Founder of Thae Business Consulting and e-FeitoNaChina.
Interviewed by Lauren Hogan
Meet Thais Moretz, a Brazilian entrepreneur and the founder of TV channel e-FeitoNaChina. She moved to China in 2015 to pursue her master's in Political Economy, and following that, Comexport (the largest trading company in Brazil) invited her to be their general manager and legal representative in Shanghai.
After working there for a few years, she decided to take the leap in starting her own company - Thae (Shanghai) Business Consulting, this year. We speak to her to learn more about her experience, the advice she gives to other entrepreneurs, and what inspires her. Read on to learn about Thais.
You are the founder of the TV channel ‘e-FeitoNaChina.’ Can you tell us more about this channel and the motivation behind creating it?
Sure! After a few years of experience with Comexport, I decided to open my own company, Thae (Shanghai) Business Consulting, which provides tailor-made services for foreign companies (mainly Brazilian) that wish to land their products in China. We help them to position their brands in Chinese social media and also represent them in China, doing public relations, finding distributors, etc. As for the Chinese companies, we help them to expand their presence in Brazil, introducing them to potential clients, assisting in tax clarification, labor laws, etc.
The channel e-FeitoNaChina was launched to advertise this business potential and explore other ideas. It is an opportunity I discussed with Mr Winston Lin, a very influential startup investor in Brazil, owner of SoulTV, and he wanted to have a show about China. Then I launched this channel, focused on business, and created it with Theo Niculae, who played a fundamental role in co-founding the channel and was responsible for all the design-related work and video production.
e-FeitoNaChina is broadcasted in Brazil. It is available for download on smartphones everywhere, too. And now we also started to upload some episodes on Youtube.
It was launched to encourage bilateral business between Brazil and China. We show the Brazilian audience that China is not so difficult as they may think. We share many successful stories of foreigners who are doing good business in China and overcoming difficulties. The Brazilians can watch the interviews for free and get inspired, and, if they need, they can contact Thae Consulting for personalized service. As for the Chinese companies, they can also use the channel to advertise their companies and find potential clients in Brazil.
What do you think are some of the skills people need to be able to start their own business in China?
They need to be bold and persistent.
What has been one of your biggest learning lessons as an entrepreneur, especially in China?
We need to build good relations with everyone: our colleagues, friends, partners, even with our competitors. Things change and it’s better to cultivate allies than enemies.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to start a business in China?
Choose your niche and study it. Don’t get too excited about the Chinese domestic market size; they are diverse, be realistic.
Get ready to work a lot. Everybody here is super hardworking. People don’t stop - evenings, holidays, weekends…
Build a team with complementary skills and similar passion. You will make each other stronger.
What do you find most fascinating about Chinese culture?
I like the characters and the way the meanings are constructed and reconstructed. They help us to see the world from a different perspective.
What’s one daily habit you have adopted in order to better yourself?
Sports, definitely. No matter how tired I am, I always find time to go to the gym and lift some weights, or do yoga, or bike outside, or jog near my home. Usually, I am not physically tired, I am just mentally tired, so sport helps me to refresh my mind and bring the energy to continue my work.
What’s your proudest accomplishment?
Thae (Shanghai) Business Consulting. I am super happy to call myself a foreign investor in China.
Who inspires you and why?
My father, although he is not perfect and nobody is, he is super hardworking and never gets tired. He taught me to be strong. And my mother, because she is the other pillar in the family. She taught me compassion.
What is a quote that you live by
God is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
If you would like to get in contact with Thae Business Consulting or e-FeitoNaChina you can reach them at:
email:
Instagram:
efeitonachina
YouTube:
e-FeitoNaChina