Jenxi Seow 萧晨熙
@jenxi.com
Vision alchemist
Crafting strategic innovation & AI adoption. Bridging startups to China’s ecosystem advantage. Building a cyberbrain.
Registered pharmacist × Brand strategist × Storyteller
📍Shenzhen (10 years)
🔗 jenxi.com
Crafting strategic innovation & AI adoption. Bridging startups to China’s ecosystem advantage. Building a cyberbrain.
Registered pharmacist × Brand strategist × Storyteller
📍Shenzhen (10 years)
🔗 jenxi.com
Proof that persistence + radical affordability can quietly build global empires.
Read how he did it: jenxi.com/mixue-story-...
Read how he did it: jenxi.com/mixue-story-...
The Mixue Story: From shaved ice to sugar empire
How a Chinese entrepreneur transformed a ¥1 ice cream cone into a ¥15 billion empire that operates more stores than McDonald's. Inside Mixue's radical affordability strategy and its journey from unive...
jenxi.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Proof that persistence + radical affordability can quietly build global empires.
Read how he did it: jenxi.com/mixue-story-...
Read how he did it: jenxi.com/mixue-story-...
27 years later: 36,000 stores across 35 countries, RMB 15 ($2+) billion revenue.
The genius? While Starbucks charges $5+ for drinks, Mixue sells them for under $1. 98% of revenue comes from selling supplies to franchisees, not the drinks themselves.
The genius? While Starbucks charges $5+ for drinks, Mixue sells them for under $1. 98% of revenue comes from selling supplies to franchisees, not the drinks themselves.
June 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
27 years later: 36,000 stores across 35 countries, RMB 15 ($2+) billion revenue.
The genius? While Starbucks charges $5+ for drinks, Mixue sells them for under $1. 98% of revenue comes from selling supplies to franchisees, not the drinks themselves.
The genius? While Starbucks charges $5+ for drinks, Mixue sells them for under $1. 98% of revenue comes from selling supplies to franchisees, not the drinks themselves.
11/ The lesson?
Failed fish farmer → Global beverage king
4 demolitions → 36,000 stores
RMB 1 ice cream → RMB 15 billion empire
Sometimes the best business advice is the simplest:
Never give up. Charge less. Build better systems.
Full story: jenxi.com/mixue-story-...
/end 🧊
Failed fish farmer → Global beverage king
4 demolitions → 36,000 stores
RMB 1 ice cream → RMB 15 billion empire
Sometimes the best business advice is the simplest:
Never give up. Charge less. Build better systems.
Full story: jenxi.com/mixue-story-...
/end 🧊
The Mixue Story: From shaved ice to sugar empire
How a Chinese entrepreneur transformed a ¥1 ice cream cone into a ¥15 billion empire that operates more stores than McDonald's. Inside Mixue's radical affordability strategy and its journey from unive...
jenxi.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
11/ The lesson?
Failed fish farmer → Global beverage king
4 demolitions → 36,000 stores
RMB 1 ice cream → RMB 15 billion empire
Sometimes the best business advice is the simplest:
Never give up. Charge less. Build better systems.
Full story: jenxi.com/mixue-story-...
/end 🧊
Failed fish farmer → Global beverage king
4 demolitions → 36,000 stores
RMB 1 ice cream → RMB 15 billion empire
Sometimes the best business advice is the simplest:
Never give up. Charge less. Build better systems.
Full story: jenxi.com/mixue-story-...
/end 🧊
10/ Zhang's insight:
In a world where everything gets more expensive, radical affordability becomes luxury.
The most disruptive strategy isn't always innovation.
Sometimes it's charging less than anyone thinks possible while building superior economics.
Persistence + cheapness = empire.
In a world where everything gets more expensive, radical affordability becomes luxury.
The most disruptive strategy isn't always innovation.
Sometimes it's charging less than anyone thinks possible while building superior economics.
Persistence + cheapness = empire.
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
10/ Zhang's insight:
In a world where everything gets more expensive, radical affordability becomes luxury.
The most disruptive strategy isn't always innovation.
Sometimes it's charging less than anyone thinks possible while building superior economics.
Persistence + cheapness = empire.
In a world where everything gets more expensive, radical affordability becomes luxury.
The most disruptive strategy isn't always innovation.
Sometimes it's charging less than anyone thinks possible while building superior economics.
