Vancouver-based food delivery platform Fantuan, now North America's largest Asian-focused service, took center stage at this week's Web Summit through its Chinese-born co-founder Yaofei Feng. The entrepreneur revealed how a gap in Seattle's food delivery market inspired him to leave his Amazon software engineering job and build a culinary bridge for Asian communities abroad.
Founded in 2014, Fantuan has grown exponentially by catering to what Feng calls 'the authentic dining needs of Asian diaspora communities.' During an interview with CGTN's Dan Williams, the founder emphasized cultural understanding as key to their success: 'We don't just deliver food – we deliver childhood memories and connections to heritage.'
The platform's expansion mirrors growing economic ties between North America and Asia, with investors noting increased cross-Pacific interest in food tech ventures. Analysts suggest Fantuan's model could inspire similar diaspora-focused startups in other sectors.
