Key Takeaways: Silent Success in Foreign Trade
- Young graduates from non-elite universities are capitalizing on China’s export surge, with some achieving annual revenues of 20-30 million RMB within years of starting.
- The rise of digital platforms like Alibaba International Station (阿里巴巴国际站) and AI tools has democratized access, enabling ‘super individuals’ to manage entire trade operations solo.
- Success hinges on practical hustle over pedigree, with founders emphasizing low-margin market entry, relentless customer communication, and hands-on supply chain management.
- Inspiration from alumni like bubble tea magnate Wang Ning (王宁) and supportive university ecosystems provide crucial motivation and resources for these entrepreneurs.
- The journey involves navigating early success without losing focus, highlighting the importance of staying grounded while scaling businesses internationally.
Riding the Wave of China’s Export Engine
In the competitive arena of global trade, a new cohort of Chinese entrepreneurs is emerging not from Ivy League corridors or corporate boardrooms, but from the vibrant campus of Zhengzhou Sias University (郑州西亚斯学院). These post-00s graduates, armed with modest backgrounds and private undergraduate degrees, are quietly building lucrative businesses in foreign trade. They represent a compelling narrative in China’s economic story, proving that in the age of digital globalization, determination and adaptability can outweigh traditional credentials. This phenomenon of silently making fortunes is reshaping how we think about success in China’s export sector.
The catalyst for many was the unprecedented growth in China’s foreign trade during and after the pandemic. According to China Customs statistics, 2021 saw goods trade imports and exports reach 39.1 trillion RMB, a year-on-year increase of over 20%, with exports surging 21.4% to a historical peak. This windfall created a fertile ground for agile newcomers. For individuals like Li Jiale (李佳乐), who started at 19, the surge felt almost overnight, with order inquiries exploding from zero to over a thousand in months. His story, and those of his peers, underscores a broader trend: China’s resilient supply chain and digital infrastructure are empowering a new generation to go global.
Seizing the Moment: Li Jiale’s Leap into Pool Rings
Li Jiale’s (李佳乐) entry into foreign trade was both timely and tactical. After registering a store on Alibaba International Station (阿里巴巴国际站) in late 2020, he focused on low-cost, niche products like swimming pool rings to minimize initial risk. “If you start with complex products, you might not secure an order for two or three months; the trial-and-error cost is too high,” he explained. By accepting even single-unit orders and keeping profits around 10%, he prioritized learning customer needs and streamlining logistics. This hands-on approach allowed him to navigate the chaotic 2021 landscape of factory shutdowns and soaring shipping costs, turning challenges into opportunities for silently making fortunes.
Strategic Timing: He Jiakun’s Calculated Fitness Equipment Venture
While Li Jiale caught the early wave, He Jiakun (何佳坤) entered in 2023, avoiding the peak of freight price inflation but still benefiting from sustained export growth. Data from China Customs for the first 11 months of 2025 shows goods trade exceeding 41 trillion RMB, up 3.6%, with exports growing 6.2% to about 24.46 trillion RMB. He Jiakun, a sports major, chose fitness equipment for Western markets, dismissing initial skepticism about heavy items like dumbbells. “Where there’s demand, there’s a market,” he asserted. By meticulously researching suppliers across Henan, Guangdong, and Fujian, and analyzing dozens of successful competitors online, he built a foundation for his silently making fortunes strategy, securing his first full-container order to Germany worth over 50,000 euros in late 2024.
The Anatomy of a Super Individual Trader
The initial phase for these entrepreneurs often involves becoming a ‘super individual’—a one-person operation handling everything from product listing and customer negotiation to logistics and accounting. This bootstrapped model is not born of choice but necessity, allowing for rapid iteration and deep market immersion. In the context of silently making fortunes, it’s a proving ground where resilience meets resourcefulness. By mastering every link in the trade chain, these founders build an intimate understanding of their business that later scales into team leadership.
For Li Jiale (李佳乐), this meant 24-hour work cycles, surviving on short naps and forgotten meals. He adopted discipline like daily task lists and refined communication tactics, learning from missteps like overly familiar greetings. Similarly, Wang Teng (王腾), an English major turned machinery trader, developed a relationship-first approach, sharing daily life snippets with clients for months before discussing orders. This patience, often leading to deals after prolonged engagement, highlights that silently making fortunes requires emotional intelligence as much as commercial acumen. Both founders show that in digital trade, trust is built incrementally, paving the way for repeat business and higher margins.
Leveraging Technology and Tenacity
AI tools have become a great equalizer, accelerating the path to becoming a super individual. He Jiakun (何佳坤), who started with limited English proficiency, used AI assistants to translate terms, generate marketing content, and even produce products in seconds. “AI has given ordinary people a shortcut, making the super individual no longer a privilege for the few but a starting point for the many,” he noted. He strategically employs tools like ChatGPT for communication and Midjourney for visuals, boosting efficiency. However, critical tasks like quality control during pre-holiday rushes remain hands-on. Li Jiale (李佳乐) recalls personally checking each shipment, knowing that one oversight could trigger costly returns—a reminder that silently making fortunes demands unwavering attention to detail.
