Asia Startup Pulse

Today we’re bringing you the second episode from our Chinaccelerator 8x8 Speakers Series. Twice a year, we invite some of the most accomplished and thoughtful members of the China startup ecosystem to share key lessons for startups in eight minutes or less.

Our theme for this episode is investor insights. We have three people with very different perspectives on Asia investment: Shirley Mao, Paul Meyers, and Katherine Lui.

[2:18] Shirley Mao, Finding Opportunities Overseas
[10:10] Paul Meyers, Doing Well By Doing Good (Impact Investing)
[21:35] Katherine Lui, How to Ruin Your Fundraising

Shirley Mao is Executive Director and Head of India Investment at Xiaomi Technology. Previously she was the Managing Director of PreAngel Partners, a one billion RMB fund focused on early stage mobile internet startups. Shirley has an extensive experience in investments and financial risk management.

Paul Meyers, a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building the startup ecosystem in Asia. Paul is currently an Advisor at ADBVentures, helping to build the Asian Development Bank’s emerging market impact fund. He previously ran Telstra’s muru-D early stage accelerator program in Asia, and was Southeast Asia EIR for SOSV’s MOX - The Mobile Accelerator.

Katherine started her professional life with KPMG. In 2005 Katherine co-founded Centerstone Partners, a cross-border private equity firm. Later she carried out financial due diligence on over 100 up-and-coming technology companies. Inspired by these fast-growing companies, Katherine created CanCan 看看, which provides automated CFO services to tech/internet companies.

Many thanks to our host Oscar Ramos; our guests Shirley, Paul, and Katherine; editors David and Geep; producers Eva Shi and Matthew Wu; organizer Chinaccelerator; and sponsors People Squared and Himalaya. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com

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We have a special episode today, it’s the Chinaccelerator 8x8 Speakers Series! Twice a year, we invite eight speakers to share key lessons for startups in eight minutes or less. This time, our speakers include serial entrepreneurs, investors, professors, and more. They are some of the most accomplished and thoughtful members of the China startup ecosystem, so we are thrilled to bring you their insights.

This week, the theme is entrepreneurship lessons. We have three talks from successful founders who have experience building companies from the ground up. Stay tuned for insights from T.R. Harrington, Sarah Keenlyside, and Guy Sivan!

Show notes:

[2:08] T.R. Harrington, 8 Startup Lessons in 8 Minutes
[13:15] Sarah Keenlyside, How to Hire Better
[20:32] Guy Sivan, Growth Simplified

T.R. Harrington is the current Program Director at MOX – the Mobile Only Accelerator. He is also a startup mentor, an angel investor, and the founder and CEO of Darwin Marketing which was successfully acquired by iProspect in 2016.

Sarah Keenlyside is Founder and CEO Bespoke Travel Company. She was recently nominated for the 'Most Pioneering Woman in Travel' Award by the Telegraph Newspaper, and an 'Inspiring Woman Award' in the British Business Awards.

Guy is a serial entrepreneur in China. In 2010, he sold his third startup's core technology to a publicly listed company. He is currently the co-founder of Vericant, a company that helps US schools better understand their Chinese applicants through on-demand video interviews.

Many thanks to our host Oscar Ramos; our guests T.R, Sarah, and Guy; editors David and Geep; producers Eva Shi and Matthew Wu; organizer Chinaccelerator; and sponsors People Squared and Himalaya. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com

If you like us, please give us a 5-star review and share with your friends!

Follow us on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/the-china-startup-pulse/

Email us: [email protected]

Navigating the world of B2B in China is tough business, especially when you are dealing with giant state-owned enterprises. It can be even more difficult when you are a foreigner. As a result, most foreign entrepreneurs focus on the B2C space, yet a few have found the key to creating successful B2B companies.

One of these business people is today's guest, Olivier d'Arros. Olivier started his career in venture capital, and then co-founded 4 technology companies, all in B2B applications. He is now Managing Partner at MAVIE Technologies, an investment banking boutique with a focus on cross-border transactions in healthtech and industry 4.0.

In his many years working in China, Oliver has seen firsthand how B2B has evolved, and there's plenty to learn from his experience. Join us for this week's episode, as we dive into China's B2B landscape.

