Why TikTok and Shein Won Internationally. And Why WeChat and Kuaishou Didn’t. (Tech Strategy – Podcast 161)

In Tech Strategy Podcast 161, Prof Jeff discusses the international success of TikTok and Shein, contrasting it with the less global impact of WeChat and Kuaishou. He identifies three key factors: having a 10x product and user experience, offering a service that’s standardizable across borders, and the ability to build on or develop competitive advantages rapidly​.

TikTok, WeChat and the Need for an American Vision for Shaping Digital Information Flows.

A few years ago, I went to the WeChat Open Talk meeting in Guangzhou and founder Allen Zhang (see photo) gave a talk that really stuck with me. He talked about about the powerful role of information flows in society and life. And how the digitization of these information flows has created a situation where […]

Oracle Is Saving TikTok From Itself

I like Bytedance. I think they make great apps. Super engaging. With fantastic user interfaces. They are one of the most innovative mobile app companies on the planet. But they suck at internationalization. Their attempt to become China’s first international digital  company has been a slow moving train wreck. Lots of us have been predicting […]