An entrepreneur talks about his experience between China and America: “Entrepreneurship in America is clearer and easier.”

Charles Yang, founder and CEO of the U.S.-based AI solutions company Vibe, shared his distinct perspective on building startups in China versus the United States, based on his twenty-year experience across both countries, in a recent interview. Business Insider..

Charles recalls his early days at Zhejiang University, when he decided with his friends to establish a digital gaming company after his third year of college.

He received support from his father amounting to nearly five thousand dollars, which he describes as the dawn of his first adventure in the business world. He says: “I didn't understand the meaning of risk at the time; I was young and driven by passion.”.

Despite the existence of conventional paths for computer science graduates, such as working at major corporations or pursuing graduate studies in China or abroad, Charles chose to leave academia and forge his own path in entrepreneurship, despite his family's concerns about his academic future.

Moving to the United States

His company continued to grow and achieved successes in the Chinese gaming market, until he began thinking about the next phase of his life. By 2016, Charles moved to Seattle, leveraging his extensive experience to build a new company focused on developing collaboration and teamwork technologies using spatial computing, and managed to raise the first million dollars in seed funding.

He points out that he identified a significant opportunity by linking the efficiency of Chinese supply chains with the American technology ecosystem, adding: “We were able to develop products and expand business through e-commerce, building an effective distribution network.”.

After years of experimentation, he refocused his company toward artificial intelligence in work environments, benefiting from support from major investment institutions, such as Sequoia Capital China (now known as HongShan).

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Differences between China and America in the startup environment

Charles believes that the startup market in the United States resembles a well-documented software development kit: “There is a clear playbook. Even the details of unexpected probabilities are largely documented.”.

In China, however, he describes the experience as “like a poorly documented software system”; many rules are hidden or ambiguous, and business relationships are often built around dining tables and social networking sessions. In that environment, the group is prioritized over the individual, while in America, individualistic values prevail.

He also notes that the period before the pandemic was the golden age for Chinese tech startups, as many young people rushed to establish their own ventures. Today, he sees that resources are often allocated to projects with clear government orientations, while American markets remain more flexible and dynamic.

Advice for new entrepreneurs

Charles offers his advice to any independent or aspiring entrepreneur, saying: “I recommend first working at a successful company for two or three years to gain experience and knowledge.”.

He adds: “If you find genuine passion for an idea or field, start the project immediately. Young age and lack of experience do not necessarily mean failure. Ultimately, it comes down to passion... and sometimes luck.”.

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