Show notes:

[2:23] Starting a B2B business in a short period of time
[4:56] Why B2B is an interesting space for startups to explore
[7:46] Increasing competition forcing companies to innovate or die
[9:29] What industries have the most opportunities in China?
[11:28] Why startup founders are afraid of the B2B space
[14:07] Jobs in China at risk of automation
[16:14] Do B2B companies find value in paying for software?
[17:30] Software value and the influx of robotics technology into China
[20:07] Why was it easier to sell to state-owned enterprises?
[22:33] IP protection issues in state-owned enterprises
[26:57] Trends in Chinese technology expanding overseas

Many thanks to our host Oscar Ramos, our guest Olivier d'Arros, editors David and Geep, producers Eva Shi and Matthew Wu, organizer Chinaccelerator and SOSV, and sponsor People Squared. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com

If you like us, please give us a 5-star review and share with your friends!

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To many people in the West, China is thought of as a copyer rather than an innovator. However, according to today's guest Richard Turrin, there are many areas in which China is out-innovating even the most advanced Western countries. Richard says "Innovation is really about people and how they relate to new technologies," and in China both companies and people develop and adopt new technologies at an astonishing rate—they are "some of the best users of technology on the planet."

This innovation isn't only happening on the tech side, but also in the corporate space. Richard is the former head of IBM’s Cognitive Studio and author of the book‘Innovation Lab Excellence’, with over 20 years experience in innovation in both China and the West. During this conversation, he also shares insights on why innovation labs become ineffective. Big corporates all around the world are spending massive amounts of resources to connect with startups. Yet, there are still doubts about the tangible impact of many innovation labs.

Tune in for a provacative conversation on the mistakes innovation labs make, and the differences in attitude towards innovation in the West and China.

[01:24] Intro of Richard Turrin

[02:23] Why some Innovation Labs work well and others don’t 

[03:40] A short History of Innovation Labs

[04:09] Why best-practices are more suitable for Innovation Labs than fixed rules

[05:27] Are Innovation Labs unable to attain their goal or are they failing to actually set goals?

[06:56] How fear of competition is an obstacle to Innovation Labs

[10:41] Innovation in China & Difference in attitude towards innovation in the West and in China

[12:02] Chinese companies biggest advantages

[15:52] The growing trend of Chinese Innovation aimed at the whole World

[19:55] The three major reasons why people might not be thinking about China?

[25:29] Difference between R&D and Innovation

[28:00] Push vs Pull innovation strategy

[30:05] Blockchain in China

[32:19] People’s Bank of China supported Cryptocurreny

[35:17] Message to companies who are not thinking about China

[37:43] Contact Information Richard Turrin

Many thanks to our host Oscar Ramos, our guest Richard Turrin, editor David and Geep, producer Eva Shi, organizer Chinaccelerator and sponsor People Squared. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com 

If you like us, please give us a 5-star review and share with your friends!

Follow us on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/the-china-startup-pulse/ 

Email us: [email protected]

Every technology has a human impact. Live streaming is certainly no exception. In China, live streaming platforms have connected millions of viewers with a small number of idols who receive massive amounts of donations—but at what personal cost?

Hao Wu, knows more about the societal impact of live streaming than anyone else on the planet. In his award-winning documentary, People’s Republic of Desire, he explores why live streaming has been so successful in China and examines the effect that these platforms have on both viewers and creators.

In this episode, Hao Wu and Chinaccelerator Managing Director Oscar Ramos cover all aspects of live streaming: from the business models and the future prospects of the industry, to the social consequences of this technology.

Show Notes:
[01:17] Hao Wu’s journey from tech executive to independent filmmaker
[03:50] Introducing Hao Wu’s documentary People’s Republic of Desire
[06:38] Overview of live streaming in China
[07:57] How to become a successful live streamer, and the livestream agency ecosystem
[10:40] Differences between live streaming in China and vlogging in the US
[11:22] The audience: Who’s paying live streamers and why?
[15:00] Live streaming outside of China (US, Middle East, emerging markets)
[18:04] The profitability of live streaming business models in China
[21:43] Misunderstandings that Europeans and Americans have about tech in China
[23:16] Is technology making people happier? Are live streamers happy?
[29:31] Live streaming platforms and regulation
[31:30] Outro and where to find Hao Wu’s documentaries

Many thanks to our host Oscar Ramos; our guest Hao Wu; producers Eva Shi and Matthew Wu; editors David and Geep; organizer Chinaccelerator; sponsors People Squared and Himalaya App. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com

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Music Credits: Adam Place founder of NUSIC (https://nusic.fm/)

In the gaming space, China's strength is taking technological innovation and applying it to the market. This is the claim of Richie Zhu, Partner at Makers Fund and lifelong gamer. Makers Fund is a venture capital fund specializing in the interactive entertainment market, which includes gaming, live-streaming, interactive storytelling, virtual content, and more.

