Podcasts about Alibaba Group

This week Jim welcomes Rah Mahtani, the Head of Commercial Strategy US for Alibaba.com, the Chinese multinational technology company founded in 1999 by Jack Ma and 18 colleagues. Alibaba Group operates as a holding company for a wide array of businesses, including online retail, wholesale through Alibaba.com, logistics (Cainiao), cloud computing (Alibaba Cloud), and financial services (Ant Group). Alibaba.com is the world's largest B2B (business-to-business) platform.Rah has been at Alibaba for about 2.5 years, and was promoted to head of commercial strategy about two months ago. Before Alibaba, Rah had a career deeply grounded in social media and digital communications, with time at Volvo, Jack in the Box, and BMW's Mini brand. A graduate of Syracuse University, where he studied Industrial Design, Rah is a self-described lover of dogs, kids and candy. Tune in for a conversation with a marketer in the middle of the changing global trade landscape!---This week's episode is brought to you byDeloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vladimir Putin declares a three-day ceasefire; Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group launches an upgraded version of its flagship AI model; and power starts returning to parts of the Iberian peninsula. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times. Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media --- Follow Lens On Daily and rate us on: Channel: bt.sg/btlenson Amazon: bt.sg/lensam Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/lensap Spotify: bt.sg/lenssp YouTube Music: bt.sg/lensyt Website: bt.sg/lenson Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. Discover more BT podcast series: BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlensonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese e-commerce platforms have taken steps to help the country's exporters sell their products at home, expand sales channels and alleviate inventory pressures, as part of a broader push to hedge against the impact of United States' tariff hikes and expand domestic demand.中国电商平台已采取多项措施，助力出口企业转战国内市场、拓宽销售渠道并缓解库存压力，以此对冲美国加征关税的冲击并扩大内需。They said that these supportive measures will help export-oriented companies open up the domestic market, strengthen domestic circulation and boost consumption, while further unleashing the vitality and potential of China's ultra-large market to address challenges posed by external shocks.他们表示相关扶持举措将助力出口导向型企业开拓国内市场、增强国内大循环、提振消费活力，进而充分释放我国超大规模市场的内生增长潜力，有效应对外部环境冲击带来的挑战。JD has announced it will purchase 200 billion yuan ($27.3 billion) worth of goods from exporters over the next year to help them sell products domestically. It will send professional procurement teams to foreign trade companies and directly purchase their high-quality products.京东宣布，明年将从出口商那里采购价值2000亿元（约合273亿美元）的商品，帮助他们在国内销售产品。公司将派遣专业的采购团队深入外贸企业，直接采购他们的高品质产品。The Beijing-based company said it will establish a special area on its online marketplaces to sell selected goods and provide data traffic and omni-channel marketing support for them. It will also provide training, step up subsidies and offer other resources and support for exporters to quickly boost domestic sales.这家总部位于北京的企业表示，将在其电商平台开辟专属频道销售精选商品，并为这些商品提供数据流量和全渠道营销支持。平台还将为外贸企业提供培训、加大补贴力度并配置专项资源，助力其快速打开内销市场。Alibaba Group's online marketplaces Taobao and Tmall said on Tuesday that it will provide assistance to at least 10,000 Chinese companies involved in foreign trade and promote domestic sales of 100,000 foreign trade goods, helping exporters shift their focus to the domestic market. Detailed measures include simplified registration, commission incentives, localized sales guidance and direct procurement services.阿里巴巴集团旗下淘宝和天猫平台5月12日宣布，将助力超1万家外贸企业拓展内销市场，推动10万款外贸商品实现国内销售，帮助出口企业转向内需市场。具体措施包括简化入驻流程、佣金激励、提供本地化销售指导及直采服务等。Chinese online discounter PDD Holdings has rolled out plans to invest 100 billion yuan over the next three years, including stepping up subsidy support for small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in cross-border e-commerce to stabilize their production and help them cope with external challenges in overseas expansion.中国电商平台拼多多宣布启动未来三年投入100亿元的计划，包括加强对跨境电商中小企业的补贴扶持，稳定其生产经营，助力应对外贸拓展中的外部挑战。Zhuang Shuai, founder of Bailian Consulting and an expert in e-commerce and retail, said, "The increased US tariffs have raised export costs for Chinese enterprises and forced them to seek out new channels to expand sales."百联咨询创始人、跨境电商和零售专家庄帅表示："美国加征关税提高了中国企业的出口成本，迫使它们寻求拓展销售的新渠道。"These relief measures will help foreign trade companies tide over difficulties in the short term, while in the long run, they will be conducive to cultivate a new consumption ecosystem as the deep integration of foreign trade enterprises with the domestic consumption market may nurture more homegrown brands with international competitiveness, he added.他补充道，这些缓解措施短期内将帮助外贸企业渡过难关，长期来看则有利于培育新型消费生态，随着外贸企业与国内消费市场的深度融合，可能孕育出更多具有国际竞争力的本土品牌。Freshippo, Alibaba Group's grocery and fresh goods retail chain, announced similar supportive measures for Chinese exporters. The platform said it has opened a fast-track path for exporters to explore the domestic market, and set up a special zone on its platform where products from these companies will be sold.阿里巴巴集团旗下生鲜零售平台盒马鲜生宣布了针对中国出口企业的类似支持举措。该平台表示已为出口企业开辟开拓国内市场的快速通道，并在平台设立专属销售专区。Liu Junbin, a special researcher at the Internet Economy Institute, a domestic consultancy, said such efforts to support foreign trade enterprises will provide a boost to domestic consumption and provide shoppers with a more diverse range of high-quality products to meet their expanding needs in pursuit of a better life.国内咨询机构互联网经济研究院特聘研究员刘俊斌表示，此类支持外贸企业的举措将助推国内消费升级，并为消费者提供更多元化的优质商品，以满足他们追求美好生活时日益增长的需求。Moreover, against the backdrop new US tariffs from the Trump administration, Chinese cross-border e-commerce app DHgate is gaining increasing traction among US consumers, and has secured the second spot on the free app download charts in the US Apple App Store, just behind OpenAI's ChatGPT.值得注意的是，在特朗普政府实施新关税政策的背景下，中国跨境电商平台敦煌网正加速赢得美国消费者青睐。该平台已攀升至美国苹果应用商店免费应用下载榜第二位，仅次于OpenAI的ChatGPT。Industry insiders attribute DHgate's sudden popularity in the US to Chinese suppliers and manufacturers using short-video platform TikTok to educate US consumers on the global luxury goods market. Many products, such as clothing, handbags, and accessories that are assumed to be European-made, originate from factories in China. Shoppers can now buy these products directly from Chinese suppliers via cross-border e-commerce platforms like DHgate, they added.业内人士认为，敦煌网在美突然走红是因为中国供应商与制造商通过短视频平台TikTok向美国消费者普及全球奢侈品市场知识。许多被误认为产自欧洲的服装、手袋及配饰等商品，实则源自中国工厂。消费者现可通过敦煌网等跨境电商平台直接从中国供应商处购买这些商品。external shocks外部冲击export-oriented companies出口导向型企业domestic sales内销new consumption ecosystem新型消费生态cross-border e-commerce platforms跨境电商平台

مجید حسینی‌نژاد، هم‌بنیان‌گذار گروه علی‌بابا (شامل برندهای شناخته‌شده‌ای مثل خود علی‌بابا و جاباما)، از چهره‌های تأثیرگذار و کارآفرینان شناخته‌شده در اکوسیستم استارتاپی ایرانه که صنعت سفر آنلاین رو متحول کرد.تو این قسمت، مجید داستان پر فراز و نشیب خودش و علی‌بابا رو بدون تعارف تعریف می‌کنه: از شروع کار بعد از یک شکست بزرگ مالی با انگیزه‌ی قویِ "نشونت میدم می‌تونم"، تا چالش‌های سخت مسیر، ورشکستگی‌های چندباره، و عبور از بحران‌هایی مثل کرونا.از سبک مدیریتی خاصش که به "دیکتاتوری مبتنی بر گفتگو" معروفه می‌گه، از اهمیت بالای توسعه فردی و خودآگاهی در فرهنگ سازمانی علی‌بابا، و نگاه منحصربه‌فرد و "منبسط‌کننده‌اش" به چالش‌ها و آینده ایران. می‌شنویم که این روزها بعد از واگذاری مدیرعاملی علی‌بابا، بیشتر روی چه مسائلی تمرکز داره.مقدمه، رویداد هوش مصنوعی و آشنایی اولیه - 00:00:00داستان شکل‌گیری علی‌بابا و ایده اولیه - 00:12:00مدیریت رشد و چالش‌های توسعه علی‌بابا - 00:24:00بحران‌ها، تعدیل نیرو و درس‌های دوره کرونا - 00:36:00فرهنگ سازمانی و مدل مدیریتی در علی‌بابا - 00:48:00نگرش فردی و اهمیت روانشناسی در کسب‌وکار - 01:00:00توسعه فردی، تجربیات شخصی و تأثیر بر زندگی - 01:12:00فلسفه زندگی، نگاه به آینده و جمع‌بندی نهایی - 01:24:00Majid Hosseini Nejad, Co-founder of Alibaba GroupMajid Hosseini Nejad, co-founder of Alibaba Group (including well-known brands such as Alibaba and Jabama), is among the influential figures and prominent entrepreneurs in Iran's startup ecosystem, recognized for revolutionizing the online travel industry.In this episode, Majid openly shares the ups and downs of his personal journey and Alibaba's story: from starting over after a significant financial failure fueled by the strong motivation of "I'll prove I can do it," to navigating tough challenges, multiple bankruptcies, and overcoming crises like COVID-19.He discusses his distinctive management style, famously known as "Dialogue-Based Dictatorship," emphasizes the critical importance of personal development and self-awareness within Alibaba's organizational culture, and shares his unique and expansive perspective on challenges and Iran's future.We'll also hear about the key areas he's focusing on these days after stepping down from the CEO role at Alibaba.مجید حسینی‌نژاد / Majid Hosseini Nejad, Founder of Alibaba Grouphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/majid-hosseini-nejad-41251844حامی این قسمتشرکت ارائه‌دهنده خدمات میزبانی وب - لیموهاست https://limoo.hostاطلاعات بیشتر درباره پادکست طبقه ۱۶ و لینک پادکست‌‌های صوتی https://linktr.ee/tabaghe16#پادکست #طبقه۱۶ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Koľkokrát si sa cítil neschopný, frustrovaný alebo presvedčený, že na niečo jednoducho nemáš? Napadlo ti niekedy, že možno problém nie je v tebe, ale v prostredí, v ktorom sa nachádzaš? V tejto epizóde ti priblížim dôležitosť správneho prostredia pomocou dvoch silných príbehov: ✅ Osobný príbeh s činkami a skrutkami, ktorý dokonale vystihuje princíp „správna skrutka – správny závit“ ✅ Neuveriteľná cesta Jacka Ma, zakladateľa Alibaba Group, ktorého 18-krát odmietli pri hľadaní práceZisti, prečo je kľúčové nájsť si svoje „more“, kde môžeš skutočne vyniknúť!Support the showChcem ťa poprosiť o pomoc. S tvorbou podcastu sú spojené nemalé náklady a tak, ak sa ti tento podcast páči a priniesol ti do života niečo hodnotné, môžeš ma podporiť symbolickým pozvaním na kávu cez túto stránku. Každá, aj maličká pomoc sa ráta. Veľmi pekne ďakujem!PS: Nič sa neboj, tento podcast je a vždy bude zadarmo :) Drobná pomoc sa mi však zíde.

