5 years in China now: WeChat is my primary connection online. I check email once every 2-3 days, Facebook once every few months and usually just to turn off notifications that never seem to actually stay off. WeChat allows me to pay my utility bills, Call taxis, buy a soda, send out promotions for events, publish my photos, stalk friends, find movie tickets and reserve seats, buy a box of avocadoes, find a group of expectant mothers, and the list goes on and on. This is the social network that Chinese people use and folks in the West don't get how pervasive it is.
I have lived in Shanghai for the past 3 years but I also lived here from 2001-2002. Back then, there were buildings constructed that were totally empty and it seemed ridiculous to think anyone would live in those distant undeveloped areas. Fast forward a decade and now Shanghai has 20 metro lines instead of two, with each metro station under a sprouting mini-city, complete with its own H&M, Burger King and Starbucks. It seems like the urban planners strategically placed them all perfectly close to each other, like settlements in Civ. The condos that stood empty 12 years ago are now at full capacity and people are moving even further out into the exurbs where more empty buildings await them. The energy and buzz in Shanghai is just as palpable as it was 12 years ago and although there are some ghost cities and failed projects across greater China, the megalopolises will easily compensate for them. The United States has its share of empty, abandoned cities (Detroit, anyone?) but when you visit San Francisco or Manhattan, you would not know it.
I have lived in Shanghai for the past 3 years but I also lived here from 2001-2002. Back then, there were buildings constructed that were totally empty and it seemed ridiculous to think anyone would live in those distant undeveloped areas. Fast forward a decade and now Shanghai has 20 metro lines instead of two, with each metro station under a sprouting mini-city, complete with its own H&M, Burger King and Starbucks. It seems like the urban planners placed tem all perfectly close to each other, like settlements in Civ. The condos that stood empty 12 years ago are now at full capacity and people are moving even further out into the exurbs where more empty buildings await them. The energy and buzz in Shanghai is just as palpable as it was 12 years ago and although there are some ghost cities and failed projects across greater China, the megalopolises will easily compensate for them. The United States has its share of empty, abandoned cities (Detroit, anyone?) but when you visit San Francisco or Manhattan, you would not know it.
Congrats on being YC's newest nonprofit! The scalability of in-person training is a concern that I have with my education /consultancy business, as well. I look forward to hearing more about how you expand to hundreds of thousands!
Also, I'm 35 years old, so not just some kid who could afford to take risks. Just was never able to save up $ on a salary, went through a few periods of unemployment, and a few of my other startups failed. I'm finally on course to make some real dough and it never would've happened if I didn't quit.
I have a similar story. I only saved up about $2000 too, but I also had a 1-month consulting gig that would pay me about 5 months' salary. That was enough to spur me to quit my job and start working on my own. I earned over a year's salary in the past 3 months since I quit and haven't looked back since.