China's young entrepreneurs dig for Internet gold

Take it slow

Guo had overnight success with MYOTee, but his ambition stretches farther. "Our goal is to become an Internet tech company that young people like, and to make products that young people can't do without, like WeChat," he said.

WeChat, a product by Tencent, Guo's previous employer, topped 700 million users in March.

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"Unlike other sectors, the Internet sector hardly has any fixed business model. This makes a one hit product look like something that just happens," said Zheng Shenghao, co-editor of 36Kr.com, which covers China's tech scene.

In the Internet sector where things change in a blink of an eye, "it is normal to see star products disappear. The key is the team, " said Zheng.

Guo said that the praise and expectation brought by MYOTee's initial success became a burden and distraction to his team.

"Many people are concerned about the successful cases, or the pursuit of dreams. But I'd like to remind people that entrepreneurship is full of risks... Most of all, you cannot be fickle," Guo said.

Young entrepreneurs like Guo have come to realize the importance of being down-to-earth. Zhang Tianyi, a 24-year-old law student who ventured into the catering industry, sniffed at society's over-emphasis on the "Internet mindset".

When invited by Tencent to a mini forum in mid-July, Zhang, owner of two rice noodle shops in Beijing's central business district, admitted the Internet helps him find target customers and promote his company on social platforms, but argued technology is only the means, not an end.

He mentioned flashily dressed customers who exclaimed in hometown accents after having a bowl of spicy noodles: "[To see] the return of the human heart is the coolest thing for me. It is as interesting and meaningful as working at Google or designing apps."

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