5 Questions with Ling Cai, Co-Founder and COO of ZAOZAO

Ling Cai is the co-founder and COO of ZAOZAO, a crowdfunding platform for emerging designers. Prior to launching her own company, she worked at Gucci, Harper’s Bazaar, Oscar de la Renta, Lanvin and Intermix. An ardent supporter of rising talent, she aims to alleviate common problems faced by emerging designers such as lack of funding, recognition and sales.

What is your startup?

ZAOZAO is Asia’s 1st crowdfunding platform that revolutionizes the way emerging designers are discovered and supported worldwide. ZAOZAO’s fun, social shopping experience allows shoppers seeking unique designs to support creative endeavors at the same time.

How did you come up with this idea?

My young sister, who was a fashion design student, inspired us. We noticed there was a huge pool of talented designers who did not have a platform for them to be discovered and receive funding. We wanted to provide a space that could make this possible.

Who are you targeting and how big is the market in HK/Asia?

We are targeting stylish individuals who appreciate beautiful, unique items. Global e-commerce sales tipped USD$1 trillion last year and there are no signs of slowing, with Asia Pacific predicted to dominate sales this year.

What are your future plans for your startup?

We want to make ZAOZAO the online destination for discovering and supporting emerging designers. There is a wealth of talent waiting to be discovered. We spoke to 400 emerging designers across Asia last year and that is just the beginning.

1 Benefit and 1 Challenge in the HK startup scene?

Benefit: Vast networking opportunities.
Challenge: Limited access to the right type of investors.

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