The Asiabits Podcast

Asia's Founders. Their Real Stories.

Weekly in-person conversations with the founders, operators, and investors building the future in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and beyond.

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Thomas and Michael recording the Asiabits Podcast
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Ep 16 - Rafael Ratzel, TH Capital
Episode 16
He Left Germany to Build a $100M USD China Fund
Rafael Ratzel, Managing Partner International, TH Capital (华控基金)
At some point I decided to stop talking about it. If I help people in the West to make money in China through financial returns, maybe then they will believe it.
Ep 15
Episode 15
He Left the US Army to Build Asia's First AI Fund
Tak Lo, Komputational Kulture
Ep 14
Episode 14
He Left Sweden for China to Build GPS for Robots
Nils Pihl, Auki Labs
Ep 13
Episode 13
$212K Ad Spend, Amex Capped Mid-Campaign, Still Hit $1M
Oliver Masson, Blisstil
Ep 12
Episode 12
MIT, Apple, Schwarzman Scholar. He Says Shenzhen Can't Be Replaced.
Joshua Woodard, The Sparrows
Featured Founders

The People Behind
the Products

Nils Pihl
Ep 14
Nils Pihl
Auki Labs
Swedish founder, seven years in Beijing, now in Hong Kong. Building the Posemesh: GPS for robots, AR glasses, and AI agents. First big enterprise client: Sweden's largest retailer.
Spatial Computing Robotics AR Glasses
Oliver Masson
Ep 13
Oliver Masson
Blisstil
UNSW solar car engineer turned solo hardware founder. Six years and $700K to build sleep headphones. Then raised over $1M on Kickstarter in 30 days, funded in 59 minutes.
Hardware Kickstarter Sleep Tech
Joshua Woodard
Ep 12
Joshua Woodard
The Sparrows
MIT, Apple, Schwarzman Scholar. Co-founded The Sparrows in Shenzhen. Says the city's manufacturing ecosystem can't be replaced in the next decade.
Hardware Shenzhen Manufacturing
Ryan Dunwoody
Ep 11
Ryan Dunwoody
Powerhouse Engineering
Oxford engineer, moved into a Shenzhen factory dormitory at 24. Co-founded pi-top ($35M raised, Guinness World Record). Now runs a fractional hardware CTO team for startups.
Hardware Shenzhen Fractional CTO
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Weekly (Wednesdays)
60-90 minutes
English + CN subtitles
In-person interviews
Shanghai + Shenzhen
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All Founders
Nils Pihl
Episode 14
Nils Pihl
Auki Labs
Swedish founder, seven years in Beijing, now in Hong Kong. Building the Posemesh: GPS for robots, AR glasses, and AI agents. First big enterprise client: Sweden's largest retailer.
Oliver Masson
Episode 13
Oliver Masson
Blisstil
UNSW solar car engineer turned solo hardware founder. Six years and $700K to build sleep headphones. Then raised over $1M on Kickstarter in 30 days, funded in 59 minutes.
Joshua Woodard
Episode 12
Joshua Woodard
The Sparrows
MIT, Apple, Schwarzman Scholar. Co-founded The Sparrows in Shenzhen. Says the city's manufacturing ecosystem can't be replaced in the next decade.
Ryan Dunwoody
Episode 11
Ryan Dunwoody
Powerhouse Engineering
Flew to Shenzhen at 24, lived in a factory dormitory for 5 months. Co-founded pi-top ($35M, Guinness World Record). Now runs a fractional hardware CTO team.
Denise Wu
Episode 10
Denise Wu
rootique
From Ogilvy to Foodpanda to bike-sharing in the US. Quit everything to build the world's first micro-misting scalp care device in Shenzhen.
Laurent Le Pen
Episode 9
Laurent Le Pen
Oxtak / Omate / Oclean
18 years in Shenzhen. First million-dollar Kickstarter smartwatch. Oral care brand #1 in Eastern Europe. Now an AI productivity device launching in Japan.
Tuo Liu
Episode 8
Tuo Liu
Robotuo
Designed robotics labs for MIT and Harvard. Moved back to Shenzhen to build the largest open-source robotics community. 150+ humanoid companies mapped.
Irving Gao
Episode 7
Irving Gao
Takway AI / Sweekar
Gave up PhD at USTC, borrowed ¥2M. Built the world's first physically growing AI pocket pet. CES 2026: "Breaking News."
Francesco Crivelli
Episode 6
Francesco Crivelli
Intuition Core
23, grew up between Switzerland and Chile. Visited 500+ robotics companies across China. The truth about fake demos.
Jacky
