The narrative of success in Chinese entrepreneurship is often dominated by graduates from elite Tsinghua and Peking Universities, or the tech titans of Shenzhen and Hangzhou. Yet, a compelling counter-narrative is emerging from the halls of Zhengzhou Sias University, a private institution better known for its castle-like architecture than as a cradle of business moguls. Here, a new generation of post-00s graduates, devoid of prestigious diplomas or family connections, is writing its own playbook for prosperity. They are not chasing jobs in China’s competitive corporate ladder; instead, they are turning directly to the world, becoming digital merchants on the global stage. Their journey, marked by grit, digital savvy, and an unrelenting focus on execution, demonstrates that in today’s interconnected economy, the most valuable resources are often initiative and adaptability. These young entrepreneurs are proving that with the right platform and mindset, one can indeed carve out a lucrative niche, silently earning their fortune in the vast arena of cross-border trade.
The Unconventional Launchpad: Sias University and the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Zhengzhou Sias University (郑州西亚斯学院) stands as a unique ecosystem within China’s higher education landscape. An Sino-American joint venture university, its campus features replicas of European landmarks, fostering an environment that feels intentionally global. This is the alma mater of Wang Ning (王宁), the founder of pop culture phenomenon Pop Mart (泡泡玛特), whose rags-to-riches story—from running a campus格子铺 (grid store) to a Hong Kong IPO—serves as a potent local legend. Wang’s success is not a distant fairy tale for Sias students; it is a tangible reference point, a proof of concept that monumental success can sprout from their very own campus soil.
From Campus Hustle to Global Business
The university culture actively encourages commercial experimentation. Long before graduation, students engage in micro-entrepreneurship: running delivery services, dormitory convenience stores, or selling phone cards. These ventures impart fundamental business logic—supply, demand, customer service, cash flow—in a low-stakes environment. This early exposure demystifies business creation, making the leap to more serious ventures like cross-border trade feel less daunting. For many, the global aesthetic of the campus subconsciously normalizes the idea of engaging with the world beyond China’s borders. The path from selling snacks in a dorm to selling goods on Alibaba International Station (阿里巴巴国际站) becomes a logical progression, not an impossible leap.
Catching the Wave: Timing, Platform, and Humble Beginnings
The success stories of Sias graduates are inextricably linked to macro-trends and the digital tools that lowered barriers to entry. While each individual’s path differs, their collective rise was facilitated by a convergence of favorable winds in China’s export economy and the democratization of global trade through platforms like Alibaba International Station.
The Macro Backdrop: A Surge in Chinese Exports
Li Jiale (李佳乐) launched his store in late 2020, a period of global disruption that paradoxically fueled a historic boom in Chinese exports. As per China Customs statistics, 2021 saw total goods trade reach 39.1 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of over 20%, with exports soaring 21.4%. This was the wave he caught. Despite pandemic-related logistics chaos, demand for Chinese goods surged. He chose a low-risk, niche product—inflatable swim rings—to test the waters. His strategy was volume over margin, sometimes accepting near-breakeven orders to build client relationships and understand market needs. “If you overanalyze at the start, you’ll talk yourself out of it,” Li reflects, emphasizing the importance of action over perfect planning.
Strategic Entry in a Maturing Market
He Jiakun (何佳坤) entered the fray in 2023, missing the peak pandemic boom but avoiding its worst logistics premiums. By then, the export growth story was still strong. Data from January-November 2025 showed China’s total goods trade exceeding 41 trillion yuan, a 3.6% increase, with exports up 6.2%. He identified fitness equipment for Western markets, a heavier product that others dismissed due to shipping costs. His meticulous approach involved visiting factories across China and reverse-engineering dozens of successful competitors on Alibaba International Station. “When a client speaks, I basically know which store they came from, what product they ordered, and the competitor’s quote,” he says. His first major break came in November 2024—a full container shipment to Germany worth over 50,000 euros.
The Super-Individual Phase: Mastering the Entire Value Chain
Before building teams, these entrepreneurs first transformed themselves into “super-individuals.” They personally managed every facet of the business, from product sourcing and digital storefront operation to client negotiation, logistics, and accounting. This hands-on immersion was a crucial boot camp that built foundational expertise and operational resilience.
The 24/7 Grind and Relentless Communication
Li Jiale described a period with no distinction between day and night, surviving on short naps. He systematized his work with daily task lists. A significant portion of his time was dedicated to client communication, where he iteratively refined his approach, discarding ineffective scripts and retaining what worked. For English major Wang Teng (王腾), who entered the field later, relationship-building was key. She employed a persistent yet gentle approach, sharing snippets of daily life and discussing culture for weeks or even months before mentioning an order, patiently building trust to secure a deal.