In this episode, Richie and venture capitalist Oscar Ramos take a comprehensive look at China's interactive entertainment industry, with a focus on the gaming space. They discuss how the US-China trade war is impacting the global gaming industry, what technology has high potential to take off on China, and ways that foreign gaming companies can enter China successfully.

Show Notes:

[01:24] Introduce Richie Zhu 

[03:22] Makers Fund: investment philosophy and team

[06:47] How to evaluate companies for potential investment

[09:00] China innovation inside the gaming Industry

[10:18] Innovative business models in China

[13:24] Technology with high potential in China

[14:37] AI singularity in the Interactive Entertainment Industry

[15:59] How US-China trade war is impacting the global gaming industry

[17:00] Opportunities for foreign gaming companies to enter China

[18:52] Emerging trends in the gaming industry

[22:17] Get in touch with Richie Zhu

Many thanks to our host Oscar Ramos, our guest Richier Zhu, producer Eva Shi, editor David and Geep, organizer Chinaccelerator and sponsor People Squared. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com 

If you like us, please give us a 5-star review and share with your friends!

Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-china-startup-pulse/

Email us: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Place founder of NUSIC (https://nusic.fm/)

Understanding Influencer Marketing in China with Hillary Han, Director of iResearch Training Academy

Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs)—or "influencers" as they are often called—are a vital part of online marketing today. And their reach is only getting bigger: According to an iResearch report, last year the number of KOLs in China with a fanbase of over 100k was increased by 51%, of which 23% have over 1 million fans. According to Weibo big data, the KOL market is valued at over 100 billion RMB.  

The KOL industry in China is more advanced than anywhere else in the world, according to today's guest Hillary Han. Hillary runs a KOL training program at iResearch, one of the country's leading market research firms. In today's episode, we're doing a deep dive into the industry, from the basic concepts, like how brands utilize KOL resources, to practical suggestions about KOL marketing on different platforms. Hillary not only has experience working with many KOLs, but also she is KOL herself, so we're thrilled to have her as our guide to this fascinating topic.

Timestamps:

[01:30] Introducing Hillary Han
[02:30] What is iResearch
[03:19] What is KOL
[04:18] The importance of KOL marketing
[05:48] The differences between Chinese KOLs and Western influencers
[07:30] Monetizing your presence on social platforms in China
[08:58] KOLs signed with MCNs
[10:30] China’s advantage of understanding the KOL industry and the variety of platforms
[14:00] The powerful KOLs in China and how much money they make
[16:15] When to use a KOL for your own brand
[22:35] How to choose the right KOL

Many thanks to our host Ryan Shuken, guest Hillary Han, editors David and Geep, producer Eva Shi, organizer Chinaccelerator, and sponsor People Squared. Make sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com

If you like us, please give us a 5-star review and share with your friends!

Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-china-startup-pulse/

Email us: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Place founder of NUSIC

Getting your app off the ground in China is tough. No matter what industry, internet companies not only need to have a great product, but they also must use data, analytics, and growth hacking to gain an advantage on the competition.  

In this area, there are plenty of lessons to learn from Ximalaya App, the biggest audio sharing platform in China with 530 million users and 73% market share. This podcast platform and content marketplace has dominated the Chinese “pay-for-knowledge” industry, which last year was valued at seven billion USD. A crucial reason for Ximalaya’s success is their smart use of data, from extensive A/B testing to an almost obsessive analysis of usage and bounce rates. 

At the center of this effort is Tian Sun, the Vice President of Business Intelligence Center at Ximalaya App. She has spearheaded Ximalaya’s efforts to utilize data on a daily basis to improve their app’s user experience and help creators make great content. This is a great conversation for anyone interested in how an industry-leading company is using data in exciting and efficient ways. 

