Peter Choi shares his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting lessons learned from multiple startups over the years, including the importance of user experience and adapting to market dynamics. He emphasizes that entrepreneurship requires endurance, faith, and acceptance of the challenges ahead, while also noting the unique startup ecosystem in Hong Kong. The document concludes with encouragement for aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace their journey and seek community support.

1. A Random Walk Down
Entrepreneurship
Peter Choi
@snapshock / @hiwavesg

2. Peter Choi
• MSc MBCS PMP CISA CISSP
• 7 jobs in 8 years (“strategic” hopper…)
• Committee member, BCS (HK Section)
• First startup: 2004 (newsy)
• Taekwondo coach for 16 years

3. 2004 : newsy.com
• Web based RSS reader
• Cause of death:
– Too young
– Google Reader
• Lessons learnt:
– UX > functionalities
– Domain name trading is something!

4. 2007 : iPhoto.org
• Syndicate of photography blogs
• Lessons learnt:
– No automation for e-marketing
– Do not rely on advertisement income

5. 2005-2006 : SayiLove & StarryGift
• A place for love declaration
• Cause of death:
– Job security (team psychology)
– QC on outsourcing
– Too slow (morale issue)
• Lessons learnt:
– Train to manage your emotion
– Ditch “perfection”

6. 2008 : Hiwave Dry Seafood
http://hiwave.starrygift.com
• Family business for 3 gens
• Physical store at Sai Kung
• Chinese wedding betrothal gift
• iPhone apps – soup recipes “ 日行一膳”
• Featured in Google market report “The
Connected Harbour”
http://www.connectedharbour.hk

7. Video

8. 2008 : Hiwave Dry Seafood
• Minimal setup cost: blog, open source, social
media, SEO
• Secured inventory and supply chain
Google added:
• Extensive network
• Press and PR (a lot…)

9. Video

11. 2008 : Hiwave Dry Seafood
• Lesson learnt
ENDURANCE
不死才是硬道理 - 馬云 , 阿里巴巴

12. 2010 : Snapshock
• http://www.snapshock.com
• Sharing Event Photos Live
• HKSTP Incubatee
• Alpha launched at Beijing 36Kr ODay
• Interviewed at Innovation Works
• Echelon 2012 at Taiwan and Singapore
• iOS, Android ready

16. 2010: Snapshock
• Lesson learnt
FAITH
Maintain unwavering faith;
Confront the reality
- Stockdale Paradox

17. To Be Honest
• Entrepreneurship is NOT for everyone
• Do NOT expect “ Work Life Balance ”
• Livelihood is NOT guaranteed
• You will NOT succeed, for the first time
• You will learn a lot more
• You will live your life
• You will be happy
• You will succeed, eventually

18. To Conclude…
• Leap of Faith, embrace it
• Feel good, it’s a long journey
• Tiny idea, best execution
• Four perspectives :
– Yourself (core belief)
– Users (market acceptance)
– Investors (cash flow)
– Developers (feasibility)

19. And in Hong Kong…
• Cash in King !!
• Real estates and finance rules for a reason
• Startup and investors ecosystems still need
time to grow
• HK is no Silicon Valley or Beijing
• You are no Mark Zukerberg or Jack Ma!
If you are smarter, prove it !!

20. Your First Step…
• Join facebook group : Startup College
• Website: www.startupcollege.hk
• Twitter: @startupcollege

21. Peter Choi
Co-founder and CEO, Snapshock
peter.choi@snapshock.com
Twitter: @peterchoi
@snapshock / @hiwavesg
Weibo.com/peterchoicm