他，地下室创业，“偷菜”起家，干出百亿帝国

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the remarkable journey of Tang Binsen, the founder of Yuanqi Forest, who disrupted the beverage industry in China with innovative products like zero-sugar sparkling water, leading to a valuation of 71 billion yuan and a global presence in over 40 countries [4][5][6]. Group 1: Background and Early Ventures - Tang Binsen was born in 1982 in Hefei and showed an early interest in business, even writing about economic development in his school essays [8]. - He started his entrepreneurial journey by reselling pirated tapes during high school, which deepened his interest in business [9]. - After winning a gold medal at an international programming competition, he used the prize money as seed capital for his entrepreneurial ventures, although his initial projects failed [10][12][13]. Group 2: Transition to Beverage Industry - In 2014, Tang Binsen founded Challenger Capital and began investing in various projects, eventually leading to the establishment of Yuanqi Forest in 2015 [20][21]. - The beverage industry was identified as inefficient, with a lack of innovation and slow approval processes, prompting Tang to challenge established giants like Coca-Cola and Nongfu Spring [21][22]. - Initial product development faced challenges, leading to a decision to destroy unsatisfactory inventory, emphasizing a commitment to quality [26][29]. Group 3: Market Disruption and Growth - Yuanqi Forest launched its first successful product, "Burning Tea," in late 2016, which quickly became a top seller in the sugar-free tea market [29]. - In 2018, the company entered the sparkling water market, a relatively untapped segment in China, using natural sweeteners to appeal to health-conscious consumers [36][38]. - Sales skyrocketed from 180 million yuan in 2018 to 7 billion yuan in 2021, with a brand valuation reaching 15 billion USD [38]. Group 4: Challenges and Strategic Responses - The entry of major competitors into the sparkling water market and rising raw material costs posed significant challenges starting in 2020 [41][42]. - Despite a 170% revenue growth in 2021, the growth rate dropped to 30% in 2022, prompting a strategic shift to diversify product offerings [47][48]. - The introduction of new products like "Ice Tea" and "Yuanqi Zizai Water" targeted price-sensitive consumers, leading to rapid sales growth [52][54]. Group 5: International Expansion and Future Outlook - Yuanqi Forest established an international division in 2020, successfully entering markets in the US, Singapore, and Australia [56]. - The company became the only Chinese brand to rank in the top 10 and top 100 of Amazon's beverage sales charts [56]. - By 2025, Yuanqi Forest aims to leverage technology to reshape consumer experiences, with plans for smart vending machines to enhance product accessibility [58][59].