"They will judge Masa to have been an extraordinarily consequential investor and historic figure in world investing and tech investing because he has made not just spectacular bets—but he's made so many people rich. I mean, with other people's money. All these founders, he's given them money, he's been an enormous disruptor, and he's built global businesses. He's built a huge business in Japan on the mobile operator. So for all these reasons, I know he sometimes feels dissatisfied with his legacy, and he's now trying to build his greatest legacy in the march to artificial general intelligence. Maybe the legacy will finally be judged by whether this bet pays off. What will his role be in the AI revolution? I would say to him, 'You've done pretty well so far.' " - Lionel Barber, author of "Gambling Man" Fresh out of the studio, Lionel Barber, former editor of the Financial Times and author of "Gambling Man" joined us in a conversation to unravel the enigmatic figure of Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank Group. We began with Lionel's career journey as the former editor of Financial Times and why inspired him to work on this book. We progressed how he put together a nuanced portrait of Masa as a resilient outsider whose Korean-Japanese heritage fueled his drive to succeed in Japan's stratified society and shared stories of Masa's evolution from software distributor to global tech investor with Vision Fund. Lionel explains how this "eternal optimist" has consistently ridden technological waves for four decades while making and losing billions. He unpacks Masa's unique investment philosophy of thinking big, his revolutionary $100 billion Vision Fund that disrupted venture capital norms, and his latest half-trillion-dollar bet on AI. Throughout the conversation, Lionel reveals the complexity behind the caricature, arguing that history will remember Masa as an extraordinarily consequential figure in global tech investing despite his mixed record of spectacular wins and losses. Episode Highlights: [00:46] Introduction to Lionel Barber and his book on Masayoshi Son [01:34] Lionel's journalism career origins [03:57] Key lessons from Lionel's career [05:25] What makes Masayoshi Son unique [06:33] The resilience behind Masa's character [07:49] The "Gambling Man" and core themes [10:38] Challenges in documenting Masa's story [13:07] How Masa's Korean heritage shaped him [15:49] Defining moments in Masa's business career [18:33] Evolution from software distributor to global tech conglomerate [22:21] Masa's dual roles: operator and investor [24:21] Understanding Masa's investment philosophy [31:30] How Masa changed tech investing [34:30] The hardest question about Masa [35:23] Masa's historical legacy [39:10] Closing remarks and book recommendations Profile: Lionel Barber, Author of "Gambling Man" LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lionel-barber-473826135/ X: https://x.com/lionelbarber?lang=en BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yv5ux5l7lcvmxexdswey5hqx Gambling Man Profile Page: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Gambling-Man/Lionel-Barber/9781668070741 FT Profile: https://www.ft.com/lionel-barber Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. The proper credits for the intro and end music are "Energetic Sports Drive." G. Thomas Craig mixed and edited the episode in both video and audio format. Here are the links to watch or listen to our podcast. Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

1. Avrupa Birliği, Almanya'nın Dresden şehrinde kurulacak çip üretim tesisi için 920 milyon euro'luk (Alman) devlet desteğini onayladı. “Infineon” adlı fabrikanın tam kapasiteyle üretime geçmesi 2031 yılını bulacak2. Kaiber AI, storyboard, video, ses, sfx (MMAudio) ve fazlasını üretebilen düğüm tabanlı bir tuval olan Film Superstudio Pro'yu piyasaya sürdü. Karakter, nesne, yer ve stili tek bir sayfada eğitin 3. Grok 3'ün ses başka seviyede. Ama bize gelmedi.4. AI YouTube Shorts Generator . Açık kaynak githubda5. Claude 2.7 geldi. Codeda zirveye çıktı6. GPT deep search herkese açıldı. Ayda 10 arama. Grok günde 507. GPT 4.5 geldi gelecek.8. Apple debeleniyor: Apple, Teksas merkezli yeni bir fabrikada yapay zeka sunucuları yapmak üzere 20.000 yeni işçi kiralama da dahil olmak üzere önümüzdeki dört yıl boyunca ABD'de 500 milyar dolardan fazla harcama planlarını duyurdu.Apple, 250.000 metrekarelik Teksas fabrikasının Apple Intelligence AI modelini destekleyeceğini ve 2026 yılında açılacağını söyledi. 9. Qwen herşeyi açtı ve tools diye bir araç seti getiriyor10. Alibaba Group'tan , Wan 2.1 açık kaynaklı ve OpenAI Sora'dan daha iyi - Metinden Videoya - Görüntüden-Videoya - Video Düzenleme - Metinden Görüntüye - Videodan Sese 11. Deepseek R2 erken geliyor. 12. Starbase, Texas'da kurulmaya başladı.13. Ukrayna ABD'nin nadir mineraller anlaşmasını kabul etti Şimdilik bilinen, çıkan mineral gelirlerinin 50%'si bir fona aktarılacak, fonun geliri ise Ukrayna' ya aktarılacak. Abd nin önermesi, Rusya' nın ABD ekonomik ilişkisi bulunan bir ülkeye bir daha saldırmaya cesaret edemeyeceği. Ayrıca, ABDli şirketler Ukrayna'ya bu mineralleri çıkarmak için yatırım yapacak 14. OpenAI, ülkenin ücretsiz yapay zeka araçları ve öğretmen eğitimi sağlamayı amaçlayan AI Leap 2025 girişiminin bir parçası olarak, Eylül 2025'e kadar 10. ve 11. sınıflardan başlayarak tüm ortaokullarda ChatGPT Edu'yu kullanıma sunmak için Estonya ile ortaklık kurduğunu duyurdu#yapayzeka #deepresearch #qwen

Four years after launching a regulatory crackdown that plunged the tech sector into turmoil, China’s President Xi Jinping sat down publicly with Alibaba Group’s co-founder Jack Ma, whose firm bore the brunt of that campaign, and a number of other tech titans. On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Lucille Liu and Opinion columnist Catherine Thorbecke about Xi’s shifting stance and where the tech industry goes from here. Read more: Xi’s Embrace of China Tech CEOs Spurs Hope of Big Economic Shift - Bloomberg Further listening: China’s New Game Plan For Dealing with Trump Tariffs See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four years after launching a regulatory crackdown that plunged the tech sector into turmoil, China’s President Xi Jinping sat down publicly with Alibaba Group’s co-founder Jack Ma, whose firm bore the brunt of that campaign, and a number of other tech titans. On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Lucille Liu and Opinion columnist Catherine Thorbecke about Xi’s shifting stance and where the tech industry goes from here. Read more: Xi’s Embrace of China Tech CEOs Spurs Hope of Big Economic Shift - Bloomberg Further listening: China’s New Game Plan For Dealing with Trump Tariffs See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plus, Alibaba Group beats analyst expectations with fastest revenue growth since 2023. And Lenovo plans to leverage DeepSeek breakthrough to fuel PC sales. Charlotte Gartenberg hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Year of the Snake approaches, sales of products with serpentine elements have witnessed explosive growth on major e-commerce platforms, which experts said showcases not only the strong resonance of traditional Chinese culture among shoppers, but also the vitality of the country's consumer market.随着蛇年的临近，各大电商平台上的“蛇元素”产品销售量激增。专家表示，这不仅体现了中国传统文化在消费者当中引起了强烈共鸣，也展现了中国消费市场的蓬勃活力。Snakes are the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, and are considered to be symbols of wisdom, longevity and good fortune.蛇是中国十二生肖12年循环中的第六个生肖，被视为智慧、长寿、好运的象征。Data from e-commerce platform JD showed that searches for snake-related merchandise via its online marketplace surged more than 100 percent year-on-year in the past week, with serpent-themed commemorative coins, spring couplets and gold ornaments leading the trend.电商平台京东的数据显示，过去一周，其线上市场“蛇元素”商品的搜索量同比增长超过100%，其中以蛇为主题的纪念币、春联、黄金饰品位居前列。The transaction volume of such reptilian-related home accessories topped the list, followed by cultural and educational supplies, clothing, toys, musical instruments and kitchenware, JD said.京东表示，从“蛇元素”产品销量看，家居饰品位居榜首，其次是文教文化用品、服饰、玩具乐器、厨具。According to JD, consumers from Guangdong province, Beijing and Jiangsu province purchased the most products featuring snake-themed elements, such as red envelopes, couplets, lanterns and zodiac decorations. Underwear and socks with images of the slithery creatures have gained popularity among Chinese consumers aged between 26 and 45, it added.据京东介绍，广东、北京、江苏成为购买“蛇元素”商品最多的省份，如红包、春联、灯笼、生肖挂饰。此外，印有蛇形图案的内衣和袜子在26-45岁的中国消费者中颇受欢迎。Online discount retailer Vipshop said sales of sweatshirts incorporating serpentine themes surged 71 percent between Jan 6 and Jan 12 compared with the previous week, while the turnover of similarly themed children's coats soared 68 percent.线上折扣零售商唯品会表示，1月6日至12日，“蛇元素”运动卫衣销量较前一周增长71%，相同主题的儿童外套销量则增长68%。Such themed nut gift boxes and bracelets are favored by consumers, with their sales jumping 53 percent and 31 percent, respectively, during the period, said Vipshop.唯品会称，“蛇元素”坚果礼盒和手链也深受消费者喜爱，同期销量分别增长53%和31%。Moreover, international luxury brands, including Burberry, Tiffany and Qeelin, have launched more than 1,000 styles of limited edition commodities with snake elements specially tailored for the Chinese market on Tmall, Alibaba Group's business-to-customer platform, ahead of Spring Festival.此外，在阿里巴巴集团B2C平台天猫上，博柏利、蒂芙尼、麒麟珠宝等国际奢侈品牌已推出1000多款为中国市场量身定制的“蛇元素”限量版商品，迎接春节的到来。Jason Yu, managing director and vice-executive president of CTR Media Convergence Institute, said the purchasing frenzy of zodiac-related products ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival holiday demonstrates Chinese consumers' aspiration for a better life in the new year.CTR媒体融合研究院总经理、执行副院长虞坚表示，春节前夕迎来生肖相关产品的购买热潮，体现了中国消费者对新一年美好生活的向往。Yu said China's Generation Z shoppers—those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s—are displaying a growing sense of national pride and confidence in Chinese culture, and snake-themed products weaving traditional Chinese cultural elements into their modern design are gaining traction among younger consumers.虞坚说，中国的Z世代消费者（即1996-2010年出生的人）展现出越来越强的中国文化自信和民族自豪感，将中国传统文化元素与现代设计融合的“蛇元素”产品正受到年轻消费者的青睐。Yu expects China's consumer market will gain growth momentum this year, fueled by a series of pro-consumption policies, such as the consumer goods trade-in program. He called for enhanced efforts to improve household incomes and boost people's ability and willingness to spend, so as to further perk up consumption.虞坚预计，在一系列促消费政策的推动下，如消费品以旧换新政策，今年中国消费市场将获得增长动力。他建议，加大力度提高家庭收入，增强人们的消费能力和消费意愿，以进一步提振消费。Spring Festival is the holiday that Chinese people attach the most importance to, and major Chinese online retailers have launched promotional events ahead of the weeklong holiday, said Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.商务部国际贸易经济合作研究院副研究员洪勇表示，春节是中国人最重视的节日，中国各大线上零售商已在为期一周的春节假期到来之前推出了促销活动。The cultural connotations that the Chinese zodiac carries have stimulated people's passion for buying ahead of the long holiday, and this shopping surge is crucial for expanding domestic demand and promoting recovery of the consumer market amid downward economic pressure, Hong said.洪勇说，中国生肖所承载的文化内涵激发了人们长假前的购物热情，这一购物热潮对于扩大内需、促进消费市场在经济下行压力中复苏至关重要。He added that Chinese consumers' pursuit of Year of the Snake-themed products has also injected fresh vitality into the inheritance of traditional culture, adding that brands should capitalize on traditional Chinese culture to launch more innovative products.他补充说，中国消费者对蛇年主题产品的追求也为传统文化的传承注入了新的活力，并指出品牌应利用中国传统文化推出更多创新产品。turnovern.（一定时期内的）营业额，成交量

Vous ne savez pas dans quoi investir en Bourse ? Des gérants vous donnent des idées de valeurs, secteurs, matières premières... Aujourd'hui, c'est Tino Hugues, fondateur du Podcast de la Bourse et co-gérant du salon MTT.