Show notes:

[02:36] Introducing Tian Sun
[03:42] What is Ximalaya?
[05:49] What makes podcasting in China different?
[06:51] How people use Ximalaya
[07:54] How Ximalaya uses data, analytics, and growth hacking
[10:44] Using data and A/B testing to improve the customer experience
[12:18] Data and customer acquisition
[14:09] How Ximalaya launched a paid content marketplace and how young Chinese people consume content
[18:14] The rise of audiobooks, micro-lessons, and more
[19:54] Steps Ximalaya took to succeed in the “pay-for-knowledge” industry
[23:38] How platforms help content creators and KOLs
[25:29] Biggest trends in podcasting in China
[26:49] The future of Ximalaya and a new AI speaker

If you would like to get in touch with Tian Sun, you can find her on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/tian-sun-17243485/

Many thanks to our host Ryan Shuken, guest Tian Sun, editors David and Geep, producer Eva Shi, organizer Chinaccelerator, and sponsor People Squared. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com

If you like us, please give us a 5-star review and share with your friends!

Follow us on www.linkedin.com/company/the-china-startup-pulse/

Email us: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Place founder of Nusic  (https://nusic.com.cn/)

Many foreign startups have tried to enter China, most have failed, yet aminority have flourished. Airbnb is one of the few living the China Dream, asafter only 4 years it is winning the China home-sharing market.

In this episode, we invited Sean Pan, Head of China Operations at Airbnb,who hasoverlooked Airbnb’s transformation in their strategy, management system and brandingsince 2015 when Airbnb only had 6 people in the China team. As he mentioned,one obstacle confronted by many foreign companies who want to localize in Chinais the communication problem between the global and China team. How does Airbnbput efforts into that and build up the trust internally? Find the answer in thisepisode!

Show Notes:

[01:26] Introduction of Sean

[05:33] The Philosophy behind Airbnb’soffice in Beijing

[06:30] Building and maintainingAirbnb’s unique Culture in China

[08:09] How to foster commitment toChina from global Team?

[12:00] Key finding for Airbnb’ssuccess

[15:38] Managing the relation withhead-quarters

[16:12] Evolution of Airbnb’s China strategy

[18:03] Creating a China specificbrand

[22:38] Challenge foreignentrepreneurs are facing in China

[26:00] Is there an opportunityfor foreign companies in China?

Many thanks to our host Oscar Ramos, guest Sean Pan, editor David and Geep, producer Eva Shi, organizerChinaccelerator and sponsor People Squared. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com

If you like us, please give us a 5-star review andshare with your friends!

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996, 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week. You must have heard about 996 a lot in the past few months. This buzz has triggered discussion around the balance between work and life, employee engagement, productivity and the working environment, etc. 

“996 is a signal of going backward, not forward,” said today’s guest Alicia Tung, Chief Operating Officer at Great Place to Work, Greater China. She stressed the importance of having a clear value and purpose to motivate employees in their work and pointed out the fact that 996 working hours are not necessarily leading to better efficiency. Alicia shared her observations about the working environment differences in China and overseas countries, how overseas entrepreneurs can fit into Chinese working culture and how founders can create a great place to work for their employees. 

Founded in 1990, Great Place to Work is a global people analytics and consulting firm that helps companies of all sizes produce better business results by focusing on the work experience for every employee.

Show notes:

[01:29] Introduction of Alicia and Great Place to Work

[04:13] Having the right reasons before starting a business

[05:28] Understanding/Identifying the concepts: co-working space vs shared office

[06:47] How different is Great Place to Work in China and the rest of the world?

[08:21] Same value, different implementations

[11:18] How does the profile of those companies who care for their employees change over time?

[13:02] Challenges and concerns for local companies

[20:28] The magic number: 996

[23:57] Does 996 achieve efficiency?

[26:10] Opportunities and challenges for international startups coming to China

[29:35] Best places to work in China

[30:27] Creating an open working environment for women in China

Many thanks to our host Oscar Ramos, guest Alicia Tung, editor David and Geep, producer Eva Shi, organizer Chinaccelerator and sponsor People Squared. Be sure to check out our website www.chinaccelerator.com

Contact Alicia Tung: www.linkedin.com/in/aliciatung/

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