Start-up recognised for creating Chinese market access

THINK CHINA’s co-founder has received accolades at the 2016 Sydney City Business Awards, which is sponsored by the City of Sydney.

The company is a Sydney-based start-up that assists Australian brands in achieving Chinese market penetration, and co-founder Johnny Wong received both the Young Entrepreneur and Excellence in Export awards for his innovations.

The digital marketing agency collaborates with cloud computing and media companies that operate behind China’s online censorship, known as the Great Firewall, where most western social media platforms are blocked.

This gives the agency the ability to expose Australian brands to more than 600 million online Chinese consumers and enable the export of Australian goods and services to the greater China region.

“After realising Australian brands faced so many technological, cultural and linguistic challenges when trying to communicate with Chinese-speaking consumers, I decided to quit my corporate job at 26 years old and join my business partner to begin THINK CHINA from the living room floor of my inner-city apartment,” said Wong.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said THINK CHINA was among a talented pool of businesses operating in the Sydney region that took home top honours at the recent business awards.

“These awards represent the diverse mix of businesses in our local government area, which at the last floor space and employment survey delivered 40% of all jobs growth in metropolitan Sydney,” said Moore.

“As a sponsor of the NSW Business Chamber Business Awards, these awards are about giving local businesses and the people behind them an opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas to the rest of the state and, while they’re at it, to learn from other business leaders.”

Wong launched his business in 2013, with THINK CHINA becoming a leader in the China digital space employing over 30 staff across Australia and China serving high-profile clients, including Australia Post and L’Oréal.

Over the past two years, the company has experienced large revenue growth, increasing sales by 511% from 2015 and 645% from 2014. The business is also in the process of opening their third global office.

The Young Entrepreneur award category recognises inspirational young business people who have built a successful business through their own commitment and passion, while the Excellence in Export category celebrates businesses that are forging a strong reputation for Australian products and services in international markets.

Nine businesses collected awards in the Sydney City regional awards program, judged and staged by the NSW Business Chamber and sponsored by the City of Sydney.

THINK CHINA will join a list of Sydney-based businesses competing with others from across the state for top honours at the 2016 NSW Business Chamber Business Awards on 25 November.

The City of Sydney has recently boosted its sponsorship of the NSW Business Chamber Business Awards to create an expanded regional awards program.

The expansion will allow all local businesses from 2017 to enter the Sydney City Regional Business Awards whether or not they are members of a local chamber.

The Sydney City Regional Business Awards are held each year, with applications for the 2017 Awards opening in May and the finalists announced in July.

Image courtesy of City of Sydney.