On 21 November, two stories rocked China's ecommerce scene, with global implications.  In this episode, we discuss the first story: Alibaba Group's announcement to merge its domestic Chinese and international ecommerce businesses into the new Alibaba E-Commerce Business Group, led by Jiang Fan.  This move aims to streamline operations, foster synergies, and better position Alibaba against formidable rivals like Pinduoduo. (The second story—PDD Group's Q3 earnings miss—is covered in episode 102.) In this episode, we explore: Jiang Fan's journey from a mobile advertising entrepreneur to a pivotal leader at Alibaba; Challenges of navigating leadership amidst corporate restructuring; The significance of this merger in a rapidly evolving ecommerce landscape;  How this merger mirrors Pinduoduo and Temu's strategy The ecommerce competition in China and globally is entering a very interesting and probably even more intensified phase now.  Chapters: 00:00:20: Alibaba's ecommerce merger 00:00:50: Who is Jiang Fan?  00:08:30: Transforming Alibaba, and its reversals 00:11:45: Challenges of leading a big organization

Chinese consumers have exhibited robust purchasing power for high-quality and intelligent products containing innovative technologies during the Singles Day shopping extravaganza.在“双十一”购物狂欢节期间，中国消费者对包含创新技术的高品质和智能产品表现出强劲购买力。Experts said this has played a vital role in promoting the recovery of consumption and shoring up economic growth in the country.专家表示，这对促进国内消费复苏和支撑经济增长起到了重要作用。Major Chinese e-commerce platforms have extended the promotional period, and adopted a simple and more pragmatic approach by canceling presale campaigns this year.中国的主要电商平台都延长了促销期，并采取简单务实的做法，取消了今年的预售活动。Instead, direct price cuts have become the preferred strategy to attract price-conscious customers and bolster sales during China's biggest online shopping event. 直接降价反而成为吸引价格敏感型顾客的首选策略，在中国最大的网购活动期间助力促售。Experts also said that unlike in the past, when record-smashing gross merchandise volume, or GMV, through discount-led sales had come to characterize the 11-11 or Double Eleven promotional campaign, chasing high GMV is no longer the focus now.专家们还表示，以往通过折扣带动销售来创造破纪录的商品交易总额（GMV）是双十一促销活动的特点，而现在，追求高GMV已不再是重点。Chinese shoppers are becoming more rational and carefully reviewing their needs, with an emphasis on the quality and value of commodities, they added.专家补充，中国购物者变得更加理性，他们会仔细思考自己的需求，注重商品的质量和价值。Data from Tmall, Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group's business-to-customer platform, showed that in the first four hours after the shopping carnival officially kicked off at 8 pm on Oct 21, 174 brands saw their sales surpass 100 million yuan ($14 million).中国科技巨头阿里巴巴集团旗下B2C平台天猫的数据显示，在“双十一”于10月21日晚8点正式拉开帷幕后的四个小时内，有174个品牌的销售额超过了1亿元人民币（约1400万美元）。During this period, the turnover of more than 12,000 brands surged over 100 percent year-on-year and the sales of nearly 6,000 brands skyrocketed more than 500 percent compared with the same period last year.在此期间，12000多个品牌的营业额同比增长超过100%，近6000个品牌的销售额同比增长超过500%。The transaction volume of Apple Inc's products on Tmall exceeded 1 billion yuan within five minutes, while sales of domestic smartphone brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi and Vivo all surpassed 100 million yuan in the first four hours of the promotional event, according to Tmall.天猫数据显示，苹果公司产品在天猫上的交易额5分钟内就突破10亿元，而华为、小米、vivo等国产智能手机品牌在促销活动的前4个小时内销售额均突破1亿元。Consumers preferred to snap up bargains via livestreaming on e-commerce platforms, with sales from some top-tier livestreamers on Taobao Live, Alibaba's livestreaming arm, surpassing 100 million yuan within a short period.消费者更喜欢通过电商平台上的直播抢购特价商品，阿里巴巴旗下直播平台淘宝直播上一些头部主播直播间的销售额在短时间内就突破了1亿元。JD, another major Chinese e-commerce player, has launched a subsidy campaign worth 10 billion yuan, and given discounts for commodities included in the consumer goods trade-in program, such as home appliances and computers. It has also stepped up efforts to upgrade supply chains and logistics services.中国另一家大型电商平台京东推出了价值100亿元的补贴活动，并为家电、电脑等以旧换新计划中的商品提供折扣。京东还加大力度升级供应链和物流服务。JD said it recorded a double-digit year-on-year growth in transaction volume, orders, and user numbers between 8 pm on Oct 14, when its promotional gala opened, and 9 pm on Oct 31.京东称，从10月14日晚8点促销活动开始至10月31日晚9点，其交易量、订单数和用户数量均实现了两位数的同比增长。More than 16,000 brands saw their sales surge over threefold year-on-year, while the number of brands exceeding 100 million yuan in turnover increased over 400 percent compared with the same period last year. More than 17,000 merchants witnessed their order volumes soar over five times from a year earlier.16000多个品牌的销售额同比增长超过3倍，营业额超过1亿元的品牌数量同比增长超过400%。17000多家商户的订单量比去年同期激增5倍多。New users who bought apparel and cosmetics via JD's online marketplaces skyrocketed over 140 percent year-on-year, while JD's livestreaming channel saw a 245 percent year-on-year increase in order volumes.通过京东网上商城购买服装和化妆品的新用户同比激增超过140%，而京东直播频道的订单量同比增长245%。Consumer electronic devices witnessed robust growth during the shopping extravaganza.电子设备消费在购物节期间实现了强劲增长。The transaction volume of gaming laptops rose 120 percent year-on-year during the shopping spree, and AI smartphones and 4K projectors experienced 100 percent growth in turnover, while the sales of AI learning devices and 3D printers surged over 10 times from the same period last year, JD said.京东表示，“双十一”期间，游戏笔记本电脑的成交量同比增长120%，AI智能手机和4K投影仪的成交量增长100%，AI学习设备和3D打印机的销售量比去年同期激增10倍以上。Furthermore, a series of products that represent scientific and technological innovations achieved by Chinese enterprises have been made available on e-commerce platform Taobao. These products cover fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, aerospace, new energy and quantum technology. 此外，代表中国企业科技创新成果的一系列产品已在电商平台淘宝上进行销售。这些产品涵盖信息技术、人工智能、航空航天、新能源和量子技术等领域。For example, consumers can directly purchase the country's independently developed AS700 civil manned airship and enjoy discounts. The airship can be used for sightseeing, emergency rescue and geophysical exploration of the skies, among other things.例如，消费者可以直接购买中国自主研发的AS700民用载人飞艇，并享受折扣优惠。该飞艇可用于观光旅游、紧急救援和天空地球物理勘探等。The Double Eleven festival was just a 24-hour event on Nov 11 when it was unveiled by Alibaba in 2009, but has stretched into a weekslong shopping spree lasting from mid-October to mid-November this year. Online retailers initiated the promotional event one week earlier this year than previously.阿里巴巴在2009年推出“双十一”活动时，该购物节还只是一个在11月11日举行的24小时活动，但今年的“双十一”已发展成从10月中旬持续到11月中旬的长达数周的购物狂欢节。与以往相比，今年的促销活动提前了一周。"Consumption has become the main driving force boosting China's economic growth, and the Singles Day shopping carnival is pivotal to unleashing consumers' purchasing potential, bolstering domestic demand and promoting consumption recovery," said Wang Yun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research.中国宏观经济研究院研究员王蕴表示：“消费已成为拉动中国经济增长的主要动力，‘双十一'购物狂欢节对于释放消费者购买潜力、拉动内需、促进消费复苏具有举足轻重的作用。”More stimulus policies are needed to stabilize and expand employment, improve household incomes, and boost people's ability and willingness to spend, so as to further perk up consumption, Wang added.王蕴补充，需要更多的刺激政策来稳定和扩大就业，提高家庭收入，增强人们的消费能力和意愿，从而进一步刺激消费。China's retail sales, a significant indicator of consumption strength, rose 3.3 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of this year, said the National Bureau of Statistics. Online sales remained a bright spot, rising 8.6 percent year-on-year during the January-September period. 国家统计局数据显示，作为衡量消费实力的重要指标，今年前三季度，中国社会消费品零售总额同比增长3.3%，线上消费仍是一大亮点，网上零售额1-9月同比增长8.6%。Based on a survey by global consulting firm AlixPartners in early October, consumers still view Singles Day as the most important shopping festival. Most consumers are likely to maintain their spending levels from the previous year, with 25 percent of interviewed shoppers saying that there would be an increase in their overall spending, the consultancy said.根据全球咨询公司艾睿铂10月初的一项调查，消费者仍将“双十一”视为最重要的购物节。咨询公司称，大多数消费者可能会保持去年的消费水平，25%的受访购物者表示他们的总体消费会有所增加。Most of the increased spending based on the survey would be in apparel, daily necessities and cosmetics. Consumers are likely to remain sensible in their spending given the current economic backdrop, it added.根据调查，大部分增加的支出将用于服装、日用品和化妆品。该调查补充，在当前的经济背景下，消费者可能会保持理性消费。Online retailers have made promotional methods simpler this time, with a key focus on improving user experience and seeking high-quality and long-term growth, as Chinese consumers are more prudent and rational about potential purchases, said Jason Yu, managing director and vice-executive president of CTR Media Convergence Institute.央视市场研究（CTR）总经理、CTR媒体融合研究院执行副院长虞坚认为，随着中国消费者对潜在购买行为更加谨慎和理性，网络零售商此次将促销方式变得更加简单，重点放在提升用户体验、寻求高质量和长期增长上。Yu said retailers hope to roll out new products to attract consumers and build brand image during the shopping spree.虞坚表示，网络零售商希望在购物热潮中推出新产品来吸引消费者，并树立品牌形象。High-quality and intelligent commodities are crucial for stimulating the purchasing appetite of consumers and unleashing new consumption potential, he said.他说，高品质、智能化的商品对于刺激消费者的购买欲、释放新的消费潜力至关重要。"A series of pro-consumption policies, such as the consumer goods trade-in program, have played a significant role in bolstering the sales of consumer electronic products and household appliances on major online marketplaces," Yu added. 虞坚补充：“消费品以旧换新等一系列有利于消费的政策，对促进电子消费品和家用电器在主要线上市场的销售发挥了重要作用。”Meanwhile, Taobao and Tmall have officially integrated JD's logistics during this year's shopping carnival as sellers on these platforms can choose JD Logistics as the delivery method. JD has accepted the mobile payment option from Alipay, which is operated by financial technology company Ant Group.与此同时，淘宝和天猫在今年“双十一”期间正式整合了京东物流，这些平台上的卖家可以选择京东物流作为配送方式。京东已接入由金融科技公司蚂蚁集团运营的支付宝提供的移动支付方式。Industry insiders said these moves signify a key step in breaking down barriers between the two leading internet companies, enhancing interconnectivity of different platforms, and elevating the online shopping experience of users.业内人士表示，这些举措标志着两家先进互联网公司在打破壁垒、加强不同平台互联互通、提升用户在线购物体验方面迈出了关键一步。Mo Daiqing, a senior analyst at the Internet Economy Institute, a domestic consultancy, said major e-commerce platforms have ramped up efforts to offer steep discounts and shopping subsidies as well as simplify promotion methods during the prolonged shopping carnival to rev up sales.网经社电子商务研究中心高级分析师莫岱青表示，各大电商平台已加大力度，在持续很久的购物狂欢节期间提供大幅折扣和购物补贴，并简化促销方式，以刺激销售。"The policy measures to encourage trade-ins of consumer goods have not only stimulated consumers' desire to purchase, but also bolstered the sales and upgrades of household appliances, and propelled the popularity of green and energy-saving products," Mo said.“消费品以旧换新的政策措施不仅刺激了消费者的购买欲望，还促进了家电产品的销售和升级换代，推动了绿色节能产品的普及。”莫岱青说。She noted that Chinese consumers have become more value-conscious and are paying more attention to the quality and cost-effectiveness of commodities. Mo also emphasized that online retailers should launch new products and upgrade supply chains to attract a new breed of young shoppers.她指出，中国消费者变得更加注重价值，更加关注商品的质量和成本效益。莫岱青还强调，线上零售商应推出新产品并升级供应链，以吸引新一代年轻购物者。It is noteworthy that generative artificial intelligence technology has witnessed a ramp-up in China's retail industry during this year's 11-11 promotion.值得注意的是，在今年的“双十一”促销活动中，生成式人工智能技术在中国零售业迎来了爆发期。According to a report from consultancy Bain & Company, Chinese retail players are investing in generative AI to boost sales and Singles Day could be the perfect opportunity.根据贝恩咨询公司的一份报告，中国零售商正在投资发展生成式人工智能技术，以期拉动销售额，今年的“双十一”成为生成式AI大显身手的好机会。The report said 52 percent of the surveyed merchants have used at least one generative AI-enabled tool. More than half of them have used generative AI-powered customer service chatbot tools, while about one in three have used AI to generate content. The survey interviewed over 500 merchants trading on China's major e-commerce platforms.报告称，52%的商家使用过至少一种生成式AI工具，其中超过50%的商家使用过AI智能客服机器人，还有约1/3的商家利用AI生成内容。这项调查访问了中国主要电子商务平台上的500多家商户。It stated that the era of high double-digit increases in the GMV during the Singles Day shopping spree has come to an end, forcing retailers to focus more on sustainable growth, profitability and customer loyalty, rather than a win-at-all-costs obsession with the top line amid current economic headwinds.该报告指出，“双十一”期间GMV以两位数高速增长的时代已经结束，这迫使零售商更加关注可持续增长、盈利能力和客户忠诚度，而不是在当前的经济逆风中一味追求最高利润。Kelly Liu, partner at Bain & Company's Greater China retail and performance improvement practices, said AI's increasing prominence across Chinese retail sector offers a timely boost to a maturing industry that is facing challenges such as slower retail sales growth.贝恩公司全球合伙人、大中华区零售和绩效提升业务领导团队成员刘洋表示，人工智能在中国零售业的影响力和作用与日俱增，这为面临零售销售增长放缓等挑战的成熟行业提供了及时的推动力。Generative AI gives Chinese retailers access to a powerful tool for increasing sales and lowering cost, Liu said.刘洋认为，生成式人工智能为中国零售商提供了促进降本增效的强大工具。"It is vital that Chinese retailers deepen their customer engagement. AI tools can energize customer retention efforts, enabling e-commerce players to hyper-personalize their engagement with consumers and create bespoke shopping experiences for them," said James Yang, head of Bain & Company's Greater China retail practice.贝恩公司大中华区零售业务主席杨大坤表示，“中国零售商必须加强与顾客的互动。AI工具可以优化顾客挽留措施，帮助电商平台打造高度个性化的顾客互动方式，为顾客带来量身定制的购物体验。”Chinese retailers need to transition faster from AI experimentation to deployment at scale. The retailers that master generative AI in three key areas — deepening customer engagement, turbo-charging productivity and cost savings, and finding new growth beyond trade — could build a lasting strategic advantage, according to the report.中国零售商需要加快从AI实验过渡到大规模部署的步伐。报告指出，零售商如果能掌握生成式AI技术，并利用其成功强化顾客经营、推动降本增效、找到新增长点，就能建立长久的战略优势。Singles Day shopping extravaganza“双十一”购物狂欢节price-conscious customers价格敏感型顾客appareln. 服装gross merchandise volume商品交易总额

