Who is Li Xinze, the Gen Z Chinese gaming entrepreneur called ‘the next Jack Ma of Alibaba’ and praised by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun?
Born in Luoyang in 2000, he founded Chongcai Technology at age 15 and ruffled feathers with a controversial Weibo post that was praised by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun – so what’s next for the young tech upstart?
About that post
Some older entrepreneurs in their thirties and forties, they can’t understand the internet
Unsurprisingly, this kind of bold statement ruffled feathers in a traditional business environment prone to value experience and praise the wisdom of elders.
But Xiaomi’s Lei saw youthful wisdom in this fiery upstart – then just 17 years old – and confessed that he was feeling the pressure as an older generation entrepreneur. He agreed with Li’s words, encouraging those born after 2000 to work hard and pursue their dreams.
Many quickly became curious about Li and his company – and some are now wondering where he is three years later.
He’s a self-taught master programmer
Born in 2000 in Luoyang, Henan province, Li established his own gaming site when he was 10. Three years later, he made a gaming module and by the time he was 15, he received the gold certificate from Microsoft Virtual Academy. Li continued to tutor himself and received more programming certificates from South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
In 2015, Li established Chongcai Technology with a friend and two months into the operation, he was made the CEO.
Li was invited to lecture, go on television, be interviewed and enjoyed a great deal of exposure, applause and scrutiny in the media. At the same time, the spotlight from Lei in 2017 had already attracted investors. Li had made history in becoming the first company “post 2000” to receive an angel investment, which was reportedly worth three million yuan (US$450,000).