Zheng Zhonghua is the CEO of Boryou Technology and the executive director of the University of Science and Technology of China’s public sentiment management and research center. Anhui Boryou Technology Co, founded by Zheng, is reputed to be have been the first company to gather data on China’s public sentiment.

In 1995, Zheng started work in Sinopec Qilu Since Petrochemical Company, taking a popular and proper job located close to his home. But to Zheng, it lacked opportunity and challenge. After seven years’ of rather mundane work, Zheng decided to do further study and in 2005 was offered a place at the University of Science and Technology to pursue a PhD.

Zheng Zhonghua,the CEO of Boryou Technology and the executive director of the University of Science and Technology of China’s public sentiment management and research center.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zheng has lived in Hefei, Anhui province, for 13 years, since 2005. He often jokingly introduces himself as a “new Hefei citizen”. 

In 2010, Zheng founded his company. From just one person (himself) to approximately 200 staff members, from a small and micro enterprise to a 10 million yuan level one, from being a weak New Third Board member in 2017 to being the first to gather China’s public sentiment data, Zheng and his company have met series of difficulties and challenges. Since 2014, Boryou has been in a period of rapid development. Its annual turnover has doubled and quadrupled, and its business scope has spread over 25 provinces across China. 

How does the Boryou Technology stand out from any number of public sentiment data companies? What’s its advantage? 

“We had our own software development team, cloud computing center and several fast fibers. Besides the data in China, we also have servers in the US and Europe,” said Zheng. What’s more, Boryou Technology has strong capacity for innovation, data-handling and talents development, according to Zheng. 

The innovation and startup atmosphere, business environment and service provided by Hefei National High-Tech Industry Development Zone are also important reasons Zheng has stayed in Hefei. “The zone provided a series of supports for entrepreneurs, such as a housing rental allowance, science and technology special subsidies and talent subsidies,” Zheng said, adding that without the zone’s support Boryou Technology could not have grown up so quickly. 

“Many young people think startups are cool, but only the entrepreneur himself tastes the pressure and hard work. No matter how tough, since I chose it, I will spare no effort in developing it, making it better and finally the best,” added Zheng. 

In addition, Zheng hopes that the University of Science and Technology of China will develop into a national and world leading university that can cultivate not only scientists but also businessmen and statesmen. And Zheng hopes the students will try their best to achieve their ambitions and dreams.