This Day in Legal History: Volstead Act SignedOn October 28, 1919, the United States Congress passed the Volstead Act, formally known as the National Prohibition Act, over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. Named after Congressman Andrew Volstead, who championed it, the Act provided the legal framework to enforce the 18th Amendment, which had been ratified earlier that year. This amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors, marking the start of the Prohibition era in the United States.The Volstead Act defined "intoxicating liquor" as any beverage containing more than 0.5% alcohol, which was stricter than many Americans had anticipated. Though the Act aimed to curb alcoholism and reduce crime by eliminating the consumption of alcohol, it had some unintended consequences. A significant black market for alcohol quickly emerged, and illegal establishments known as "speakeasies" flourished in cities nationwide. Organized crime syndicates, most notably those led by figures like Al Capone, capitalized on the demand for alcohol, leading to a rise in criminal enterprises.Law enforcement agencies found it challenging to control the widespread defiance of Prohibition, and corruption among officials became rampant as many officers accepted bribes to look the other way. Public sentiment gradually turned against Prohibition as the social costs, including loss of tax revenue and an overwhelmed criminal justice system, began to outweigh the intended benefits. By 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified, effectively repealing the 18th Amendment and ending Prohibition. The Volstead Act remains a critical historical example of how complex societal problems cannot always be resolved through restrictive legislation alone, highlighting the challenges of enforcing morality laws on a resistant population.A federal jury in Delaware awarded Apple $250 in damages, ruling that Masimo Corp.'s original smartwatch designs infringed on Apple's patents for the Apple Watch. The verdict reflects a limited win for Apple, as the jury found that only Masimo's discontinued designs—not its current products—infringed Apple's design patents. Apple's minimal damages request was a strategic move to secure a jury trial rather than a bench trial, emphasizing its desire to stop Masimo's alleged copying of Apple Watch features, not to seek financial compensation. Apple's legal team highlighted its innovation in smartwatch design, while Masimo's attorneys argued that Masimo's products were built around its pulse-oximetry technology, unrelated to the design patents at issue.Masimo countered Apple's claims by defending the novelty of its blood-oxygen measurement features and asserting that its designs prioritize functionality over aesthetics, unlike Apple's approach. Masimo attempted to avoid a jury trial by offering Apple a $900 cash payment, which Apple rejected, and the court ruled the case must proceed. The jury ultimately found that Masimo intentionally infringed two Apple design patents related to earlier product models but ruled out any infringement related to Masimo's current items, undermining Apple's case for an injunction.Apple Wins $250, But Little Else, at Trial on Watch Patents (2)Alibaba Group has agreed to pay $433.5 million to settle a securities fraud class action filed by investors in Manhattan federal court. The lawsuit, which began in 2020, accused Alibaba of misleading shareholders about its competitive practices and the failed initial public offering (IPO) of Ant Group, its financial technology affiliate known for the digital payment platform Alipay. Shareholders claimed Alibaba misrepresented its business practices and failed to disclose that it faced a significant $2.8 billion antitrust fine from Chinese regulators for allegedly pressuring merchants to sell exclusively on its platform.Though Judge George B. Daniels previously dismissed the claims related to the Ant IPO, he allowed the antitrust allegations to proceed. The $433.5 million settlement ranks among the largest 50 securities class-action settlements in U.S. history under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Alibaba maintains its denial of wrongdoing, stating it settled to avoid the costs and burdens of prolonged litigation. The settlement requires court approval, with Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP representing the shareholders and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP defending Alibaba.Alibaba to Pay $433 Million to Settle Antitrust Investor SuitAlibaba to pay $433.5 million to settle shareholder lawsuit over monopoly claims | ReutersAs the U.S. presidential election nears, Republicans aligned with Donald Trump have faced multiple legal setbacks in battleground states, hindering their push for tighter election restrictions. Over the past three weeks, courts in Georgia, Virginia, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Michigan have blocked Republican-backed initiatives, such as attempts to purge voter rolls and mandate hand-counting ballots. Notably, a Georgia judge invalidated seven rule changes proposed by Trump's allies, ruling them unlawful and too close to Election Day to implement. Virginia also halted the removal of allegedly non-citizen voters, with the judge citing federal laws against voter roll purges within 90 days of an election.In contrast, Republicans recently succeeded in enforcing stricter mail-in ballot deadlines in Mississippi. Despite setbacks, the party maintains its legal strategy aims to ensure election integrity, though experts suggest these efforts might instead be designed to spread doubts about the election's legitimacy. Analysts speculate that if Trump loses, these legal actions could fuel claims of fraud, casting doubt on the outcome.Republican battleground-state legal blitz falters ahead of election | ReutersA divided 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overreached by ordering Tesla CEO Elon Musk to delete a 2018 tweet about unionization. The tweet implied Tesla employees could lose stock options if they unionized, which the NLRB previously determined was an unlawful threat. However, the court's 9-8 decision held that Musk's tweet was protected under the First Amendment, as it was “speech on a topic of public concern,” making the NLRB's deletion order excessive.The majority opinion, supported by Republican-appointed judges, did not address whether Musk's tweet itself violated labor law, focusing instead on free speech rights. The ruling also instructed the NLRB to reconsider its mandate that Tesla reinstate a pro-union employee who was terminated. In a dissent, Judge James Dennis, joined by Democratic-appointed judges, criticized the decision as lacking substantial legal and factual grounding.Tesla Wins Challenge to NLRB Decision on Musk Union Tweet (1) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Christopher "Chris" Carl became the first U.S. Head of Marketing at AliExpress in 2023. Under his leadership, order volume increased by 60%, the brand's share of voice grew by 75%, headcount expanded by 400%, social media following surged by 500%, and brand awareness doubled. Chris's impressive marketing career began as an intern at Calvin Klein. He then moved to BBDO in Germany, where he worked on pricing strategies, market expansions, and e-commerce development for European brands. Following this, he launched the U.S. office for Pulse Advertising, focusing on influencer marketing, and served as COO and President. He also founded his own men's grooming brand before taking on his current role at AliExpress, where he continues to make a significant impact.AliExpress is a global online retail platform owned by the Alibaba Group, headquartered in China. Launched in 2010, it connects buyers with a wide range of sellers, primarily manufacturers and wholesalers from China, offering products at competitive prices. AliExpress focus is on facilitating international trade by allowing businesses and individuals to sell a wide range of products to consumers around the world at an affordable cost.On today's show, Alan and Chris discuss what AliExpress is and how it fits within the Alibaba Group. They explore advertising campaigns and partnerships, including the recent collaboration with UEFA and the latest campaign featuring David Beckham. Their conversation also touches on consumer behavior, the future of e-commerce, and how AliExpress plans to capitalize on emerging trends.In this episode, you'll learn: Strategies to enhance the online shopping experience while driving affordabilityInsights into consumer behavior and its implications for market positioningInnovative approaches to leverage emerging trends for competitive advantageKey Highlights: [01:35] Story of being brushed with fame in New York[03:13] Career path[07:20] Insights you gained from prior career experiences [11:42] AliExpress' aspirations in the U.S.[14:00] State of U.S. consumers today[16:30] Where AliExpress is focusing its energy[19:23] Campaign with David Beckham [22:33] What's next for AliExpress[24:55] Experience of your past that defines you[26:18] Advice to younger self[27:11] A topic that you and other marketers need to learn more about[28:13] Trends or subcultures others should follow[29:37] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers todayLooking for more?Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's MadTech Daily, Dot discusses: AI-powered search engine Perplexity seeks massive funding round; Alibaba Group's Quanzhantui digital marketing tool boosts revenue on Taobao and Tmall platforms; TV seeks Head Of Generative AI Innovation to drive AI-driven content creation for TV shows, films, and digital-first content.