Persistence + cheapness = empire.
9/ The numbers today:
- 36,000+ stores (vs McDonald's ~42,000)
- 35 countries
- RMB 15 billion ($2+ billion) revenue
- 4,000+ international locations
While Starbucks charges $5+ for drinks, Mixue sells quality beverages for under $1.
Mass market > premium market.
- 36,000+ stores (vs McDonald's ~42,000)
- 35 countries
- RMB 15 billion ($2+ billion) revenue
- 4,000+ international locations
While Starbucks charges $5+ for drinks, Mixue sells quality beverages for under $1.
Mass market > premium market.
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
9/ The numbers today:
- 36,000+ stores (vs McDonald's ~42,000)
- 35 countries
- RMB 15 billion ($2+ billion) revenue
- 4,000+ international locations
While Starbucks charges $5+ for drinks, Mixue sells quality beverages for under $1.
Mass market > premium market.
- 36,000+ stores (vs McDonald's ~42,000)
- 35 countries
- RMB 15 billion ($2+ billion) revenue
- 4,000+ international locations
While Starbucks charges $5+ for drinks, Mixue sells quality beverages for under $1.
Mass market > premium market.
8/ 2018: Enter Snow King 雪王 ⛄️
A cheerful mascot + viral jingle "Mixue Bingcheng Tianmimi"
Then Zhang spent RMB 10M+ on animated series.
9.9/10 rating on Bilibili.
He's building Disney, but with lemonade.
Cultural strategy > traditional advertising.
A cheerful mascot + viral jingle "Mixue Bingcheng Tianmimi"
Then Zhang spent RMB 10M+ on animated series.
9.9/10 rating on Bilibili.
He's building Disney, but with lemonade.
Cultural strategy > traditional advertising.
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
8/ 2018: Enter Snow King 雪王 ⛄️
A cheerful mascot + viral jingle "Mixue Bingcheng Tianmimi"
Then Zhang spent RMB 10M+ on animated series.
9.9/10 rating on Bilibili.
He's building Disney, but with lemonade.
Cultural strategy > traditional advertising.
A cheerful mascot + viral jingle "Mixue Bingcheng Tianmimi"
Then Zhang spent RMB 10M+ on animated series.
9.9/10 rating on Bilibili.
He's building Disney, but with lemonade.
Cultural strategy > traditional advertising.
7/ The "shovel seller" strategy:
During gold rushes, who made reliable money?
- Gold miners? (risky)
- Shovel sellers? (guaranteed)
Zhang chose shovels.
Whether franchises thrive or struggle, they still need supplies.
Predictable revenue > volatile revenue.
During gold rushes, who made reliable money?
- Gold miners? (risky)
- Shovel sellers? (guaranteed)
Zhang chose shovels.
Whether franchises thrive or struggle, they still need supplies.
Predictable revenue > volatile revenue.
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
7/ The "shovel seller" strategy:
During gold rushes, who made reliable money?
- Gold miners? (risky)
- Shovel sellers? (guaranteed)
Zhang chose shovels.
Whether franchises thrive or struggle, they still need supplies.
Predictable revenue > volatile revenue.
During gold rushes, who made reliable money?
- Gold miners? (risky)
- Shovel sellers? (guaranteed)
Zhang chose shovels.
Whether franchises thrive or struggle, they still need supplies.
Predictable revenue > volatile revenue.
6/ Plot twist: Mixue isn't really a beverage company.
It's a supply chain company.
98% of revenue comes from selling ingredients + equipment to franchisees.
They profit twice:
1. When franchisees buy supplies
2. When franchisees sell to customers
Pure genius. 💡
It's a supply chain company.
98% of revenue comes from selling ingredients + equipment to franchisees.
They profit twice:
1. When franchisees buy supplies
2. When franchisees sell to customers
Pure genius. 💡
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
6/ Plot twist: Mixue isn't really a beverage company.
It's a supply chain company.
98% of revenue comes from selling ingredients + equipment to franchisees.
They profit twice:
1. When franchisees buy supplies
2. When franchisees sell to customers
Pure genius. 💡
It's a supply chain company.
98% of revenue comes from selling ingredients + equipment to franchisees.
They profit twice:
1. When franchisees buy supplies
2. When franchisees sell to customers
Pure genius. 💡
5/ 2013: Zhang launches RMB 3 lemonade.
