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February 5 · Issue #13 · View online
Welcome to Compassionate Technologies. Here you'll get a dose of real science and business in your inbox every Sunday morning. Why? Because cutting-edge research shouldn't be locked in an ivory tower. This newsletter covers the relationships between machine learning, robotics, genetic engineering, and climate science. It's all connected, and it's my passion to simplify and make clear those connections for all of you. Love, Olivia.
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China does business it’s own way, and as a result, large foreign companies such as General Electric, eBay, Yahoo, Facebook, and Uber have had difficulty penetrating the tantalizing market. Not only have American companies found themselves docked at the shores, but Chinese companies are beginning to take global leadership in emerging markets and to compete with Silicon Valley on innovation.
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China's Tech Innovation Centers
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Uber entered the Chinese market in 2013 retreating in 2016, losing ~$2B but leaving with a $1B equity investment from and 20% stake ( valued at $7B) in DiDi, as well as a DiDi board seat for CEO Kalanick. Why did they and so many other companies fail to enter the Chinese market? Guanxi is the Chinese practice of mixing personal relationships and business, a practice that runs counter to the “arm’s length” business relationships of the United States. According to Prof. Edwin C. Nevis of MIT’s Sloan School of Management, the Chinese “hierarchy of needs” places guanxi before basic needs such as food and shelter. These basic differences in culture, along with confusing government regulations and weaker legal systems make it difficult for American companies to succeed in China. Not only was Uber forced to retreat, but China is also growing its own global powerhouses, taking the battle out of China and into emerging markets such as Africa and Latin America. Another looming blow to Uber, DiDi is now looking to invest $100M in Brazilian Uber rival 99 (formerly 99Taxi).
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The United States has led in technological innovation since World War II. The American-centric attitude towards tech development can be summarized in this strategy: “make it popular in the U.S. first and then ship it globally”. For many years, for example, American brands such as McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken were luxury items and were seen as a nice place to take someone on a date. However, American brand superiority is shifting with domestic powerhouses such as WeChat, Baidu, Tencent, Alibaba and recently DiDi DaChe. Facebook competitor and a Chinese rockstar tech company, WeChat is the most used messaging, payments, and news network used by over 846 million users each month. Because of technology leapfrogging with regard to mobile communications infrastructure and financial institutions, you can pay your rent from WeChat - something that is unheard of in the United States.
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Famous for it’s walls, China has been historically very protectionist over its market and country. The Great Wall of China, built in ~1300 AD, was erected to protect the country from Mongol invaders. In 2006, the Great Firewall of China was established, protecting the country’s data and minds from foreign companies and influence. Foreign businessmen and students alike survived by using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to send and receive emails or check social media from blocked companies like Google and Facebook. Now, however, it seems as if the roles may be shifting. As the President of the United States Donald Trump drives the country into a protectionist trade era, he is countered by President of China Xi Jinping who warned that “pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. Wind and rain may be kept outside, but so is light and air.” “Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. Wind and rain may be kept outside, but so is light and air.” - President Xi Jinping While no moves have been made to remove the Firewall or lighten up on data security, the seeds for parting the curtain are being sown, evidenced in pursuing open markets and the beginnings of strong Chinese internet innovation centers.
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What does that say for American brands? China may not only compete on reverse-engineering and rapid, low-cost production (aka, stealing your IP and ‘Made in China’) - but she may also begin competing on the scale of brand, design, and innovation. America, it’s time to step it up.
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Uber Wins by Losing in China
Uber’s loss may turn out to be a big victory. The ride-hailing company surrendered in the fierce fight over taxi hailing and on-demand rides in China. Uber agreed on Monday to effectively turn over its operations in China to local rival Didi Chuxing, but only after the U.S.
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China’s Didi looks to Latin America with $100M investment in Brazil-based Uber rival 99
There’s much talk of Didi Chuxing’s desire to expand overseas now that it has agreed to gobble up Uber’s China business, and it just took a big step to extending its international reach via a maiden deal in South America.
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Why American internet companies fail in China: a cultural perspective
Different hierarchies of needs explain why, in the internet industry and other high-tech industries in China, there are both the Chinese way and the Silicon Valley way of doing business, and why some big American companies have been struggling to make headway here.
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After three weeks in China, it's clear Beijing is Silicon Valley's only true competitor
I hadn’t been to China in several years, but had almost moved there 12 years ago, so I was very curious what I would find. I met with two dozen startups, from very late-stage — including valuations of $20 billion — to pre-seed stages.
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Decoding China’s Approach to Data Security
For centuries, an essential part of statecraft has been keeping sensitive information away from prying eyes. Though the type and quantity of information has changed as nations and their citizens enter the digital age, the desire to manage information remains.
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Xi Jinping signals China will champion free trade if Trump builds barriers
China’s president, Xi Jinping, has delivered a strong defence of globalisation, serving notice to Donald Trump that Beijing will seek to usurp America’s traditional role as the champion of free trade and open markets.
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Throwback to the Rice Cake Festival, making Chinese Rice Cakes with my Mom :)
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