We do have a housing problem in this country, but it may not be the one you're thinking. The price of homes has continued to rise and it has left some people out of the housing market, but that may not be a bad thing. I say that because people are doing anything they can to buy a home at these high prices. This includes risky endeavors like cashing in their retirement savings or borrowing from friends and family. The Atlanta Fed's affordability index was recently at 68.5, which would mark its lowest levels since 2006. I worry people are getting in over their heads as ownership costs, which include mortgage, taxes, and insurance are now occupying nearly 44% of median household income. Generally the 30% level is considered a threshold for affordability and that was last seen in 2021. I worry when the economy slows down, you could see people selling their houses because they can't afford them. I think it's rather silly that some campaign promises have talked about giving $25,000 for down payments or expanded tax credits for developers to build affordable rental housing. These sound good as soundbites, but I think they're terrible ideas because all they will do is pushup demand and that will continue to put more pressure on prices. People don't realize that builders say roughly 25% of the cost of new homes is from regulatory costs like building codes and zoning issues. If we could get the local government to back off, you could see a nice reduction in prices. The problem is we have the federal government trying to give you money to buy a higher priced home and local governments are raking in the dough collecting fees on those higher priced homes. Throughout history, it has never been great to invest or buy into any type of asset when there is a buying frenzy going on. Look at the history books if you don't believe me and then think ahead what will happen in the next 5 to 10 years. I know my opinion goes against many experts, but in our over 40 years in asset management, we have seen how things can change unexpectedly.   Is the new iPhone 16 going to move the stock price up? Last weekend an article in Barron's written by Alex Eule tried to convince people that Apple stock will increase based on looking back to the original iPhone and every iPhone release after that. Based on the research, Apple stock has returned an average of 11.7% six months after iPhone releases. But before you run out and buy the stock, one thing I noticed was there was no discussion around price/earnings ratios during those launces. I believe it is very important to not over pay for any company and I am curious what the PE ratios were during those last 24 iPhone launches. Holding Apple several years ago I know the multiple was not where it is now in many of those cases. Don't get me wrong, I think Apple is a great company and has great products, but I worry with the stock trading at 31 times next year ‘s earnings it is more than fully valued. I also believe some of that data was skewed considering the first iPhone launch led to 63.7% return six months after the release and there are several instances where the stock did nothing or actually fell like the iPhone 12 (-3.4%), the iPhone 13 (-1.3%), or the iPhone 15 (-1.0%). I was surprised to see that analysts are more negative than I expected on the stock as currently nearly 1/3 of them have either a hold or a sell rating. Mr. Eule does correctly point out that if Apple beats expectations, the price earnings ratio will come down. However, that assumption would also mean that the stock price did not climb to offset the earnings beat. We have avoided investing in Apple for quite some time now, but I will still not break my discipline and I will not overpay for any company because history has proven eventually everything comes back to the norm.    ETFs have proven not to be as effective as mutual funds When Jack Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, was CEO back in the 90s, he refused to add indexed ETFs (exchange traded funds) to their lineup. His concern was it was too easy for people to jump in out of the products and not be long-term investors. There are now long-term studies proving that he was right. A report from Morningstar shows there is a 0.9% per year gap over the study's 10-year period favoring investors who used indexed mutual funds over investors who used indexed ETFs. While it might not sound like a lot, the compounding takes hold in the long-term and I believe it further illustrates why people should not trade. Unfortunately, even financial advisors who control about 2/3 of the ETF assets appear to be just as jumpy and emotional as their clients. Maybe they're just trying to prove their worth due to the management fees that they charge on top of the ETF fees.   Is our tax code too complicated? I know many people hate paying taxes, but have you ever thought about how much time you spend compiling all those documents? According to the Tax Foundation, it is estimated that the time and money individuals and businesses are spending on complying with the federal tax code this year could reach 7.9 billion hours and $133 billion in out-of-pocket expenses—or $546 billion when also accounting for lost productivity. I believe a major problem is that we keep adding more and more complications to the tax code and between 1994 and 2021 it grew in length by 40% to about four million words and has expanded steadily since. Regulations keep climbing and according to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, from 2000 to 2022 the Department of Treasury's annual volume of regulations grew 35% to 17,631 pages from 13,070. With all the complications, it's no wonder most people don't understand how taxes work and what they actually pay in taxes!   The Third Type of Retirement Account When it comes to retirement accounts, most people are familiar with 401(k)s, Rollover IRAs, and Roth IRAs.  These accounts have tax benefits when contributing and withdrawing money and allow either tax-deferred or tax-free growth.  However, there are also restrictions such as annual contribution limits and age requirements to make qualified withdrawals.  In addition to these pre-tax or Roth accounts, it can also be helpful to supplement retirement income with a third type of retirement account, which isn't a retirement account at all – the taxable brokerage account. There are no limits when making contributions or withdrawals and technically withdrawals from this account are not taxable.  This account produces income in the form of capital gains, dividends, and interest which must be reported every year whether withdrawals are taken or not, which is why the withdrawals are not a taxable event.  However capital gains and dividends are taxed at a lower rate than other types of income and in retirement it is more common to be in lower tax brackets which means the tax rate on those gains and dividends can be as low as 0%.   Retirees may have gross income of $125k or higher in some cases while still falling in that 0% tax rate.  It is great and typically preferred to fund retirement accounts but if those are being maxed out, it can make sense to put addition savings into a taxable account.  These types of accounts aren't utilized as often as they should and they are more commonly used when receiving a large sum of money such as an inheritance or proceeds from selling a property; but combining them with other “retirement” accounts adds flexibility and tax diversification when structuring withdrawals in retirement.   Companies Discussed: Uber Technologies (UBER), Lennar Corporation (LEN) & Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA)

Alibaba Group Holding Limited continues to make strides in the e-commerce and tech industry, as highlighted in their latest earnings call. The company reported a 7% increase in total consolidated revenue for Q4 2024, reaching RMB 221.9 billion, despite facing challenges such as a decline in non-GAAP net income. Alibaba's financial strategies, including a share repurchase program, demonstrate its ability to navigate complex financial situations and maintain profitability.The company's adaptability and innovation have been crucial to its ongoing success, evident in the double-digit growth of Taobao and Tmall's GMV year-over-year. Alibaba stated its commitment to bolstering SME success by making it easier for them to advertise and ensuring a solid return on investment for their marketing investments. The company acknowledged adjusting algorithms and training models to enhance ROI for merchants.Alibaba's competitive pricing strategies and investments in user experience have increased quarterly buyer numbers and purchase frequency, solidifying its market position. The shift towards refining cloud product offerings, particularly public cloud services, has resulted in robust revenue growth in this sector. The explosive growth in AI-related revenues underscores the strategic significance of Alibaba's investments in technology.Alibaba's ability to align its strategies with consumer behavior changes in the competitive Chinese market has been instrumental in its GMV growth across Taobao and Tmall platforms. This achievement stems from offering a diverse product range, optimizing efficiency, enhancing conversion rates, and attracting customers, reflecting a customer-first philosophy.Looking ahead, Alibaba plans to continue its strategic focus on developing an AI-driven, user-centric approach, including enhancing product supply, maintaining competitive pricing, and improving service quality. Alibaba Cloud will prioritize harnessing technological advancements, with AI exploration being a critical focus area. The company aims to invest in international e-commerce platforms and expand Cainiao's global logistics network to fortify its customer service proposition.While Alibaba's recent financial performance and adherence to core business strategies project resilient and consistent growth, the company's future success will depend on its ability to navigate market shifts through technology adoption and platform growth, as well as its sensitivity to consumer preferences and strategic future planning. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theearningscall.substack.com

Follow me @samirkaji for my thoughts on the venture market, with a focus on the continued evolution of the VC landscape.We have a conversation with Mitchell Green, Founder and Managing Partner at Lead Edge Capital. With offices in New York and Santa Barbara, the firm has over $5B in Assets under management and specializes in helping growth-stage companies scale.The firm has an interesting model that combines elements of PE, growth, and an active network of over 700 LPs to build a very powerful moat.I was really interested in several business components, especially the LP base's strategic nature and the programmatic way they evaluate companies. A word from our sponsor:Invest in innovation. Allocate allows investors to access top-tier private funds and co-investment opportunities within the technology sector.Despite the enormous growth of the private markets and the rapid increase of retail demand for private alternatives, investing in the highest quality private assets within the innovation sector still remains limited to institutions and ultra-connected high net worth individuals.With Allocate, wealth advisors, banks, family offices, and other qualified investors can have a streamlined way to responsibly invest with confidence.Go to allocate.co to find out more and please sign up to the waitlist to learn more and get early access to the platform.About Mitchell Green:Mitchell Green is the Founder and Managing Partner at Lead Edge Capital, a $5B growth equity firm investing in software, internet, and tech-enabled services businesses globally. Mitchell oversees the fund's global activities and has led several of the fund's largest investments, including Alibaba Group, Asana, Bumble, FIGS, Grafana, SignalSciences, Spotify, Toast, Uber, and Wise. His career began with roles on the investment teams at Bessemer Venture Partners and Eastern Advisors. Mitchell is a former nationally ranked alpine ski racer and currently serves on the boards of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation and the Laguna Blanca School in Santa Barbara, CA.Mitchell holds a B.A. in Economics from Williams College and an M.B.A. in Marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.In this episode, we discuss:(01:38) Shares the origin story of Lead Edge Capital, reflecting on the early experiences before 2009, and the influence of Bessemer's deal-sourcing approach of cold calling and direct outreach.(09:57) The value of being his own boss and learning from failures(12:35) Building a team for outbound cold calling to find unique investment opportunities.(15:27) Leveraging LPs in the due diligence process for valuable insights and validation of potential investments(17:21) Creating a community among LPs where engagement and assistance are core expectations(20:55) The resilience and opportunistic nature of high-net-worth individuals during market downturns(21:59) The "moneyball" approach to investment criteria, prioritizing revenue, growth, gross margins, and capital efficiency(26:00) A success story of investing in a rapidly growing, COVID-enabled electronic signatures company(30:32) Many companies raising venture capital should not exist(36:09) The need for persistence to get into the best companies(38:57) Trusting your instincts and the strategic advantage of being contrarian in investmentI'd love to know what you took away from this conversation with Mitchell. Follow me @SamirKaji and give me your insights and questions with the hashtag #ventureunlocked. If you'd like to be considered as a guest or have someone you'd like to hear from (GP or LP), drop me a direct message on Twitter.Podcast Production support provided by Agent Bee This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ventureunlocked.substack.com