Competitors struggle with inconsistent suppliers.
Zhang's move? Build his own supply chain.
- Lemon farms in Sichuan
- New Zealand dairy
- Vietnamese passion fruit
- Brazilian coffee
Result: 1 billion cups sold annually. 🍋
Competitors struggle with inconsistent suppliers.
Zhang's move? Build his own supply chain.
- Lemon farms in Sichuan
- New Zealand dairy
- Vietnamese passion fruit
- Brazilian coffee
Result: 1 billion cups sold annually. 🍋
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
5/ 2013: Zhang launches RMB 3 lemonade.
Competitors struggle with inconsistent suppliers.
Zhang's move? Build his own supply chain.
- Lemon farms in Sichuan
- New Zealand dairy
- Vietnamese passion fruit
- Brazilian coffee
Result: 1 billion cups sold annually. 🍋
Competitors struggle with inconsistent suppliers.
Zhang's move? Build his own supply chain.
- Lemon farms in Sichuan
- New Zealand dairy
- Vietnamese passion fruit
- Brazilian coffee
Result: 1 billion cups sold annually. 🍋
4/ But here's the genius part:
That RMB 1 ice cream wasn't really a product.
It was customer acquisition.
Each cone created a loyal customer who'd buy other items + spread word-of-mouth.
Nearly 20 years later, it's still their bestseller (now RMB 2-3).
Great strategies become institutions.
That RMB 1 ice cream wasn't really a product.
It was customer acquisition.
Each cone created a loyal customer who'd buy other items + spread word-of-mouth.
Nearly 20 years later, it's still their bestseller (now RMB 2-3).
Great strategies become institutions.
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
4/ But here's the genius part:
That RMB 1 ice cream wasn't really a product.
It was customer acquisition.
Each cone created a loyal customer who'd buy other items + spread word-of-mouth.
Nearly 20 years later, it's still their bestseller (now RMB 2-3).
Great strategies become institutions.
That RMB 1 ice cream wasn't really a product.
It was customer acquisition.
Each cone created a loyal customer who'd buy other items + spread word-of-mouth.
Nearly 20 years later, it's still their bestseller (now RMB 2-3).
Great strategies become institutions.
3/ The breakthrough: 2006
While competitors sold ice cream for RMB 20 ($3), Zhang priced his at RMB 1 (14 cents).
Not as a promotion. Permanently.
Students who treated ice cream as occasional luxury suddenly bought it daily.
He'd transformed discretionary spending into habitual consumption.
While competitors sold ice cream for RMB 20 ($3), Zhang priced his at RMB 1 (14 cents).
Not as a promotion. Permanently.
Students who treated ice cream as occasional luxury suddenly bought it daily.
He'd transformed discretionary spending into habitual consumption.
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
3/ The breakthrough: 2006
While competitors sold ice cream for RMB 20 ($3), Zhang priced his at RMB 1 (14 cents).
Not as a promotion. Permanently.
Students who treated ice cream as occasional luxury suddenly bought it daily.
He'd transformed discretionary spending into habitual consumption.
While competitors sold ice cream for RMB 20 ($3), Zhang priced his at RMB 1 (14 cents).
Not as a promotion. Permanently.
Students who treated ice cream as occasional luxury suddenly bought it daily.
He'd transformed discretionary spending into habitual consumption.
2/ Picture this: 1997, a finance student in Henan province watching city officials demolish his shaved ice cart.
Again.
For the 4th time.
Most people would update their CVs. Zhang Hongchao went back to selling ice cream.
Sometimes the best business strategy is pure stubbornness.
Again.
For the 4th time.
Most people would update their CVs. Zhang Hongchao went back to selling ice cream.
Sometimes the best business strategy is pure stubbornness.
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
2/ Picture this: 1997, a finance student in Henan province watching city officials demolish his shaved ice cart.
Again.
For the 4th time.
Most people would update their CVs. Zhang Hongchao went back to selling ice cream.
Sometimes the best business strategy is pure stubbornness.
Again.
For the 4th time.
Most people would update their CVs. Zhang Hongchao went back to selling ice cream.
Sometimes the best business strategy is pure stubbornness.
Full post: jenxi.com/how-habits-s...
