By Zara Zhang and Hans Tung What is the most watched speech in the Chinese tech community? It is WeChat's founder Allen Zhang's keynote address at the WeChat Open Class PRO (WeChat's equivalent of Apple's WWDC or Google I/O) held in Guangzhou each January. Zhang is the mastermind behind WeChat, the super app with 980 million … Continue reading “Father of WeChat” Lays Out 2018 Product Roadmap
Lessons Learned from Organizing Harvard China Forum
At Harvard, I co-led the organization of Harvard China Forum, the largest student-run China conference in North America that attracts 1,200 attendees and features over 100 speakers each year. The speaker list is a who's who of prominent figures in the US-China cross-border world. It was not easy to run a large event as students … Continue reading Lessons Learned from Organizing Harvard China Forum
Has Tech Made China Less Friendly to Foreigners?
For every app that I use, there is a China equivalent that I put into a category on my phone called “China.” This screenshot reminds me of how self-contained China’s tech ecosystem has become. Chinese people use Chinese apps. Non-Chinese people use non-Chinese apps. Those who travel back and forth, like me, usually have … Continue reading Has Tech Made China Less Friendly to Foreigners?
Resources for those interested in VC
Recently, I have had at least a dozen friends ask me if I have any tips for those interested in the venture capital industry. I'm obviously still new to the field and trying to learn more myself, but here are some resources that I have found helpful. This is not meant to be an authoritative, … Continue reading Resources for those interested in VC
Why Sending WeChat Voice Messages is a Status Symbol
WeChat has a voice message function that allows you to press a button and record your message. For the uninitiated, this is just another way of sending messages that’s interchangeable with text messages. However, sending a voice message on WeChat is considered obnoxious in the Chinese professional world, and usually only tolerated if it is … Continue reading Why Sending WeChat Voice Messages is a Status Symbol
4 Philosophies Underlying the WeChat Mini-Program – Lessons from the Father of WeChat
The man who built WeChat, China’s No.1 communication tool with 877 million daily users, rarely appears in public. The 47-year-old Allen Zhang (Zhang Xiaolong) is a low-profile, chain-smoking, and hardcore programmer who prefers to let his product speak for itself. However, last December, WeChat held its own version of the WWDC in Guangzhou, where Zhang … Continue reading 4 Philosophies Underlying the WeChat Mini-Program – Lessons from the Father of WeChat
Why Unread Messages Are Dangerous
When I was younger and living in China, I used to read the book “Harvard Girl Liu Yiting,” a bestselling parenting bible that detailed the education of Liu Yiting, who was one of the very few students from Mainland China admitted to Harvard College in that era. Most of the content of that book has … Continue reading Why Unread Messages Are Dangerous
Reflection on a Summer of Getting The Information
Writing China-related tech news for The Information this summer was hands down the most rewarding professional experience I have ever had. The Information was built on the belief that people are willing to pay for truly good content, and I leave even more convinced about this thesis and the values of the organization: a relentless focus on … Continue reading Reflection on a Summer of Getting The Information
A Guide to Using WeChat Emojis
It is very difficult to talk to Chinese people without using emojis. Whenever a Chinese friend Facebook messages me, I feel compelled to reply with WeChat because there are messages and nuances that can only be expressed with emojis that only exist on WeChat. The difference between emojis on Chinese and Western apps can shed … Continue reading A Guide to Using WeChat Emojis
Zara Zhang 