The Alibaba Group recently publicized the data from their latest earnings report. During the call, CEO Toby Xu outlined a progress update to investors stating, "We see the early success of the execution of our strategy because as we announced earlier this year, the strategy for Taobao and Tmall is user-centric. We need to build up the supply for all our consumers, particularly for the price-competitive product. This early success shows the effectiveness of our executed strategy." Contrary to their recent attention on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the predominant themes of this earnings call revolved around e-commerce, improvements in customer shopping experiences, advancements in cloud computing, and overall growth strategies. Notably, AI was not significantly addressed during this call, with no specific case studies concerning this latest earnings call being highlighted. Alibaba has continued to show a sound financial performance. As reported during the call, the company's total consolidated revenue has experienced a growth rate of 5%, climbing to RMB260.3 billion. Furthermore, their consolidated adjusted EBITDA grew by 2%, reaching RMB52.8 billion. The company maintains a substantial net cash position of RMB487 billion, reinforcing its strong financial status. A notable contributor to Alibaba's success is the implementation of a user-centric strategy and competitive pricing in the realms of Taobao and Tmall Group. These aspects have been instrumental in driving year-on-year growth in gross merchandise volume (GMV). The International Commerce initiative has also aided in revenue growth through the expansion of cross-border offerings and prominence given to improved shopping experiences. Additionally, developments in the Cainiao smart logistics network and cross-border logistics fulfillment solutions have strengthened Alibaba's performance. In cloud computing, the focus of Alibaba Cloud on public cloud services and the optimization of its business structure has yielded improved profitability. Looking at the company's future undertakings, Alibaba projects continued investment in their core areas of operations such as e-commerce and cloud computing to foster growth. They aim to launch initiatives associated with product supply, competitive pricing, efficiency, and quality service enhancement in Taobao and Tmall Group. Though the company's recent focus on AI does not tie directly with the themes of the Last Quarter Earnings Call Analysis, they are demonstrating solid financial performance, adherence to a user-centric strategy, and committed investments in essential areas. By preserving the focus on e-commerce, cloud computing, and enhancing shareholder value, and responding effectively to evolving consumer trends, Alibaba is positioning itself for long-term growth and profitability. However, this assessment is based on the current status quo and may be subject to change with evolving business and market conditions. As with any business prediction, this projection should be treated as an educated assumption, not an absolute guarantee. BABA Company info: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BABA/profile For more PSFK research : www.psfk.com  This email has been published and shared for the purpose of business research and is not intended as investment advice.

As the Year of the Dragon approaches, sales of products with dragon elements have witnessed explosive growth on major e-commerce platforms, which experts said indicates not only the strong resonance of traditional Chinese culture among consumers, but also the vitality of the nation's consumer market.龙年将至，各大电商平台龙元素产品销量爆发式增长，专家表示，这不仅体现了中国传统文化在消费者中的强烈共鸣，也体现了我国消费市场的活力。Dragon, or long in Chinese, a mythical and auspicious creature that is the fifth animal of the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle, is considered to be a sacred symbol of good luck, strength and fortune in China. The purchasing frenzy ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival holiday is expected to further shore up consumer confidence and bolster the recovery of consumption, the experts added.龙，一种神秘的吉祥物，是中国十二生肖中的第五位，在中国文化中被认为是好运、力量和财富的神圣象征。专家补充说，春节假期前的抢购狂潮预计将进一步提振消费者信心，促进消费复苏。Data from e-commerce platform JD showed that searches for dragon-related merchandise via its online marketplace have surpassed 23 million since January, with dragon-themed Moutai, commemorative coins and apparel leading the trend.电商平台京东的数据显示，自1月份以来，网上市场上与龙相关的商品搜索量已超过2300万次，其中以龙为主题的茅台酒、纪念币和服饰引领潮流。Since the launch of JD's Spring Festival promotional campaign on Jan 17, the transaction volume of dragon-themed commodities in more than 800 subcategories has soared more than tenfold year-on-year, according to the company.据京东介绍，自1月17日春节促销活动启动以来，800多个小品类的龙主题商品交易额同比猛增十倍以上。It said products with dragon-themed elements, such as car ornaments, household accessories, clothing, daily necessities, alcohol, maternal and infant goods, and gold jewelry have been favored by consumers. Purchases by the post-1990s and post-2000s generations accounted for nearly 55 percent of the total, while consumers in Guangdong province, Beijing, Jiangsu province, Shanghai and Shandong province, in that order, were the top five spenders on dragon-featured items, according to JD.车饰、家居饰品、服装、日用品、酒类、母婴用品、黄金首饰等龙主题产品深受消费者青睐。90后、2000后消费群体占比近55%，龙类商品消费前五位依次为广东省、北京、江苏、上海、山东省。Jason Yu, general manager of Kantar Worldpanel China, a market research provider, said that because the dragon is an important symbol of Chinese traditional culture and is believed to bring good luck, Chinese consumers who buy dragon-themed goods are expressing their hopes for a better life in the new year.市场研究机构凯度消费者指数中国区总经理于杰表示，由于龙是中国传统文化的重要象征，被认为会带来好运，因此购买龙主题商品的中国消费者都表达了对龙的期待。新的一年生活更美好。Yu noted that China's Generation Z shoppers — those born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s — are displaying a heightened sense of national pride and confidence in Chinese culture, and "their pursuit of the Year of the Dragon products has also injected fresh vitality into the inheritance of traditional culture".于杰表示，中国的Z世代购物者（即20世纪90年代中期至2010年代初出生的消费者）表现出高度的民族自豪感和对中国文化的自信，他们对龙年产品的追求也为传统文化传承注入了新鲜活力。Dragon-themed red envelopes, refrigerator magnets, mobile phone cases, underwear and socks have gained popularity among Chinese consumers, according to Taobao, the online marketplace of Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group. Searches for dragon-related products skyrocketed 640-fold year-on-year between Dec 27 and Jan 2 on Taobao, according to the company.据中国科技重量级阿里巴巴集团的在线市场淘宝网称，以龙为主题的红包、冰箱贴、手机壳、内衣和袜子受到中国消费者的欢迎。据该公司称，12月27日至1月2日期间，淘宝上与龙相关的产品搜索量同比猛增640倍。Among the items, gold ornaments with dragon elements saw a 500-fold increase in search volume, while searches for "limited collections for the Year of the Dragon" soared more than thirtyfold compared with the same period last year. More than 30 museums, such as the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Gansu Provincial Museum and the British Museum, have launched over 1,000 limited editions of dragon-related products on Tmall, Alibaba's business-to-customer e-marketplace.其中，带有龙元素的金饰搜索量同比增长500倍，“龙年限量收藏”搜索量较去年同期飙升逾30倍。北京故宫博物院、甘肃省博物馆、大英博物馆等30余家博物馆在阿里巴巴B2C电子市场天猫推出了1000多件限量版龙相关产品。The rich cultural connotations and the good wishes that the dragon carries have not only stimulated people's passion for buying, but also satisfied their rising demand for personalized and creative products with unique cultural symbols, said Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation's e-commerce research institute.中国科学院国际贸易经济合作部电子商务研究所副研究员洪勇表示，龙丰富的文化内涵和美好祝愿不仅激发了人们的购买热情，也满足了人们对具有独特文化符号的个性化、创意产品日益增长的需求。"Spring Festival is the traditional festival that Chinese people attach the most importance to, and it's also a peak season for consumption," Hong said, emphasizing that brands should capitalize on traditional Chinese culture to launch more innovative products.The shopping craze for dragon-related products ahead of Lunar New Year is crucial for expanding domestic demand and promoting the recovery of the consumer market, he added.洪勇表示：“春节是中国人最重视的传统节日，也是消费旺季。品牌要结合中国传统文化，推出更多创新产品。春节前的相关产品对于扩大内需、促进消费市场复苏至关重要”。Lunar New Year春节a peak season for consumption消费旺季

There's a different feeling this year in Davos than in the last couple of years. The rich and powerful used to roam the streets freely without anyone paying them attention. Now, the number of independent journalists paying attention to the World Economic Forum has grown, and the attendees are far more skittish. The ones that do appear are trying to gaslight people about their records, from John Kerry saying he never flies by private jet and Alibaba Group president J. Michael Evans downplaying the “individual carbon footprint tracker” he touted in Davos just two years ago. True North's Andrew Lawton discusses this and the latest as his live coverage of the World Economic Forum's 2024 annual meeting continues. Plus, Klaus Schwab says WEF attendees are the “trustees of the future.” Do you trust your future with them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday (20 Dec), Alibaba Group announced that Eddie Wu, CEO of the Group will also serve as the CEO of Taobao and Tmall Group. This is 3 months after Eddie took over as Group CEO.    In this episode, we delve into:  Alibaba Group's transformation journey in 2023 - the highs and lows of the organisations restructuring efforts; The external pressure on Alibaba, especially from newer players - Pinduoduo and Bytedance; Alibaba Group's efforts to remain agile in the ever-changing tech ecosystem; The role AI will play in enhancing the operational efficiency of companies   Happy listening!   Featured materials: Alibaba group announces change of CEO of Taobao and Tmall Group  Alibaba group Announced September Quarter 2023 Results, Alibaba Group Why is Pinduoduo's execution so strong?, TheLowDown Inside Temu: the fiery culture and a perpetual efficiency machine, TheLowDown  

War on Farmers, next a war on YOU According to a recent report by The Land Report, Bill Gates is the largest private owner of farmland in the United States, with 268,984 acres of land across 19 states. The largest holdings are in Louisiana (69,071 acres), Arkansas (47,927 acres), and Nebraska (20,588 acres). Gates also owns a stake in more than 24,800 acres of transitional land outside of Phoenix. AP News, Geek Wire.com the Dutch government has proposed to reduce nitrogen emissions by 50% by 2030, which could affect the agricultural sector significantly. Some of the plans include buying out and closing down up to 3,000 farms, reducing livestock numbers, and converting to more sustainable practices – BBC, DW, Fox Articles have come out saying human's breath destroys the environment. How does this fit the dystopian nightmare of Carbon Trackers? At WEF 2022 in Davos, the president of Alibaba Group announces that the platform will rollout an individual carbon footprint tracker, along with a SaaS application for businesses to track their carbon footprints for ESG purposes. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on Tuesday, Alibaba Group president J. Michael Evans announced that the Chinese multinational e-commerce platform would soon be launching carbon footprint trackers in an attempt to change people's shopping and travel behaviors. The carbon footprint tracker looks to operate similarly to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) social credit system by rewarding people who “do the right thing” while punishing those who “do the wrong thing.” https://sociable.co/government-and-policy/individual-carbon-footprint-tracker-alibaba-wef-2022/ Club of Rome – Humans are the Enemy, Eugenics Population Control Elite Ted Turner - “A total population of 250-300 million people, a 95% decline from present levels, would be ideal.” Ted Turner The First Global Revolution, written by Alexander King and Bertrand Schneider, and published by Pantheon Books in 1991. The book is a report by the Council of the Club of Rome, a global think tank that addresses major challenges facing humanity. The book explores the idea that humanity is facing a global revolution amid social, economic, technological, and cultural upheavals, and proposes a strategy for world survival and transformation. One of the controversial viewpoints expressed in the book is that "in searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill…All these dangers are caused by human intervention, and it is only through changed attitudes and behavior that they can be overcome. The real enemy then is humanity itself."

