In an interview on the entrepreneurial talk show "Startup Sisyphus," Han Wei, founder and chairman of fitness chain LeFit, reflected on his career transition from Alibaba.
Han candidly acknowledged the investment climate during China's tech boom: "Back in that frothy era, if you had an Alibaba background and a halfway decent pitch, investors would throw money at you. Very few were willing to grind through the unglamorous, labor-intensive work. That's precisely why I chose this path—the lack of competition was predictable." He emphasized untapped opportunities in China's market: "Even today, countless worthwhile ventures remain overlooked."
When confronted with observations that most entrepreneurs prioritize profits over purpose-driven missions, Han concurred: "Absolutely. Multiple factors—especially the prevailing ethos of that period—distorted values. Fewer people cultivated patience, while get-rich-quick mentalities proliferated."
The discussion touched on broader critiques of corporate culture, including rampant inflation of executive titles at major tech firms.
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