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Andrew Collins, came to China as a true Laowai (Alien) and made it, building the biggest Sports Digital Media Consulting business in the country and is now taking it globally.\xa0 Amazing stories of how he got started, stuck with it despite all the challenges and made it work.\n\xa0\nKey Highlights\xa0\nHow Andrew got started as an Entrepreneur winning a University competition and catching the China bug early\nNever wanting a full time job, lessons from Jack Morton, sold his small retail business and decided to move to China \xa0\nDream was starting a publishing business (in China), bought a company called Mailman in Shanghai which was an old postcard media sales business, losing money and owned by another foreigner\nThe journey from Mailman\u2019s original business to becoming a powerhouse in Sports Social Media consulting (Mailman & Seven League)\nGreat examples of Mailman\u2019s work and clients across Leagues, teams, athletes, sponsors\nChina Social Media and new digital platforms in China from Short form video (from Douyin (Tiktok), IQIYI, Huya, Douyu to Youku)\nDemand for long form sports content for the top sports (Premier League & NBA) is safe but there are challenges for everyone else.\xa0 \xa0\nThe power of Chinese KOL/Influencers and Live Streaming platforms\nEsports in China and his views on E-gaming/Esports ecosystem in general\nMobile Only culture\nDefining moments of being a Laowai Entrepreneur in China\nRaising US$ 30 mil in 2016 for global expansion & future plans & final lessons\nA bit about TSA\n\xa0\nAbout\nAndrew grew up in Wodonga, where he attended Wodonga Secondary College with his 2 brothers Sean and Liam.\nFollowing high school Andrew moved to Melbourne to study business and media at Swinburne University where he completed his Bachelors degree.\xa0 While at Swinburne he completed a semester abroad at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. At university Andrew was very active, leading international student excursions, working at the University gym, playing Football, tennis and in his final year setting up a small, yet profitable import and retail business.\nAndrew finished his studies with the Swinburne Chancellor Award for most outstanding entrepreneur with a $10,000 award and participated in a global technology summit in Singapore and Shanghai. It was on this trip which transformed Andrew\u2019s view on the world and inspired the passion to build a career in Asia. With studies complete, Andrew began working part time for a global experiential marketing company Jack Morton. Worldwide, where Andrew supported on business development while also continuing to manage the retail business.\nIn 2005 Andrew sold the retail business, gave notice at Jack Morton and headed on a solo back-packing adventure around the world. He visited North America, Europe and Asia and developed a passion for travel.\nUpon returning to Australia, no job, no business - Andrew decided he would explore setting up a company in Shanghai in media and publishing.\nAfter 18 months of travel to China, 100\u2019s of meetings with senior business owners and expatriates in the region he agreed to purchase a small little known media consulting business Mailman Ltd.\nIn 2007, as the new CEO of Mailman, Andrew moved to Shanghai to begin his next chapter. The company had 4 staff, was losing money, yet Andrew was optimistic he could turn it around.\nAfter several years of trial and error, as Andrew and his new team developed capabilities in digital marketing with a focus on sports. Andrew repositioned the company, refined the brand and began a years long strategy to build credibility with the world\u2019s leading sports organisations.\nBy 2016, Mailman was considered the leader across China, serving many of the worlds most iconic sports organisations including the NFL, UFC, Kobe Bryant, Cristiano Ronalda, Manchester United and more.\nIn early 2017 the company raised over US$25m from leading Chinese investors Yao Captial, Kaixin Capital, and WeCapital. With this capital the group continued to gro