Grassroots American dynamism

The mom-and-pop businesses of today are YouTubers, Twitch streamers, Shopify dropshippers, webcomic artists, podcast hosts, Tik Tok stars, OnlyFans creators, indie game developers, streetwear resellers, Etsy store owners, Clubhouse hosts, Substack writers, and many, many more.

Wang’s story is about more than just the copycat who made good. His transformation charts the evolution of China’s technology ecosystem, and that ecosystem’s greatest asset: its tenacious entrepreneurs. Those entrepreneurs are beating Silicon Valley juggernauts at their own game and have learned how to survive in the single most competitive startup

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As every big company floods the zone of our attention with increasingly enticing marketing and cheaper and more personalized versions of everything, we — as consumers — will crave more scarce and authentically human experiences, often provided by a small business run by passionate people. In response, more artisanal-like and privately-owned busines... See more