Episode 5
Jacky
PePeHola
Built a smart dog ball you can control from anywhere via WiFi. Featured at CES 2026, covered by CNET.
Eric
Episode 4
Eric
Pavo Fitness
Built an intelligent, foldable Pilates reformer. $395K raised on Kickstarter.
Sean
Episode 3
Sean
Cozytime / Lumo
AI-powered infrared grill from China's BBQ capital. 70% infrared, 30% convection.
Audrey Quan
Episode 2
Audrey Quan
InnoAIO
25 years old, got Abu Dhabi royals to invest millions. #1 AI translator on JD.com.
Thomas & Michael
Episode 1
Thomas Derksen & Michael Broza
Asiabits
12+ years in Shanghai. What nobody tells you about doing business in China - entity setup, WeChat, culture shock.
All Episodes
Ep 16
Episode 16
He Left Germany to Build a $100M USD China Fund
Rafael Ratzel, Managing Partner International, TH Capital (华控基金)
At some point I decided to stop talking about it. If I help people in the West to make money in China through financial returns, maybe then they will believe it.
Ep 15
Episode 15
He Left the US Army to Build Asia's First AI Fund
Tak Lo, Founder & Managing Partner, Komputational Kulture
It's going to be Armageddon. China's perception is, this is great. We should embrace it.
Ep 14
Episode 14
He Left Sweden for China to Build GPS for Robots
Nils Pihl, Founder & CEO, Auki Labs
The AI revolution has almost definitionally not begun until we get physical AI.
Ep 13
Episode 13
$212K Ad Spend, Amex Capped Mid-Campaign, Still Hit $1M
Oliver Masson, Solo Founder, Blisstil
I think I probably had 10K in the bank account. This thing doesn't work, then I'm screwed.
Ep 12
Episode 12
MIT, Apple, Schwarzman Scholar. He Says Shenzhen Can't Be Replaced.
Joshua Woodard, Co-Founder, The Sparrows
I don't think Shenzhen's manufacturing ecosystem will be replaced in the next decade.
Ep 11
Episode 11
He Slept in a Chinese Factory Dorm at 24. Then Raised $35 Million.
Ryan Dunwoody, Powerhouse Engineering
Flew to Shenzhen at 24 with no Mandarin. Lived in a factory dormitory for 5 months. Co-founded pi-top ($35M raised, Guinness World Record). Now runs a fractional hardware CTO team.
Ep 9
Episode 10
She Flew From New York to Scream at Her Shenzhen Factory
Denise Wu, rootique
From Ogilvy to Foodpanda to bike-sharing in the US. Quit everything to build the world's first micro-misting scalp care device in Shenzhen.
Ep 9
Episode 9
This Frenchman Built 3 Hardware Companies in China's Toughest City
Laurent Le Pen, Oxtak / Omate / Oclean
18 years in Shenzhen. First million-dollar Kickstarter smartwatch. Oral care brand #1 in Eastern Europe. Now an AI productivity device launching in Japan.
Ep 8
Episode 8
He Maps Every Humanoid Robot Company in China
Tuo Liu, Robotuo
Designed robotics labs for MIT and Harvard. Moved back to Shenzhen to build the largest open-source robotics community. 150+ humanoid companies mapped.
Ep 7
Episode 7
He Borrowed $300,000 to Build a Physical AI Tamagotchi
Irving Gao, Takway AI / Sweekar
Gave up PhD at USTC, borrowed ¥2M, shipped 200 units with 1 user after 30 days. Built the world's first physically growing AI pocket pet.
Ep 6
Episode 6
He's 23 and Visited 500 Robot Companies in China
Francesco Crivelli, Intuition Core
Grew up between Switzerland and Chile, visited 500+ robotics companies across China. The truth about fake demos and Shenzhen.
Ep 5
Episode 5
He Found the Real Problem: Millions of Dogs Left Home Alone
Pepehola
He found the real problem: millions of dogs left home alone. So he built this.
Ep 4
Episode 4
Why Your $500/Month Pilates Studio Is A Scam
Eric, Pavo Fitness
The story behind the intelligent, foldable Pilates reformer that raised $395K on Kickstarter.
Ep 3
Episode 3
He Built an AI Grill That Could Replace Your BBQ
Sean, Cozytime / Lumo
From China's BBQ capital to building an AI-powered infrared grill. 70% infrared, 30% convection.
Ep 2
Episode 2
She's 25 and Got Abu Dhabi Royals to Invest Millions
Audrey Quan, InnoAIO
AI-powered golden frames for heads of state, the #1 AI translator on JD.com.
Ep 1
Episode 1
What Nobody Tells You About Doing Business in China
Thomas & Michael, Asiabits
The founders share what 12+ years in China taught them about building businesses between East and West.