Navigating the Pitfalls of Early Success
Rapid revenue growth can lead to a dangerous sense of invincibility, a phase each entrepreneur encountered and had to overcome. When Li Jiale’s (李佳乐) liquidity hit over 800,000 RMB in 2022, he indulged in luxury goods and high-society networking, only to see orders dwindle as focus shifted from business to social stature. “When your actions become distorted, it’s the beginning of disaster,” he reflected. The experience taught him that without substantive growth, superficial connections are meaningless. Similarly, He Jiakun (何佳坤) felt a ‘floaty’ pride after big deals and recognition, but was grounded by his girlfriend’s reminder of his early stage. These stories underscore that silently making fortunes requires emotional maturity to manage success without derailing progress.
Wang Teng (王腾) exhibited innate caution when she won an award at an Alibaba International Station (阿里巴巴国际站) competition in 2025. Amidst seasoned veterans, the young founder told herself to stay calm and avoid虚荣心 (vanity). This mindset is crucial for sustainable scaling. All three entrepreneurs have since recalibrated, with Li Jiale (李佳乐) now living frugally, reinvesting profits, and drawing a modest salary. He likens life to an EKG graph, where peaks precede dips, so steady growth is key. Their journeys show that silently making fortunes isn’t just about earning money but preserving the hustle that created it.
The Correction Phase: Back to Basics
After their brief膨胀 (expansion) phases, each founder refocused on core operations. He Jiakun (何佳坤) shifted attention to systematic growth, while Wang Teng (王腾) concentrated on professionalizing her processes. For Li Jiale (李佳乐), this meant downsizing lifestyle expenses and reinforcing team discipline. They learned that early success is a test of character, and sustaining it requires continuous adaptation to market shifts, such as the post-2023 trend of large buyers dealing directly with factories. By returning to fundamentals—customer service, product quality, and operational efficiency—they secured their positions in the competitive foreign trade landscape, truly embodying the art of silently making fortunes.
The Ecosystem: University, Family, and Digital Platforms
The success of these young traders is not solely individual; it’s supported by a unique ecosystem. Zhengzhou Sias University (郑州西亚斯学院), the alma mater of bubble tea empire founder Wang Ning (王宁), fosters a pro-business environment with its European-style campus and vibrant entrepreneurial culture. Students often start with campus ventures like快递代取 (courier services) or small retail, gaining early commercial exposure. This atmosphere made foreign trade seem accessible, a tangible path for silently making fortunes. The university’s partnership with Alibaba, including a talent base established in March 2024, has provided over 108 students with digital外贸操盘官 (foreign trade operator) certifications, bridging education with industry demands.
Family support, though sometimes hesitant, proved invaluable. Wang Teng’s (王腾) father, despite initial reservations about her gender in a risky field, assisted with English translations and client meetings. Li Jiale (李佳乐) borrowed startup capital from his family, while He Jiakun’s (何佳坤) parents took pride in his achievements compared to peers in traditional jobs. This backdrop of encouragement, combined with inspiration from Wang Ning’s (王宁) legendary rise from a campus格子铺 (grid shop) to a Hong Kong-listed company, creates a powerful narrative of possibility. It demonstrates that silently making fortunes often thrives where community and opportunity intersect.
From Inspiration to Mentorship
The legacy of Wang Ning (王宁) acts as a beacon, showing that monumental success can originate from humble beginnings. Li Jiale (李佳乐) often recalls this during tough times, feeling closer to ‘possible.’ Now, he and He Jiakun (何佳坤) have become industry mentors at their alma mater, guiding the next generation. Their progress—from Li Jiale’s revenue growing from 4 million to nearly 30 million RMB in years, and He Jiakun’s expansion to over 60 countries targeting 60 million RMB in 2026—illustrates a replicable model. This cycle of inspiration and mentorship reinforces the ecosystem that enables silently making fortunes, turning individual triumphs into collective uplift.
Scaling New Heights: Future Trajectories and Universal Lessons
As these entrepreneurs look ahead, their goals reflect both ambition and grounded strategy. Li Jiale (李佳乐) has diversified into wedding supplies and home gardening, even acquiring a metal factory. He describes the current phase as preparing to climb a mountain, with all gear in place. He Jiakun (何佳坤) aims to double his revenue in 2026, leveraging AI and a growing team. Wang Teng (王腾), starting later, targets 9 million RMB in 2026, focusing on professionalization. Their paths, though distinct, share common threads: relentless focus, customer-centricity, and adaptability—key ingredients for silently making fortunes in today’s volatile global market.
The lessons extend beyond foreign trade. For aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide, these stories highlight that digital platforms can democratize global commerce, reducing barriers for those without elite networks. The focus on practical execution over theoretical planning, as Li Jiale (李佳乐) notes, often yields faster results than over-analysis. Moreover, the integration of AI tools offers a blueprint for efficiency, but human oversight remains irreplaceable for quality and relationship-building. In essence, silently making fortunes is about marrying opportunity with perseverance, a universal principle in business.
Call to Action: Embrace the Global Opportunity
The journey of these post-00s graduates underscores a transformative shift in China’s economic landscape. For institutional investors and business professionals monitoring Chinese equity markets, their success signals the vitality of SMEs in the export sector and the potential of digital trade platforms. To capitalize on this trend, consider exploring partnerships with agile traders or investing in platforms that facilitate cross-border commerce. For individuals, whether in China or abroad, the message is clear: start small, leverage technology, and build genuine customer relationships. The path to silently making fortunes is open to those willing to take the first step—begin your climb today by researching platforms like Alibaba International Station (阿里巴巴国际站) or engaging with educational programs that blend trade with technology. The mountain awaits, and the tools are at your fingertips.