Leveraging Technology to Bridge Gaps
Technology, particularly AI, became a great equalizer. He Jiakun, who started with limited English proficiency, utilized AI tools for translation, crafting professional business copy, and even generating marketing videos. “AI gave ordinary people a shortcut,” he states. “It made the super-individual not a privilege for the few, but a starting point for the many.” He strategically deploys different tools—ChatGPT for communication, Midjourney for visuals—to handle tasks that would otherwise require a large team. However, all emphasize that AI cannot replace human vigilance in critical areas like quality control and final packaging, where their personal oversight remains non-negotiable to avoid costly errors.
Navigating Success: The Perils of “Floating” and the Return to Fundamentals
Rapid financial success brought its own set of challenges. The sudden influx of money and recognition tested the young entrepreneurs’ groundedness, providing a critical lesson in sustainable growth versus fleeting hype.
The Allure and Illusion of “Making It”
At the peak of his early success, with over 800,000 yuan in liquidity, Li Jiale admits to “floating.” He indulged in luxury goods, frequented high-end gatherings, and reveled in being called “Director Li” by older businessmen. However, he soon realized these social connections were superficial without substantive business scale to back them up. The direct consequence was a decline in daily orders as his focus shifted from operations to networking. “When your actions become distorted, it’s the beginning of disaster,” he learned. Similarly, after his first major order, He Jiakun experienced a wave of overconfidence, quickly tempered by his girlfriend’s reality check: “You’re barely anywhere yet.”
Embracing Discipline and Long-Term Vision
The antidote to this膨胀 (swelling) was a conscious return to basics. Li Jiale now draws a modest 5,000-yuan monthly salary for himself, reinvesting the rest. He sees business like an ECG—peaks are inevitably followed by valleys—and aims for steady,扎实 (solid) growth. Wang Teng, upon winning an award at an industry event, consciously reminded herself to stay冷静 (calm) and not be blinded by vanity. This mindset reset is crucial for their next phase of scaling, ensuring they build enterprises, not just fleeting successes. It is in this disciplined, post-hype phase that the real work of silently earning their fortune continues sustainably.
Scaling the Mountain: From Solo Acts to Sustainable Enterprises
The journey from a one-person shop to a structured company is the current challenge. With their foundational processes solidified and market fit proven, these entrepreneurs are now focused on building teams, expanding product lines, and setting ambitious revenue targets.
Diversification and Vertical Integration
Li Jiale has systematically expanded from swim rings into wedding supplies, home & garden products, and even acquired a metal factory to gain greater supply chain control. His revenue climb reflects this scaling: from 4 million yuan in his first year to nearly 30 million yuan in 2024. He Jiakun’s growth has been even more rapid, targeting 30 million yuan in revenue for 2025 and aiming to double that to 60 million yuan in 2026, with his fitness equipment now sold in over 60 countries.
Becoming the Next Generation’s Beacon
Just as Wang Ning inspired them, Li, He, and Wang Teng have now become reference points for younger Sias students. Both Li and He have been appointed as industry mentors by the university, formally guiding the next cohort. They actively recruit “sincere and driven” students from campus into their growing teams. Through formal programs like the talent cultivation base jointly established by Alibaba International Station and Sias University, over 108 students have now gained certified training in digital外贸操盘 (foreign trade operations), creating a pipeline of digitally-native trade talent.
The Sias Blueprint: Key Takeaways for Aspiring Global Traders
The collective experience of these Sias graduates offers a replicable blueprint for entrepreneurial success in modern cross-border trade, regardless of background. Their story underscores a shift in how business is built in the digital age.
Action Over Perfection, Relationships Over Transactions
The core lesson is to start quickly with a manageable product, prioritizing learning and process mastery over initial profit. Building genuine, patient relationships with clients is more valuable than chasing single transactions. As Li Jiale practices, understanding client needs in depth creates opportunities for cross-selling and builds the trust necessary for future price increases.
The New Resources: Platform Access and Personal Resilience
Traditional resources like capital and guanxi (关系) have been supplemented—and in some cases supplanted—by access to global B2B platforms, AI-powered tools, and a resilient, hands-on work ethic. The environment matters; being in a culture that celebrates practical entrepreneurship, like Sias University’s, provides a crucial psychological permission to try. Ultimately, as He Jiakun observes, the common trait among successful founders like Wang Ning is likely an unwavering focus and determination—“not stopping until the goal is reached.”
The journey of these young Sias alumni is far from over. They have moved past the initial frenzy, weathered the test of early success, and are now deliberately building sustainable enterprises. They have gathered their supplies, mapped their routes, and stand ready for the next ascent. Their story is a powerful testament to a new paradigm in Chinese business creation, where digital tools, global platforms, and raw entrepreneurial grit can overcome traditional barriers of pedigree. For global investors and observers of the Chinese economy, their success highlights the vibrant, decentralized energy driving the next wave of SME exporters. It proves that significant value is being created not just in boardrooms and R&D labs, but in the diligent, day-to-day work of connecting Chinese supply with global demand. The mountain of global commerce is vast, and these young climbers, equipped with digital pickaxes and relentless drive, are proving that there are countless new paths to the summit, paths where one can focus on the climb and, steadily, silently earn their fortune.