Wang Qiang is a revered figure in China's technology and education landscapes, known for his profound intellect, love of books, and deeply philosophical approach to business and life. As a co-founder of both the education behemoth New Oriental and the influential early-stage venture capital firm ZhenFund, his career has spanned two of China's most dynamic sectors.

A renowned bibliophile and eloquent speaker, Wang Qiang's insights are less about fleeting market trends and more about the timeless principles of entrepreneurship, learning, and human nature. His advice is foundational for any founder seeking to build an enduring enterprise.

On Investment Philosophy & ZhenFund's Core Beliefs

  1. "We invest in people." This is the bedrock of ZhenFund's philosophy. The first and most important criterion is the quality of the founder, not the business plan. (Source: ZhenFund Official Website)
  2. "A great founder is a 'sexy' founder." 'Sexy' doesn't mean physical appearance, but an irresistible combination of intelligence, vision, leadership, and the ability to attract top talent.
  3. "We look for founders who are 'over-the-top smart'." The founder must possess an intellectual horsepower that allows them to see things others don't and to navigate complex challenges.
  4. "The founder's learning ability is the growth ceiling of the company." A company can never outgrow its founder's capacity to learn and adapt. (Source: Widely attributed quote in numerous speeches)
  5. "We are not just investors, we are the co-founders of the companies we back." ZhenFund takes a deeply hands-on, supportive role, especially in the earliest stages.
  6. "The best way to find a great founder is to look for someone who is trying to solve their own problem." The most authentic and passionate entrepreneurs are those who have personally experienced the pain point they are addressing.
  7. "We are 'optimistic pessimists'." While optimistic about the founder's potential, a good investor must be pessimistic and rigorous when evaluating the risks of the business.
  8. "Don't invest in a business you don't understand." This classic principle is core to avoiding costly mistakes driven by hype.
  9. "The structure of the founding team is more important than the business model." A dysfunctional team will fail even with a great idea. A great team can pivot a bad idea into a success. (Source: Sina Finance)
  10. "Our job is to help founders build a 'sexy' company that attracts talent, media, and more investors."ZhenFund sees its role as a catalyst for building a company's brand and appeal.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

  1. "A startup is like jumping off a cliff and assembling an airplane on the way down." This famous quote perfectly captures the chaos, risk, and ingenuity required of an entrepreneur. (Source: Widely attributed to Reid Hoffman, but frequently used by Wang Qiang to describe entrepreneurship)
  2. "The two most important things for a founder are finding the right people and finding the money. The order doesn't matter." These are the two essential resources that a CEO must secure.
  3. "Your founding team should be like the heroes in the 'Journey to the West'." You need a visionary leader (Tang Sanzang), a powerful doer (Sun Wukong), someone who manages daily affairs (Zhu Bajie), and a reliable implementer (Sha Wujing). (Source: His frequent analogy for team building)
  4. "The股权 (equity) structure is the 'constitution' of your company. Don't mess it up." He strongly advises founders to establish a clear and fair equity split from day one to avoid future conflicts.
  5. "The CEO's job is to be the 'Chief Explainer Officer'." You must be able to articulate your vision and story compellingly to every stakeholder.
  6. "Don't be afraid to give away your 'brilliant' idea. Ideas are worthless; execution is everything." The fear of someone stealing your idea is a sign of an amateur.
  7. "The ultimate barrier to entry for a company is its culture." Competitors can copy your product, but they cannot copy your culture.
  8. "You must find a 'pain point' that is a 'gushing wound', not just a 'scratch'." Solve a problem that is so acute that customers are desperate for a solution.
  9. "If your product is not 'viral', it's probably not a good product." In the internet age, a great product should have organic, word-of-mouth growth.
  10. "A founder must be a 'super product manager'." You have to be obsessed with the user experience and the details of your product.

On Education, Learning, and Personal Growth

  1. "The essence of education is not about灌输 (cramming knowledge), but about点燃 (igniting a fire)." This belief, forged at New Oriental, is about inspiring a lifelong love of learning.
  2. "A book is a 'time machine'." It allows you to have a conversation with the greatest minds in history across thousands of years. (Source: His well-known passion for book collecting and reading)
  3. "English is not just a language; it is a gateway to a different way of thinking." For him, learning English was about accessing a new world of ideas and culture, a philosophy that defined New Oriental's approach.
  4. "Your life is determined by the books you read and the people you meet." This is his simple formula for a rich and successful life.
  5. "The most important investment you can ever make is in yourself." Continuous learning is the key to staying relevant and growing as a person.
  6. "Thinking is the most difficult thing, which is why so few people do it." He constantly pushes founders and students to engage in deep, independent thought.
  7. "You must build your own 'mental model' of the world." Don't just accept conventional wisdom; construct your own framework for understanding how things work.
  8. "The purpose of reading is not to remember, but to forget." The goal is to internalize the wisdom so deeply that it becomes a natural part of your own thinking, rather than just reciting someone else's words.
  9. "Life is a 'single-player game'." Ultimately, you are responsible for your own journey, your own learning, and your own happiness.
  10. "The biggest enemy of learning is the 'illusion of knowledge'." Thinking you already know something is the surest way to stop learning.

On Partnership, Friendship, and Life

  1. The partnership between the three New Oriental founders (Yu Minhong, Xu Xiaoping, and Wang Qiang) is a legendary business story. Their ability to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses was key to their success.
  2. "A good partnership is like a marriage. It requires trust, communication, and the ability to forgive."
  3. "The ultimate destination of life is not a place, but a new way of seeing things." Life's journey is about transforming your own perspective.
  4. "Loneliness is the price of excellence." To achieve something truly great, you often have to walk a path that others don't understand.
  5. "Time is the only true currency." How you spend your time is the most important decision you make every day.
  6. "The biggest risk in life is not taking any risks."
  7. "Your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room." This applies to both companies and individuals.
  8. "Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice." He is a strong advocate for following your own convictions.
  9. His transition from an English teacher to a venture capitalist is a lesson in lifelong reinvention. It shows that your past does not have to dictate your future.
  10. "The essence of ZhenFund's name (真格) comes from a combination of '真' (truth/authenticity) and '格' (character/integrity)." This reflects the firm's deep belief in backing founders with strong moral character.

On Language, Culture, and Communication

  1. He is famous for his eloquent, almost poetic, use of both Chinese and English. He believes that language is the vessel of thought, and mastering it is essential for clear thinking.
  2. "Translation is not just about words; it's about translating cultures."
  3. "The power of a story is the ultimate form of persuasion." The best founders, leaders, and teachers are all great storytellers.
  4. "Humor is a sign of intelligence and confidence." His speeches are often filled with witty and insightful humor.
  5. His love of movies is another core part of his identity. He often uses analogies from films to illustrate business and life principles.
  6. "When you build a company, you are creating a new 'language' and a new 'culture'."
  7. "The ability to communicate simply and clearly is a superpower."
  8. He emphasizes the importance of understanding Western culture to succeed in a globalized world.
  9. "Your vocabulary determines the boundaries of your world." The more concepts you understand, the richer your understanding of reality.
  10. "The ultimate freedom is the freedom of the mind." This is the goal of all learning, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.