Elliot Leung is taking peer-to-peer in a new direction, ‘stuff-sharing,’ with the largest rentals platform in Hong Kong, Gaifong.

What’s your story?
I’ve always thought that buying everything you need from stores was a stupid idea.
In late-2014, I started on Google spreadsheet where 25 people listed their belongings for others to rent. People loved the idea so much that they kept on posting more and met up to try out each others’ stuff.
We took this one step further, raised some funding, built an MVP (minimum viable product), got a Cyberport grant and we’re now the largest rentals platform in Hong Kong, with 10,000 members and 3,000 items. We named the company Gaifong – ‘neighbours’ in Cantonese.

What excites you most about your industry?
The “peer-to-peer” economy, or “sharing economy,” is still in its infancy. Millennials are increasingly open to other forms of consumption, be it ride-sharing, flat-sharing or stuff-sharing. By 2030, we expect that half of consumer activity will be rentals and the rest will be ownership.

What’s your connection to Asia?
Born and raised here, although I’ve been a globetrotter, living in 6 countries and I have travelled to 40 different countries. I dream of an Asia where everybody speaks multiple neighbouring languages, much like in Europe.

Roadshow ECO Star Award 2015 Presentation at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong on 27 January 2016

dsc03387

Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Hong Kong without a doubt. That’s why many overseas talents shop around Asia and decide to settle here. There’s such a dynamic population here and the talent pool is amazing. This will remain our home base for years to come.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
“Character, integrity, judgment.” This came from an ex-boss. Incredibly hard to maintain as you progress in your career, but increasingly important.

Who inspires you?
My parents. They’re among the hardest working people I know and they’re always kind. Kindness is such a rarity these days.

What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
I was at a McDonald’s recently and inside was a long queue for ordering at the counter. There were over 15 people and the wait was 5 mins a least. Outside were THREE automatic ordering machines, with zero wait time. Guess what? Nobody was using them!
Best lesson in consumer behaviour, if there ever was one!

If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I’d fundraise better. I wasted a lot of time in the beginning approaching institutional investors. We were way too early, despite our optimism and promise. I switched to angel investors and things fell into place immediately. Reading all the blogs and articles online, we tend to forget that there are many ways to finance an early company.

How do you unwind?
Trail running. It helps me think clearly and re-energises my mind.

Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Yunnan for sure. Mountains, quiet, lakes, chilli food.

Everyone in business should read this book:
The Necessary Revolution by Peter Senge. All businesses must develop a sustainability strategy and this is a good place to start.

Shameless plug for your business:
Gaifong helps consumers rent anything they want from people nearby. Our mission statement is simple: “Peer-to-peer rentals for all”. Watch this space.

How can people connect with you?
[email protected], or if you’re in Hong Kong, just rent something from me on Gaifong!

Twitter handle?
@ewyleung

This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:

CallumConnectsCallum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia.  He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries.  He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence.  A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.

Take the ‘Key Person of Influence’ scorecard <http://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/scorecard/>

Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Get his free ‘Asia Snapshot’ report from www.callumlaing.com

Recently Published

Key Takeaway: Antarctica’s tiny invertebrates, such as mites, springtails, and tardigrades, have developed strategies to survive extreme cold conditions. These adaptations, known as freeze tolerance and avoidance, allow them to survive below zero temperatures without damage. These survival mechanisms could inform future innovations in areas such as organ preservation and materials engineering. Understanding how these […]

Top Picks

Key Takeaway: AI-powered mental health tools, such as chatbots and self-help apps, offer immediate emotional support to those in need. However, these tools cannot replace the complexity, depth, and ethical safeguards of human therapy, especially when dealing with serious mental health issues. AI lacks emotional understanding, cultural context, and real-time adaptability, which can be dangerous […]
Key Takeaway: The discovery of asteroid 2024 YR4 has reignited fears about cosmic threats, highlighting the need for a global planetary defense system. Political scientist Daniel Deudney warns that unchecked expansion into space, especially with geopolitical rivalries, could be a recipe for global disaster. The fear of space, its vastness, and existential indifference is deeply […]
Key Takeaway: John Harvey Kellogg, a controversial doctor, played a significant role in the development of the plant-based movement. He combined the Progressive Era with “biologic living” and established an experimental kitchen to develop alternatives to meat. In 1896, the U.S. Department of Agriculture asked Kellogg to create a plant-based protein that could rival meat […]
Key Takeaway: Research shows that some animals form surprising partnerships, challenging traditional views on how intelligence evolves in the animal kingdom. For example, Octavia and Finn, a day octopus and coral trout, work as a team, each bringing unique skills to the hunt. Other species have also developed remarkable partnerships, such as the greater honeyguide […]

Trending

I highly recommend reading the McKinsey Global Institute’s new report, “Reskilling China: Transforming The World’s Largest Workforce Into Lifelong Learners”, which focuses on the country’s biggest employment challenge, re-training its workforce and the adoption of practices such as lifelong learning to address the growing digital transformation of its productive fabric. How to transform the country […]

Join our Newsletter

Get our monthly recap with the latest news, articles and resources.

Login

Welcome to Empirics

We are glad you have decided to join our mission of gathering the collective knowledge of Asia!
Join Empirics