Thanks to the rapid development of big technology companies like Tencent, Shenzhen has become the tech capital of China.
According to Tencent CEO Ma Huateng, the city was just a fishing village before the arrival of big corporate entities in the tech field.
Mr. Huateng was born in Shenzhen, and his childhood memories are filled with stories from the small fish markets and fishing boats. However, in 1998, he founded the now internationally famous gaming and entertainment giant Tencent.
At first, the company was small, located in one of the most deprived areas of the city, but soon it attracted international support and quickly started growing to its current status as a leader in the industry.
Tech capital of China tanks to WeChat and Tencent
Transforming a city from a mere village to the tech capital of a whole country is not an easy task. While it is true that technology is entering every aspect of our lives, from medicine to education, the transformation of a whole city is not something that happens overnight.
Tencent became globally famous after developing WeChat, a social media and messaging platform, which became widely popular all over China.
However, Tencent is not the only factor behind Shenzhen’s development as the tech capital of China. According to government statistics, there are more than three thousand and five hundred (3500) tech-centric companies based in the city.
The city’s economic growth is further boosted by a large number of tech start-ups, following in the footsteps of giants like Tencent. Often Shenzhen has been referred to as the Silicon Valley of China.
