All-In E82: All-In Summit: Claire Cormier Thielke on China + Q&A with Flexport's Ryan Petersen

Episode 82 • 5/24/2022

Real Estate Development in China
- Manages Greater China operations for Heinz, the world's largest private real estate firm
- Team operates across Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Hong Kong
- Built China's greenest skyscraper and pioneering innovative living spaces
Technology Integration
- Discussed how Chinese buildings are fully integrated with WeChat
- Buildings can be accessed, managed, and interacted with through digital interfaces
- Highlighted how China is 10-15 years ahead in consumer technology adoption
Greater Bay Area Development
- Detailed the transformation of Shenzhen from a fishing village of 58,000 to a tech hub of 12+ million
- Explained the Greater Bay Area initiative connecting 9 mainland cities plus Hong Kong and Macau
- Discussed $300 billion infrastructure investment including 2,000 miles of speed rail

Flexport Overview & Growth
- Started in 2013 with $2M revenue in 2014
- Now tracking toward $5B in revenue
- Detailed various supply chain crises since 2015
Current Supply Chain Challenges
- Transit times increased from 50 to 120 days for container shipping
- Shipping costs rose from $600 to $20,000 per container
- Discussed impact on D2C brands facing multiple challenges
Humanitarian Efforts
- Created Flexport.org for humanitarian relief shipping
- Raised $25M with Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis for Ukraine aid
- Delivered critical supplies including nine ambulances to Ukraine

Manufacturing Shifts
- Mexico becoming cheaper than China for labor costs
- China moving up the value chain with "Made in China 2025" initiative
- Discussion of global manufacturing trends and labor costs