Overseas property site is building on success

Prior to the launch of their company, they had been well known globally in the real estate business through their previous work with the REA Group, a leading property portal, and had made some good contacts in the process.

"When we reached out to those contacts and told them we were building a Chinese website for Chinese property investors looking to buy overseas, the reaction was more than encouraging," Henry said.

As they searched for a company name, they only had one criterion－simplicity, or something people could easily recognize.

"It had to be two characters and easy to pronounce not only by the Chinese but by international customers as well," said Henry. "After that, everything fell into place."

Today, Juwai is the most accessed website by Chinese looking for international property, according to Baidu and CNZZ, a Chinese web analytics provider.

Juwai.com currently employs around 105 people, who are split between the head office in Hong Kong and its Shanghai office.

Henry said the site gets almost 3 million unique visitors a month. Last year it sent agents and brokers "around $150 billion worth of leads" from potential buyers.

So how does Juwai make money if it is not physically selling real estate?

"People come to us. We put potential buyers in touch with sellers," he said. "We are paid to market properties to our audience. We provide services such as translation, events in China for agents, run real estate exhibitions, training and education services. And the list goes on."

Henry ascribes the success of Juwai to what he describes as "first-mover advantage". The real estate industry outside of China was quick to jump on board.

Today, he and Taylor are looking at taking Juwai.com to the next level－to list the company on a stock exchange sometime in the future.

Where they will list, Henry is not saying. But when they do, it should make a big splash.

"A listing is just the halfway point," Henry said. "That's when we put the foot down on the accelerator."

As for a life outside of work, Henry laughs at the question.

"A startup requires absolute dedication, 15-hour days, seven days a week. You forgo your friends, family and social life to make a dream happen," he said. "I guess that's why neither one of us is married."

So, for the time being at least, Henry, along with Taylor, will remain married to their company.

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