AsianFin -- Since its inception in December 2012, TMTPost has weathered numerous challenges, navigating through the first true technological cycle—the mobile internet era. Now, entering the era of AI and globalization, it faces a new wave of uncertainty and opportunity.

The recently concluded 2024 T-EDGE conference, held in December, felt like a "coming-of-age" ceremony for TMTPost, symbolizing its transition from 12 years of China’s “compulsory education” to entering the truly competitive global arena. For years, many observers in foreign markets dismissed Chinese tech companies, saying they could only dominate the domestic market under China’s protective umbrella. But today, TMTPost, like many Chinese tech firms, is ready to test its true competitive strength on the global stage.

In 2024, amid economic slowdown, many companies have opted to lay low, flee, or retreat, but TMTPost chose to forge ahead, increasing its investment in globalization. New offices have been opened in Hong Kong and Silicon Valley, signaling a bold new direction.

The 2024 T-EDGE Conference reflected this change, with international guests making up one-third of all attendees. In the current complex geopolitical and global environment, bringing together over 20 guests from Europe and the U.S. in Beijing was a remarkable feat. A participant from Southern China expressed amazement, saying, “Every year the experience is different, and each year there are more foreign guests. I’m starting to understand what you’re really trying to do, and it’s impressive,” said Zhou Zhifeng, a long-time friend of TMTPost and President of SNK China, who has keenly observed world affairs, especially after the Saudi royal family’s acquisition of his company.

Interestingly, the T-EDGE "coming-of-age" ceremony seemed to have a cosmic connection with the BMW 7 Series, which became a key supporter of the event. As we reflected on BMW’s journey from a German company to a global brand, it became clear that "globalization" is no longer just a buzzword—it’s about how you impact the world, create value for humanity, and promote a set of values. The disruptors who change the world, and the visionaries with long-term perspectives, both embody this ethos.

Though the statement may seem grand, the world’s leading companies are not just profit-seekers; they are value-driven entities. This is a key point of contention for many Chinese companies going abroad, facing scrutiny on the global stage. 

When the name "T-EDGE" was first introduced several years ago, there were many doubts and even mockery. “EDGE” was seen as representing the margins—did TMTPost want to remain on the fringe? But over time, we’ve explained that, from TMTPost’s perspective, "edge" means "pioneers." Only in the English-speaking world can we fully understand that "all innovation comes from the edges, all disruption comes from the edges."

Now, after 12 years, we no longer need to explain this. The phrase has already taken root in China’s tech circles and become a belief among entrepreneurs. The Chinese tech sector has completed its "coming-of-age" and has produced a wave of outstanding entrepreneurs and companies that are beginning to make a name for themselves globally. But this is just the beginning. 

In 2013, at TMTPost’s first annual conference (later renamed T-EDGE), when ByteDance’s founder Zhang Yiming spoke about redefining media with "algorithms," many in the audience were hearing such a concept for the first time and skeptics abounded. Today, ByteDance is one of the world’s largest tech companies. 

This, we believe, is the value of TMTPost as a media leader, a record keeper of the times, and a companion to Chinese innovation. At the 2024 T-EDGE conference, we took the opportunity to invite several old friends to create a series of "TMTPost 12th Anniversary Old Friends" stories, both a tribute to the past and a look ahead. The first of these stories will be released soon, with additional individual stories to follow.

We would like to extend a special thanks to our contributors (in order of appearance in the opening footage), including:

l Dr. Chu Yin, Vice Dean of the Digital Economy Think Tank, Renmin University of China

l Shi Zhan, Young Historian, Professor at Shanghai International Studies University

l Zhou Yuan, Founder & CEO of Zhihu

l Mao Daqing, Founder and Chairman of Ucommune

l Chen Ligang, CEO and Managing Partner of Oceanpine Capital

l Liu Jianhong, Chairman & CEO of Kailishi, renowned host, and football commentator

l Tao Jingzhou, Member of the Chinese International Commercial Expert Committee of the Supreme People’s Court of China, International Independent Arbitrator

l Tang Minqin, CEO of Hitch Interactive and Secretary-General of the Intelligent Racing Foundation

l Zhou Zhifeng, President of SNK China, former President of Mulin Group

l Ma Xiao, CEO of iFLYBUDS

Additionally, we thank BMW 7 Series for their support in facilitating the travel and filming of this project. As many begin to question the value of serious and professional media, BMW firmly chose to support us. We believe that the pursuits of the BMW 7 Series align spiritually with those of our old friends—not only with their technological breakthroughs but also with their reverence for professionalism and their relentless curiosity to explore and lead with vision.

Lastly, we thank all the investors, partners, users, and team members who have supported and accompanied TMTPost’s growth over the past twelve years. While we cannot list everyone, every contribution has shaped our belief in the future.

The “Old Friends” series is divided into four chapters: "Disrupting, But Staying True to Our Purpose," "Visionary, But Grounded in the Present," "Leading, But Not Alone," and "Moving Forward, Embracing Uncertainty." We hope these themes represent a shared spirit that we all pursue.

Several of our old friends have mentioned that "disruption" begins with self-disruption. Behind every successful person is a personal transformation, without which they could not disrupt an entire industry. Chu Yin sharply pointed out that in today’s China, disruption is often commercialized and misused, lacking reverence for common sense, professionalism, and the unknown. 

Zhihu’s Zhou Yuan mentioned his steadfast belief in the value of high-quality content, and we also firmly believe that, as a content platform, high-quality content is the greatest force capable of enduring through various technological cycles. As TMTPost’s co-founder and CEO Zhao Hejuan said at the end of this film, "No matter how the future world changes, I hope TMTPost will always represent the highest standards of the industry—highest content quality, highest service standards, and the ability to build the highest standards of branding." 

The past is merely a prologue. Standing in the present, we must focus on the future. In the global journey ahead, TMTPost hopes to continue to work with both old and new friends to record the changes of the times and explore the unknown possibilities.

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