengths, chart professional development goals to prepare for job search through mentorship.

Enjoy!

Big thank you to our sponsors Chinaccelerator, People Squared, and technode. Thanks to David, Darren, and everyone that helps support this podcast.

This week we dive into the legal landscape of starting up in China with the man who helped Kai Fu Lee put together the $500 million U.S. dollar fund, incubator and accelerator, Innovation Works. Benjamin left California to become an IP lawyer in Beijing in 2006, then post Innovation Works Benjamin joined Cooley LLP in China before recently joining Loeb & Loeb, so he has an incredible amount of experience and knowledge that he brings to the podcast.

We discuss the state of IP protection in China given the concerns over getting 'copied' when entering China, and what are the most important documents and agreements to focus on at an early stage. We also lightly touch on the state of corporate law in China today and its history, as well as uncovering terms such as Most Favored Nation that seem to pop up regularly in investments docs here in China. An amazing cast with an amazing guest; we hope you enjoy!

After a successful blogging career with Mobinode Gang then turned it into the first full-blown tech and startup online news site Technode. Ganglu also runs TechCrunch.cn, the China version of TechCrunch, and is a fixture in startup journalism in China. We tap into his incredible experience covering news and trends in China looking to better understand where the ecosystem has come from, where it is, and where it's going.

We also announce a new partnership with TechNode who will now be syndicating The China Startup Pulse! A great cast with tons of insight, so sit back and enjoy.

Buckle up as we welcome one of China's top entrepreneurs David Chen, CEO of Strikingly.com. Having quit Goldman Sachs and his studies at the University of Chicago, despite his parent's wishes to the contrary, David never gave up on his dream and followed it to Silicon Valley despite not getting into Y-Combinator on his first attempt.

David has very much followed the Lean Start-up methodology in his rise to fame. He shares valuable insights on his own lean path to success, eventually landing a spot in Y-Combinator, one of the world's most renowned accelerator programs in Silicon Valley. David never gave up, admitting this was one of the key attributes top accelerators like Y-Combinator look for in founders. We hope you enjoy.

A huge thank you to our sponsors Chinaccelerator and People-Squared and to our crew, Darren, David, Qi, and Chrystal.

A treat for the China Startup Pulse as we welcome the man behind one of the most successful VC funds in the world. Sean tells us about his passion for music, engineering and humanitarian work as well as MapInfo, Sean's first start-up that put street mapping on personal computers (that subsequently went IPO).

Sean talks about his experience launching Chinaccelerator, the first start-up accelerator in China and his broader goals with SOSV. Innovating on previous VC models, Sean launched a series of global accelerators and is a key industry thought leader and investor in entrepreneurial ecosystems.

A huge thank you to our sponsors Chinaccelerator and People-Squared and to our crew, Darren, David, Qi, and our newest member Chrystal.

Stephany Zoo joins us on this week's show bringing energy and insight to the art of networking. Founder of The League of Extraordinary Women, Co-Founder of BUNDSHOP, Founding Partner of LeagueX, SH Director of UN Charter School World Acadamy for the Future of Women, (the list continues)...we dip into a variety of topics to hear about Stephany's vast experiences.

You can learn a lot! From keeping tabs on people while maintaining a wide network, setting up a business in China and pursuing a passion for females and leadership. Stephany is proof that, "experience doesn't come with age. Experience comes with doing things, trying things or even thinking things!" Listen here to find out why...