International listeners can support TBT here: https://buy.stripe.com/6oEaFEdAXbGe69W6ou Salman Baig is the Head of SEO at Alibaba Group. #thoughtbehindthings #muzamilhasan #SEO Check out the trainings from Sarmaaya Financials: Training List: https://sarmaaya.pk/trainings/?src=tbt Technical Training Masterclass 2.0: https://sarmaaya.pk/trainings/details?tid=1&src=tbt Fundamentals of Capital Market: https://sarmaaya.pk/trainings/details?tid=2&src=tbt Do not forget to subscribe and press the bell icon to catch on to some amazing conversations coming your way! Socials: TBT's Official Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings Muzamil's Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan Support our podcast: https://anchor.fm/syed-muzamil-hasan-zaidi3/support Salman's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaigSEO?mibextid=LQQJ4d Podcast Links: • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3z1cE7F • Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/2S84VEd • Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3cgIkfI --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/syed-muzamil-hasan-zaidi3/support

"You will continue to see Western investment continuing to decline. The risk-reward calculations won't change in the next 12 months, as far as I can see. The Chinese economy is not about to take off. What you will see is the beginnings of some people who are willing to take the gamble. They are going to try different ways to exit. You're going to see more people experimenting with domestic IPOs, and onshore IPOs because you can get the money off. For example, if you're investing in LiDAR or approved industries, you can do a joint venture or a WOFE or anything. It'd be a joint venture to be able to try and do some kind of onshore listings. I think by chance will stay in this weird suspended state. I don't think we're going to get a resolution from them. The big question is - how much stimulus will the Chinese government throw at the economy and how far are they willing to go to goose the economy?" - Shai Oster Fresh out of the studio, Shai Oster, independent consultant and former Asia Bureau Chief from The Information is back for the sixth time with the annual review of what is happening to the China tech ecosystem in 2023. The conversation started with Shai's predictions last year on what happened and what did not happen. From there, we discuss the major themes of the year: the decline and restructuring of venture capital in China, how the 2nd generation CEOs from Shein, Pinduoduo and Bytedance have successfully expanded globally as compared to their predecessors, the October surprise of Huawei's 7nm chip. Last but not least Shai offered his predictions in the road ahead for 2024. Episode Highlights: [0:48] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Shai Oster [1:42] Introduction  [2:20] What has Shai been up to?  [3:18] Experience in Thailand is similar to being in China as compared to Hong Kong [5:30] What did Shai get right or wrong in 2023 [6:00] Sequoia splits into 3: US & Europe, China and India & Southeast Asia [12:41] Why Sequoia split out India & Southeast Asia to Peak XV [15:08] State of Venture Capital in China, the 2023 Edition [22:38] The restructuring of China's tech ecosystem and where Alibaba Group is heading [26:10] Why 2nd generation tech founders in Shein, Pinduoduo and ByteDance did a better job in expanding globally compared to BAT [33:40] Will TikTok be banned in the US and will it go IPO as well? [38:30] Investors in public China tech companies in the US have now read the regulatory risk section in their S1 filings.  [41:51] Huawei's October surprise with their 7nm chip and the US sanctions might have accelerated the Chinese's chip development and independence. [45:52] Macroeconomics in China due to the declining real estate market in 2023. [47:49] Why China is still booming despite the doom and gloom of less foreign-directed investments. [49:55] Shai's predictions on China for 2024 [53:46] Chinese entrepreneurs coming to Southeast Asia to start companies. [55:49] Gaming in China and Tencent's ability to respond to the Chinese government's demands is still going on. [59:10] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong (@bernardleong, Linkedin) hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G.Thomas Craig (@gthomascraig, LinkedIn).  

The latest earnings call by Alibaba Group Holding Limited conveyed the sentiments of its executive team, focusing on the accelerating technological advancements that are redefining industries and lifestyles. As emphasized by the CEO, the future growth trajectory in their sector will revolve around technology and more crucially, artificial intelligence (AI). Expressing an increased demand for cloud computing tailored for AI, the company's roadmap includes constructing an interoperable cloud setup supporting AI, leading the change from traditional to AI computing. Alibaba's focus on this emerging field is reflected in the financial results, with an astonishing Q2 2024 earnings per share (EPS) reaching $15.63, highly exceeding the predicted $2.11. The company's stability is further solidified by the robust balance sheet boasting of a net cash of $63 billion along with a generated free cash flow of $27 billion in the past fy. This underlines the company's proficiency in capitalizing its diverse investment portfolio, steering returns back to the stakeholders. Articulated by its investments in AI-powered tech endeavours, global commerce chains, and an efficient cloud computing ecosystem, Alibaba upholds its priority towards enriching customer value. The company has multiple platforms serving a variety of consumer needs while focusing on developing an advanced AI foundation through its AI business divisions. Their strategic focus encompasses the ideation of a worldwide smart logistics network to facilitate global e-commerce solutions. Projecting into the future, Alibaba intends to enhance the returns on the invested capital and explore fresh potential territories while working on monetizing the non-core assets. The company's pathway to unlocking value and enhancing shareholder returns involve strategies like share buybacks or cash infusions through dividends. Alibaba remains focused on investing in core businesses like Taobao, Tmall, Cloud Intelligence Group, and Alibaba International Digital Commerce. They continue to bolster their capabilities in the domains of public cloud infrastructure, digital media, and AI-infused tech businesses. Summarizing the earnings call, Alibaba's exceptional performance, impressive financial stability, and commitment to continual technological innovation convincingly demonstrate the company's profound commitment to the future. With continued investments in AI, cloud computing, and forming strategic alliances, the company stands well positioned to persist as a leader in the new age of business. BABA Company info: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BABA/profile For more PSFK research : www.psfk.com  This email has been published and shared for the purpose of business research and is not intended as investment advice.

Alibaba Group's Q2 2023 earnings call, unedited

Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a positive visit to the US, while Alibaba Group withdrew plans to spin off its USD 11 billion cloud business and Apple is facing delays in developing its own modem for the iPhone. Tim Gagie, Head of FX & PM Solutions Geneva, gives his views on the latest developments in currencies and metals. 00:00 Introduction by Helen Freer (Investment Writing)00:24 Markets wrap-up by Alexander Petersen (Investment Writing)04:01 Currencies and metals by Tim Gagie (Head of FX & PM Solutions Geneva)09:47 Closing remarks by Helen Freer (Investment Writing)Would you like to support this show? Please leave us a review and star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. 

Chinese shoppers swarmed to e-commerce platforms and snapped up discounted items worth hundreds of billions of yuan during this year's Singles Day shopping extravaganza, pushing up the sales of domestic brands and premium goods.Experts said this indicates the enormous vitality and resilience of the country's consumer market.As China's biggest shopping event of the year, the Double 11, or 11-11, promotional gala, which began in late October and peaked on Saturday, has played a vital role in stimulating people's purchasing appetites and bolstering the recovery of consumption and economic growth, they added.Past Double 11 festivals were characterized by record-smashing gross merchandise volume, or GMV, through discount-led sales. However, chasing high GMV is no longer the focus, industry observers said, noting that Chinese shoppers are becoming more rational and carefully reviewing their needs, with an emphasis on quality and value.Tmall, Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group's business-to-customer platform, said that 402 brands, including 243 domestic ones, saw their sales surpass 100 million yuan ($13.7 million) from 8 pm on Oct 31 to midnight on Saturday. The turnover of 38,000 brands surged more than 100 percent year-on-year during this period.Neither Alibaba nor JD, another prominent e-commerce platform, disclosed specific GMV figures for this year's shopping spree. Alibaba said only that the scale of users and merchants registered "remarkable "growth, which drove the overall growth of order volume and GMV.JD said its transaction volume, order volume and user engagement "reached record highs". The sales of over 60 brands surpassed 1 billion yuan, and nearly 20,000 brands witnessed their turnover increase threefold year-on-year over the weekslong promotion gala.Young Chinese consumers increasingly opt for high-quality homegrown brands, with the spending from the post-1990s and post-2000s generations accounting for 62 percent of the total sales of domestic brands, it added.Moreover, turnover of high-end electronic devices surged on JD's online marketplaces, with foldable smartphones up 300 percent, digital cameras higher by 100 percent, and gaming laptops up 50 percent during the shopping spree."Consumption has become the main driving force boosting China's economic growth, and the Singles Day shopping festival is pivotal to unleashing consumers' purchasing potential and promoting the recovery of the economy," said Wang Yun, a researcher at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research affiliated with the National Development and Reform Commission.According to Wang, domestic brands, especially those featuring creative designs incorporating traditional Chinese elements, are gaining popularity among China's younger generations, who have a growing sense of national pride and confidence in Chinese culture.Added significanceThis year's Double 11 promotion has added significance, as it was the first since China optimized its COVID-19 response measures, Wang said, adding that the country's consumer market has gained growth momentum, with the overall growth rate expected to reach about 7 to 8 percent this year.Major e-commerce players emphasized low prices and made their promotion methods simpler during this year's Singles Day shopping carnival, with direct price cuts being a preferred strategy.Britton Russell, who leads the consumer and retail practice at global consulting company Alix-Partners' China division, said that"2023 marks the first post-pandemic Singles Day, where consumption returns to normal levels. We are seeing stronger sentiment and spending, evidenced by the 18 percent increase in total spending compared with 2022".While value-based shopping is nothing new, consumers are more prudent and knowledgeable about potential purchases than ever before, as they seek maximum value with every purchase, he said.Russell also emphasized that "rational consumption drives the search for quality rather than flashy promotion".Jason Yu, general manager of Kantar Worldpanel China, a market research provider, said that Chinese consumers were more value-conscious during this year's shopping spree. "They hope to buy cost-effective commodities, rather than just obtaining low-priced goods at the cost of quality."China's consumption market recovered in the first three quarters of this year. Retail sales, a significant indicator of consumption strength, grew 6.8 percent year-on-year during the January-September period, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.Chinese shoppers are also willing to devote their attention to more novel platforms that blur the boundaries between entertainment and retail, particularly in livestreaming e-commerce provided by short-video platforms such as Douyin and Kuaishou, a report from consultancy Bain& Co said.Reporter: Fan Feifei

The China's Singles' Day extravaganza concluded over the weekend after weeks of promotions across the country. Seen as the world's most significant shopping event, 11/11 saw e-commerce leaders like Alibaba Group and JD.com reporting improvements in gross merchandise value and order amounts, but they declined to reveal actual numbers. Catherine Lim, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence shares her observations.Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Everyone knows Alibaba but not everyone knows its middle-eastern arm operating in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. In the newest episode of the Impulso Podcast, we invited Zori Zafirova, COO of Daraz, to talk about being a part of Alibaba Group as well as her personal journey. In this episode, we have touched upon: What are shared learnings among various Alibaba Group companies that have played a pivotal role in Daraz's growth? How onions helped Daraz gain traction in Bangladesh? How to manage multimarket operations? As we look ahead to the future, what opportunities and hurdles does the e-commerce world have in 2023? Join this episode to gain intriguing insights from our guest on operating in the frontier ecommerce world.

