Vancouver — This week’s Web Summit gathered innovators from around the world, and one of its highlights was Yaofei Feng, co-founder of Fantuan. Born in China and based in Vancouver, Feng launched Fantuan in 2014, and the platform has since become North America’s largest Asian food delivery service.
During a live interview with CGTN’s Dan Williams, Feng traced the company’s roots to his time as an Amazon software engineer in Seattle. He spotted that popular delivery apps overlooked many Asian restaurants. 'That gap wasn't just a missed business opportunity—it meant people were craving flavours they couldn’t easily find,' he said.
Feng’s leap into entrepreneurship shows how a simple insight can spark major growth. By focusing on authentic menus and a user-friendly app, Fantuan now connects thousands of customers with underrepresented eateries across multiple cities.
For the global audience at Web Summit—especially young professionals and tech enthusiasts—Feng’s story underscores a key lesson: find real problems in your community and build solutions that matter. 'Technology thrives when it solves everyday challenges,' he noted.
As on-demand culture reshapes consumer habits, platforms like Fantuan highlight the power of diaspora entrepreneurship in bridging cultural divides. Feng’s journey from engineer to founder offers a roadmap for the next wave of global changemakers eager to disrupt the status quo.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