How habits shape your life
Discover how habits fundamentally shape who you are and who you'll become. Learn science-backed strategies for building better habits, breaking bad ones, and extending your cognitive abilities through...
jenxi.com
March 14, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Full post: jenxi.com/how-habits-s...
It’s not that you decide to form bad habits; it’s that you never made a conscious decision at all. And therein lies the problem.
Once you understand that your current behaviours—good and bad—are largely the result of established neural pathways, you can begin the process of redirection.
Once you understand that your current behaviours—good and bad—are largely the result of established neural pathways, you can begin the process of redirection.
March 14, 2025 at 1:56 AM
It’s not that you decide to form bad habits; it’s that you never made a conscious decision at all. And therein lies the problem.
Once you understand that your current behaviours—good and bad—are largely the result of established neural pathways, you can begin the process of redirection.
Once you understand that your current behaviours—good and bad—are largely the result of established neural pathways, you can begin the process of redirection.
The question isn't whether other countries will follow China's AI adoption curve, but how soon—and whether OpenAI, Anthropic, Google can match the breathtaking pace of innovation happening here.
March 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The question isn't whether other countries will follow China's AI adoption curve, but how soon—and whether OpenAI, Anthropic, Google can match the breathtaking pace of innovation happening here.
As Tencent leverages its gaming empire (including global hits like League of Legends) and messaging dominance, Yuanbao could become the template for AI expansion worldwide.
March 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
As Tencent leverages its gaming empire (including global hits like League of Legends) and messaging dominance, Yuanbao could become the template for AI expansion worldwide.
While you might open separate apps for weather, news, and shopping, Chinese users are increasingly turning to AI chatbots as their primary digital interface.
This consolidation has profound implications for how we'll all interact with tech in the coming years.
This consolidation has profound implications for how we'll all interact with tech in the coming years.
March 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
While you might open separate apps for weather, news, and shopping, Chinese users are increasingly turning to AI chatbots as their primary digital interface.
This consolidation has profound implications for how we'll all interact with tech in the coming years.
This consolidation has profound implications for how we'll all interact with tech in the coming years.
The result is an AI that feels native to how Chinese users already interact online, rather than requiring them to learn new behaviours.
As 3 AI chatbots now dominate China's top 5 most downloaded apps, we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how tech is consumed.
As 3 AI chatbots now dominate China's top 5 most downloaded apps, we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how tech is consumed.
March 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The result is an AI that feels native to how Chinese users already interact online, rather than requiring them to learn new behaviours.
As 3 AI chatbots now dominate China's top 5 most downloaded apps, we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how tech is consumed.
As 3 AI chatbots now dominate China's top 5 most downloaded apps, we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how tech is consumed.
Tencent's secret weapon isn't just AI—it's the company's ubiquitous WeChat platform with over 1 bil active users. By integrating Yuanbao with WeChat's ecosystem of public accounts and video platforms, Tencent created an AI assistant with unprecedented access to China's digital information landscape.
March 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Tencent's secret weapon isn't just AI—it's the company's ubiquitous WeChat platform with over 1 bil active users. By integrating Yuanbao with WeChat's ecosystem of public accounts and video platforms, Tencent created an AI assistant with unprecedented access to China's digital information landscape.
While AI tools often update quarterly, Yuanbao did it weekly:
- Feb 13: Added Tencent's Hunyuan model AND DeepSeek-R1 for free
- Feb 17: Introduced advanced Thinker (T1) model for deeper reasoning
- Feb 21: Added image comprehension across all models
- Mar 1: Added Windows & macOS desktop versions
- Feb 13: Added Tencent's Hunyuan model AND DeepSeek-R1 for free
- Feb 17: Introduced advanced Thinker (T1) model for deeper reasoning
- Feb 21: Added image comprehension across all models
- Mar 1: Added Windows & macOS desktop versions
March 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
While AI tools often update quarterly, Yuanbao did it weekly:
- Feb 13: Added Tencent's Hunyuan model AND DeepSeek-R1 for free
- Feb 17: Introduced advanced Thinker (T1) model for deeper reasoning
- Feb 21: Added image comprehension across all models
- Mar 1: Added Windows & macOS desktop versions
- Feb 13: Added Tencent's Hunyuan model AND DeepSeek-R1 for free
- Feb 17: Introduced advanced Thinker (T1) model for deeper reasoning
- Feb 21: Added image comprehension across all models
- Mar 1: Added Windows & macOS desktop versions