MY ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY
By Songzhuoyi
Currently, I’m working on an innovative project—an AI-powered voice recorder.
STARTING MY FIRST BUSINESS
My name is Songzhuoyi, and I’m currently working on an AI-based voice recorder project. This isn’t my first venture into entrepreneurship, though. Believe it or not, I started my first business back in 2004 during my university days—over two decades ago.
At that time, when I first entered university, the era of internet entrepreneurship was incredibly optimistic and upward-looking. Everything seemed full of promise. I believed that the journey of struggle was an essential part of life, and nothing could be as inspiring as chasing after your dreams.
While many entrepreneurs might start a business for financial gain, my primary motivation was different. I was driven by the belief that my ideas could create something extraordinary, not just to give my life a sense of purpose, but to make life more meaningful for others. I wanted to create a story that would allow people to live more colorful lives, something more fulfilling than what many could imagine.
A LESSON FROM MY FIRST VENTURE
During my university years, I was passionate about creating initiatives that would benefit others. For instance, I noticed that our school’s cafeteria charges were quite high. I wondered if we could negotiate discounts with nearby restaurants. For example, if I could organize 200, 300, or even 400 students to dine at a single restaurant, we might be able to secure a substantial discount, allowing everyone to enjoy better quality food at lower prices.
It was a simple idea, but it eventually came to a halt due to concerns about disrupting the cafeteria’s regular operations.
“Building bridges and roads benefits future generations.” This Chinese saying reflects the essence of my approach to entrepreneurship.
MY VISION FOR AI VOICE RECORDER
However, this experience taught me a valuable lesson: when you focus on creating value for others, even without financial incentives, the endeavor feels worthwhile. I believe that this project, regardless of its eventual success, had good intentions. I hope that through my AI voice recorder, I can transform the way people record and document their lives, even changing their thought patterns and elevating their cognitive horizons.
For example, people could use this device to conduct classes, establish training centers, or share knowledge among friends, all of which could help them improve their habits and ways of thinking. I believe that through a consumer product like an electronic voice recorder, I can influence people’s recording habits. Moreover, by documenting meetings and conversations, users could identify their strengths and areas for improvement. Even more intriguingly, they could train an AI assistant that mirrors themselves, helping them in their work.
CONCLUSION
That’s the essence of my current entrepreneurial venture—an AI-powered voice recorder. I envision it as more than just a recording device; I want it to serve as a platform that transforms people’s lifestyles and thought processes.
