About China blogosphere, travel, and entrepreneurship

Tangos Chan is the blogger behind China Web 2.0 Review

Tangos Chan, VP of China Growth Capital, discusses his forays into corporate consultancy, his feelings on the third annual China ICT conference as well as the intricacies of introducing foreigners to the Chinese IT industry through his English blog.

Interview Transcript:

• We know you are a blog writer, can you tell us which field you write your blog in?

My blog maybe a little different from what you usually read, because it’s all in English. My blog mainly introduces the newest development in the high technology industry for the oversea readers. The goal for my blog is to provide a good resourceful place for people to learn about China’s daily development in the high-tech industry.

• Are you a full time blogger?

I know there are many full time bloggers in Western countries, but I am not. I have a daily job in China Growth Capital Company. Our business model is to provide the service of consultating for the early stage startups. We invest capital and provide resources for these startups that include: teamwork building, management strategy, etc. Our goal is to help these startup companies grow and get on their feet so that it can win more financing and eventually becoming an solid self-efficient company.

• Is this your first time attending the China ICT event? What do you think is the most exciting part of the event?

Yes, this is my first time here. China ICT used to be called Rising Stars Home, it helped introduced many developed companies to me so that I can learn about their new high-technology and progress.

• Have you been to an event similar to China ICT?

There’s an annual conference organized by the bloggers of China called China Blogger Con. It’s different than the usual conference because it is founded by commoners. The conference is very informal and includes a lot of interactions with each other. It will be held this year in November 15th, 2008 in Guang Zhou, we welcome everyone to join us.

During the past few months, Christine Lu and I discovered we shared many of the same interests in bridging and connecting the world with China. So I’m pleased to share (h/t to Christine who already broke the CN Reviews sponsorship story) that CNReviews will be co-sponsoring Christine’s vlogging tour to Beijing and Shanghai from May 21 to May 30.

We will also be co-sponsoring a cocktail party for friends of CN Reviews, China Business Network, and attending the CHINICT conference on May 22 and 23. Aside from the conference, I will plan on carrying Christine’s bags and equipment as a China Business Network fanboy.

China Business Network aims to smash the one-way mirror

I was inspired to start CN Reviews because I observed the one-way mirror effect between America and the world. Chinese people know a lot more about the US than US people know about China. And according to Ethan Zuckerman, co-founder of Global Voices Online, its not because the voices of China and the world are not there. Its because the developed world is not interested. China Business Network is doing its part to smash the one-way mirror to make China visible to the World.

In the next few weeks, we’ll be planning our specific objectives for the trip. One goal is to reach out the China bloggers and the grassroots organizers of the CNBloggerCon to create a shared vision for bringing a select group of international bloggers to meet up with bloggers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Bringing together bloggers and young leaders could solve for global peace and understanding (crazy thinking, but yes I mean it!)

Our current vision is to bring international bloggers (and other young leaders) to meetups in Beijing and Shanghai, then culminating in an event to be held at a time and location very close to the CNBloggerCon, perhaps 1 day before or after. We don’t think bringing non-fluent international bloggers to CNBloggerCon, which is mostly in Chinese, is the right model. But by collocating with CNBloggerCon, we hope to create the opportunity for people to make connections with China bloggers.

Why am I spending my time trying to make this happen? My theory of change is as follows:

• People adept at the use of social media (like bloggers) have a disproportionate share of voice.
• Grassroots media is less subject to the economic and political pressures of mainstream media.
• Only a small number of American/European bloggers have strong connections with Chinese bloggers.
• Bringing bloggers and young leaders together will help then gain shared understanding and equip them to teach their audience and readers to become true “world citizens”

CN Reviews and China Business Network invite you to partner with us!

This is not a money-making or fame-generating exercise, so we would love to find other fellow travelers who share this vision and will work to make it happen. Our dream team would be Danwei, Global Voices Online, and other people who have been bridging the East and West for quite some time.

What do you think? A little too wide-eyed and optimistic for you?