Silicon Dragon: How China Is Winning the Tech Race

By Rebecca Fannin

Book Overview

If you want to discover the Next Big Thing in technology ENTER THE DRAGON. You already know that China is the most populated nation on the planet. You already know about the rapid growth of its Internet and the recent development of its technologies. But did you realize that China has The world's largest number of mobile phone users (500 million) Three times as many engineering students as the United States? A dozen more billion-dollar tech firms than the United States? The fastest growing venture capital market in the world? It's time to face the facts: China is catching up to the United States as a global leader of technology--and, within a few years, may surpass every nation in the world. By modeling their new techno-based companies on successful American ones like Google and Yahoo, a new breed of entrepreneur is leading China through a second Industrial Revolution. Financial journalist Rebecca A. Fannin traveled from Shanghai to Beijing and beyond to speak face-to-face with China s hottest up-and-comers. For some of these young entrepreneurs, it s their first interview with the Western press--and their first chance to introduce their companies before the stocks hit Nasdaq. You'll meet smart and savvy self-starters like Robin Li, who made his company Baidu in the image of Google. You'll meet inventors and innovators like Liu Yingkui, who developed software for selling goods over cell phones, not PCs. You'll also meet the American venture capitalists who are searching for deals every day in every corner of China. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, techno whiz, or dot-com mogul, you can make peace with the dragon--and profits, too. "

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071494472
• ISBN13: 9780071494472
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Required Reading

Increasing numbers of Western observers, not to mention the Chinese themselves, are coming to realize that Chinese models of innovation and management may eventually drive competitive advantage beyond the home court. It's old news that China has the lead in manufacturing, but what about technology? More specifically, growing technology-based businesses to scale has been the trump card of the U.S. economy for decades. So why are Silicon Valley venture capitalists betting more each year on Chinese tech businesses? Rebecca Fannin's Silicon Dragons is a smoothly written, handy guide to the "who, what, when, where and why" of high profile Chinese tech companies, and an inside look at both the American investors who back them, and the role that American models, education, and capital continue to play in China's development. It's also required reading for anyone who needs to understand Chinese business culture, and why it fosters such nimble, ambitious and technically expert enterprises.

Get behind the scenes on the next wave of innovation

Having not only read the book, but having had the pleasure of seeing Ms. Fannin speak on the topics she covers in this book I can attest that her insights are both unique and compelling for anyone seeking to understand what is happening "on the ground" in China. Her journalism experience shines through quite clearly as this is a well-structured, well supported view into the behind the scenes of the digital innovation / entrepreneurship wave in China. I would strongly suggest picking this up if the subject matter is of interest, you'll be happy you did.

Must read on the future of tech industries

This is a must read for anyone interested in the future of tech industries, both in China and around the world. In recent years, China has not only emerged as a major producer of consumer electronics; it is also developing a huge internal market for digital services and electronic gear. It already has more Internet and mobile phone users than any other country and will soon have more broadband, high speed internet subscribers than any other market. It is rapidly digitizing its cable TV sector, which already has over 120 million subs, more than any other market and is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a fiber infrastructure. Fannin has traveled widely throughout the Asia Pacific region for years and has long produced insightful journalism on China's growth into a tech powerhouse. Drawing on her extensive contacts in a way few Western journalists can, Fannin provides an fly on the wall look at the entrepreneurs and the money men who are seeking to capitalize on a burgeoning domestic Chinese market that is growing at double digit rates.

View of China's Tech Sector From 'The Frontlines'

Rebecca Fannin has had over 15 years of experience in terms of covering China & Asia. The global scope and findings that she shares within this book represents just a fraction of her wealth of international experience but nonetheless essential. With regards to the previous reviewer Loyd Eskildson whom calls himself the 'pragmatist'. It is unfortunately a rather biased and arrogant way to review an author's work when he himself has undoubtably never to have stepped onto the Asia Continent, let alone spend time in China's developed and undeveloped areas. His personal views revolve around the so called 'US-foreign anti trade imbalance theories'. Yes, China has had a growing trade imbalance with the US ever since the early 1980's. (in fact the # has grown to a staggering figure of negative 256 billion USD in 2007, leading China to possess the world's leading FX reserve of 1,550 BIL+), China recently also replaced Canada as the primary trading partner of the US. However this topic alone is independent of the valuable insights that this book would offer, and certainly does not justify the attack on the Book's contents or views. I have lived in China for 10 years and have frequented China and Asia for the past 20 years; traveled/worked in 5 continents and currently represent a top Wallstreet Firm (headquarter office NYC) in an elite group that conducts business between US and China. 'Silicon Dragon' definately gives you the raw and recent on-the-ground views regarding China's technology boom. China does have a growing # of problems, such as the lack of sophistication in the financial markets to support the insatiable appetite for investments, massive environmental constraints and urgent freshwater shortage concerns, aging populations(after 30 years) that endanger future growth, and many more. However, most if not all the business-people running companies or participating in China's various ventures would agree that advancements in TECHNOLOGY is one of the key driving factors for China's accelerated urbanization movements. There are ten's of thousands of books on 'China Business' listed on [...]. However I recommend reading books that are of the recent 2 years (even those published within the past 12 months), as China's investment scope and landscape changes ever so rapidly. This is a book that I would recommend on the top 10 of must read China Business books. Another book that I recommend regarding China Investments would be Winston Ma's "Investing in China: New Opportunities in a Transforming Stock Market". A very thorough and intelligent read for those who are serious China Investors. There are yet still many more investment opportunities involving China and I am sure the aforementioned works would help you pick up many good tips. Happy Investing, and Best wishes in The Lunar New Year, Tristan Zhang tristanzhang@gmail.com