When Ralph Leung relocated to Hong Kong from Morgan Stanley's New York offices, he was a newlywed eager to energize the financial world as one of the bank's senior deal makers for the Asia Pacific region. Four years later, when he accepted a call from a U. S. recruiter, he had been credited with having helped led numerous transactions (mostly IPOs) from the region, including Alibaba Group's historic $25 billion IPO. What's more, Leung had become the father of two. “It was time to go back home,” recalls Leung, who would relocate to San Francisco's Bay Area after accepting a finance leadership role for an online video and entertainment company.  Looking back on his Hong Kong years, Leung tells us that the experience was a departure from his previous Morgan experience because it involved advising more early-stage founders and entrepreneurs.    “I learned what Series A, Series B, and Series C meant and how to grow a business from different capital perspectives,” continues Leung, who credits the experience with having helped to open the door to CFO roles within early-stage companies. Still, Leung tells us that some of the best learning experiences from his banking years came from transactions that never occurred, including one IPO that after 2 years of persistent effort failed to capture the necessary investor attention.    “It was taking a lot of time to educate investors, and while we thought that we could get over the hump by using industry research and really demonstrating how the company could be a profitable business, we underappreciated the difficulty of advancing the narrative,” explains Leung, who tells us that the IPO was “shut down” when the company opted instead to reposition itself according to investor feedback and give itself an operations boost to make it more attractive to investors. “So, the business responded and made some changes, rather than just trying to have us sell through certain obstacles,” reports Leung, who adds that ultimately the business went public a year or so later.   He concludes: “Some obstacles just have to be respected and resolved.” –Jack Sweeney

Brian is a Chinese American entrepreneur and investor. He was the first American and the 52nd employee to join Alibaba Group, where he contributed to the company's early globalization efforts and served as Jack Ma's special assistant for international affairs. During his 16-year tenure, Brian established the Alibaba Global Initiatives division and was the founder and executive director of the Alibaba Global Leadership Academy.Brian is the author of The Tao of Alibaba: Inside the Chinese Digital Giant That Is Changing the World. A book that outlines the blueprint of the company's management philosophy.Brian is also the founder and Chairman of RADII, a digital media platform dedicated to bridging understanding between East and West by providing a window into Chinese youth culture. In this episode we talk about his experiences with Jack Ma at Alibaba, how he navigated his career, and his learnings from his experiences.Learn more about Brian:Website: https://www.brian-wong.comRadii: https://radii.coBook: The Tao of Alibaba: Inside the Chinese Digital Giant That Is Changing the World 

Joey Yap answers the though questions from the Founder and CEO of Panpages Trinity Group, Chris Ng, talking from everything DIGITAL , online businesses and how SMEs can thrive and make the most out of this crisis. Chris Ng will play HOST this time, talking to Joey Yap about the NEW NORM in the digital sphere. Chris is a premier partner to Alibaba Group and Google Malaysia that helps regional SMEs move their businesses online, and in this #forgedinfire series, Chris talks to Joey Yap  about his personal journey and how he shifts the majority of his businesses online. Was this done deliberately or was this just pure coincidence that he already has an online business empire ? Find out in this talk.

On this episode of the Off the Bench Podcast, presented by Alibaba Group, Chris Miller chats with our General Manager, Will Dawkins.

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Paula Macaggi and special guest Zarina Kanji from Alibaba explore how virtual reality has revolutionized luxury retail. Zarina shares her journey into the metaverse, where she discovered immersive shopping experiences and the potential of virtual influencers. Listeners will gain insights into the groundbreaking shift brought by the metaverse, explore Taobao Life's virtual reality, and learn about personalized shopping experiences. The episode also touches on the success of Tmall Luxury Pavilion in China and the future possibilities of the metaverse in Western markets. Get ready to be astonished by the transformative power of virtual reality in shopping. Are you ready to be crowned hottest retail tech of the year? Sign up to participate in RETHINK Retail's Nxt Gen Technology Program at rethink.industries/nxt-gen-retail-tech or shoot us an email at media@rethink.industries. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. - - - - - - Hosted by: Paula Macaggi

Before we head into the NBA Draft, Chris Miller sat down with our General Manager, Will Dawkins, for this episode of the Off the Bench Podcast, presented by Alibaba Group.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Q4 2023 Earnings Call, May 18, 2023

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba and one of China's most prominent businessmen, has recently returned to China after spending two years maintaining a low profile abroad. This event has not only reignited interest in Ma's activities but also coincides with a series of important changes within the Alibaba Group. Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan discuss Jack Ma's return to China and Alibaba's restructuring. Why was Jack Ma keeping a low profile over the past two years? What are the details behind Alibaba's restructuring? What prompted Softbank to sell off their position in Alibaba? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more. Visit Apple Podcasts to subscribe to Down to Business English, rate the show, and leave a comment. Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com Follow Skip & Dez Skip Montreux on Linkedin Skip Montreux on Instagram Skip Montreux on Twitter Skip Montreux on Facebook Dez Morgan on Twitter RSS Feed

"But if you look at Generative AI, that is fundamentally a different way that technology came about and it required a lot of investment without knowing what was going to transpire. So I've talked to a couple of people who are affiliated with various top AI labs in China, and I asked them the same question 'Well, why didn't you guys not create this?' And the universal answer was... honestly OpenAI themselves probably had no idea what was going to happen." - Rui Ma   Fresh out of the studio, Rui Ma, China tech analyst and creator of Tech Buzz China, joined us to discuss how the China tech giants are evolving after the regulatory crackdown in the past three years. We start the conversation by examining why China missed the boat on ChatGPT with the tech giants now chasing after the same technology with their own variations. Next, we start to examine the key questions that everyone from the rest of the world wants to know about China tech from the possibility of a Tik Tok ban in the US to Tencent might follow suit from Alibaba in splitting their current conglomerate structure into different companies.   Podcast Information: The show is hosted and produced by Bernard Leong (@bernardleong, Linkedin) and Carol Yin (@CarolYujiaYin, LinkedIn). Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G.Thomas Craig (@gthomascraig, LinkedIn).

Jackie Reses is the Chair and CEO of Lead Bank, a community bank in Kansas City.  Previously, she was the Executive Chairman of Square Financial Services and Capital Lead and Head of the People Team at Block Inc (Square). Prior, she had leadership positions at Yahoo! and was a Partner at Apax Partners Worldwide. Jackie also spent seven years at Goldman Sachs in mergers and acquisitions and the principal investment area. Jackie is on the board of directors of Endeavor, Affirm and Nubank. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors of Alibaba Group. She has been named one of Forbes' “Self Made Women”, Fast Company's “Most Creative People in Business,”  and American Banker “Most Powerful Woman in Finance”.  In Today's Episode with Jackie Reses We Discuss: 1. From Humble Beginnings to "Most Powerful Woman in Finance": What is Jackie running from? How did Jackie's upbringing impact her approach to business and management today? What does jackie know now that she wishes she had known when she started her career? 2. Building the Best Teams: Lessons from Square and Yahoo Why does Jackie believe that past experience is BS in hiring candidates for a role? Why does Jackie deliberately not look for domain knowledge when hiring? Why does Jackie believe employers should tell candidates what they suck at in hiring? What does Jackie mean when she says, "you have to invest in people for 20 years"? 3. The Best Deal-Maker in the Business: Secret to Negotiating: What does Jackie believe is the secret to successful negotiations? How did Jackie do the Alibaba deal for Yahoo and make $50BN for them? Why does Jackie believe the Laffonts and Coatue are the best risk managers? What are the biggest mistakes people make in deal-making today? 4. The Next Wave of Fintech: Who wins and who loses in the next wave of fintech? What will happen to the crypto industry? How will crypto be regulated? Why does Jackie believe that financial super apps are BS? Why does Jackie believe that Goldman tried and failed to innovate? Will we see a wave of M&A in fintech over the coming years?

When China went through its internet revolution there was very little in the way of retail and finance infrastructure, so the internet filled in the gaps, says Brian Wong, former VP of Alibaba Group. Today 52% of China's retail sales are done through e-commerce, compared to 19% in the USA.  Brian details his time working at Alibaba from when it was a start-up in the fastest-growing economy and industry to its current position as the largest e-commerce company in the world. He talks about the influences of eastern philosophy on doing business in China, universal management principles, and the role government plays in funding infrastructure where digital businesses can thrive. He also discusses super apps, leading without leading, and embracing change Brian Wong is the author of The Tao Of Alibaba: Inside the Chinese Digital Giant That Is Changing the World. Learn more about him at brian-wong.com and follow him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/bwong/.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When China went through its internet revolution there was very little in the way of retail and finance infrastructure, so the internet filled in the gaps, says Brian Wong, former VP of Alibaba Group. Today 52% of China's retail sales are done through e-commerce, compared to 19% in the USA.  Brian details his time working at Alibaba from when it was a start-up in the fastest-growing economy and industry to its current position as the largest e-commerce company in the world. He talks about the influences of eastern philosophy on doing business in China, universal management principles, and the role government plays in funding infrastructure where digital businesses can thrive. He also discusses super apps, leading without leading, and embracing change Brian Wong is the author of The Tao Of Alibaba: Inside the Chinese Digital Giant That Is Changing the World. Learn more about him at brian-wong.com and follow him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/bwong/.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When China went through its internet revolution, there was very little in the way of retail and finance infrastructure, so the internet filled in the gaps, says Brian Wong, former VP of Alibaba Group. Today, 52% of China's retail sales are done through e-commerce, compared to 19% in the USA.  Brian details his time working at Alibaba from when it was a start-up in the fastest-growing economy and industry to its current position as the largest e-commerce company in the world. He talks about the influences of eastern philosophy on doing business in China, universal management principles, and the role government plays in funding infrastructure where digital businesses can thrive. He also discusses super apps, leading without leading, and embracing change   Brian Wong is the author of The Tao Of Alibaba: Inside the Chinese Digital Giant That Is Changing the World. Learn more about him at brian-wong.com and follow him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/bwong/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corey Kispert sits down with NBC Sports Washington's Chris Miller on this week's episode of the Off The Bench podcast (pres. Alibaba Group), discussing his sophomore year improvement, playing as a starter vs. coming off the bench, his upcoming wedding and much more.

On this week's episode of the Off The Bench Podcast (pres. Alibaba Group), Chris Miller sits down with Daniel Gafford to discuss his career journey, nearly losing his life in a car accident, the importance of family and much more.

On this episode of the Off the Bench Podcast (pres. Alibaba Group), we take a look back at some of the best moments from NBC Sports Washington's Chris Miller's interviews so far, including Rip Hamilton, Gilbert Arenas, Kristaps Porzingis and many more.

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.  Scheduling between the time zones, I found the time to sit down with Brian A. Wong this week to share his experience working for Alibaba, the powerhouse Chinese e-commerce giant. His insight draws on both his American education and industry experience working for billionaire business investor Jack Ma as one of the early employees at Alibaba, which he documents the experience in his newest book “The Tao of Alibaba: Inside the Chinese Digital Giant that Is Changing the World” released in November 2022.    Brian A. Wong is a Chinese American entrepreneur and investor. He was the first American and only the 52nd employee to join Alibaba Group, where he contributed to the company's early globalization efforts and served as Jack Ma's special assistant for international affairs. During his 16-year tenure, Wong established the Alibaba Global Initiatives (AGI) division and was the founder and executive director of the Alibaba Global Leadership Academy. Wong remains an adviser to the AGI team and regularly teaches courses on China's digital economy and the Tao of Alibaba management principles. Wong founded RADII, a digital media platform dedicated to bridging understanding between East and West. Wong earned his bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College, a master's certificate from the Johns Hopkins University (SAIS)–Nanjing University Center for US and China Studies, and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2015, is a China Fellow with the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and is a member of the Committee of 100. He is based in Shanghai, China.   THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…  people who are looking to redefine their leadership style and explore the pathway of balance and harmony in management principles, workplace habits, and business perspectives.   TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… There's a dual philosophy that guides the business operations of Alibaba – Eastern principles of Chinese Daoist philosophy combined with Western American management systems lay at the foundation of the success story. In Brian's view, it's about finding balance between the need to change while remaining firm and consistent in your brand identity. Finding the synergy between market, societal, and universal forces will ultimately guide your business on a path to victory.      WHAT  I  LOVE  MOST… Brian went on a journey to find his own North Star, and while expanding his “comfort zone” after seeking advice from his mentor, he reaffirmed his life mission to enable marginalized groups and communities.     Running time: 32:52 Subscribe on iTunes     Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram   Find Brian on social: Website LinkedIn   Brian's Book: The Tao of Alibaba