# Charlwin Mao

> Charlwin Mao, also known as Mao Wenchao, is the Shanghai-based co-founder and CEO of Xiaohongshu, the lifestyle platform known outside China as RedNote. A Wuhan native educated at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Stanford, he moved through consulting and private equity before turning a traveler's frustration with overseas-shopping information into PDF guides, an app, and eventually a community used by hundreds of millions of people.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Xiaohongshu
- **Organizations:** Xiaohongshu, Aspen Global Leadership Network, Bain & Company, Bain Capital
- **From:** Wuhan, China
- **Nationality:** Chinese
- **Education:** Bachelor's degree in mechatronics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business
- **Known for:** Co-founded Xiaohongshu in 2013 and developed it from overseas-shopping guides into a lifestyle community with more than 350 million monthly active users reported by the Aspen Institute for 2024., Ranked No. 77 on Fortune's 2024 list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Business., Selected as a Fellow in the Aspen Institute China Fellowship Program's 2024 class and as a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

## Career timeline

- **2007** — Joined Bain & Company after graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
- **2009** — Moved into private-equity work, reported in public biographies as Bain Capital.
- **2011-2013** — Studied for an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
- **2013** — Co-founded Xiaohongshu with Miranda Qu in Shanghai, beginning with PDF guides for Chinese shoppers overseas.
- **2014** — Xiaohongshu launched its community app and subsequently added direct commerce.
- **2016** — Told WIRED the app had reached 15 million downloads and five million monthly users.
- **2020** — Named with Miranda Qu to Fortune China's 40 Under 40 business list.
- **2024** — Ranked No. 77 on Fortune's 100 Most Powerful People in Business list and joined the Aspen Institute China Fellowship's 2024 class.
- **2025** — Xiaohongshu reached the top of Apple's US App Store as users sought an alternative during uncertainty over TikTok.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Xiaohongshu in 2013 and developed it from overseas-shopping guides into a lifestyle community with more than 350 million monthly active users reported by the Aspen Institute for 2024.
- Ranked No. 77 on Fortune's 2024 list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Business.
- Selected as a Fellow in the Aspen Institute China Fellowship Program's 2024 class and as a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
- Named to Fortune China's 2020 40 Under 40 business list with co-founder Miranda Qu.
- Xiaohongshu became the top free app in Apple's US App Store in January 2025 amid an influx of self-described TikTok refugees.

## Latest updates

- **2025-01** — Xiaohongshu, known overseas as RedNote, topped Apple's US App Store as American users arrived ahead of a possible TikTok ban.
- **2024-12** — The Aspen Institute described Xiaohongshu as having more than 350 million monthly active users as of 2024 and listed Mao as a 2024 China Fellow.
- **2024-11** — Fortune ranked Mao No. 77 on its 2024 list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Business.
- **2024-10** — The Hurun China Rich List estimated Mao's wealth at RMB 18 billion and ranked him No. 276.

## Links

- Website: https://www.xiaohongshu.com/
- LinkedIn: https://cn.linkedin.com/in/charlwin-mao-5a800b2b

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/charlwin-mao
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-26