# Tianqiao Chen

> Tianqiao Chen is the founder, chairman and CEO of Shanda Group, which grew from an online entertainment business founded in 1999 into a family-owned global investment group. An economics graduate of Fudan University, he later co-founded the Chen Institute with Chrissy Luo and returned to building companies focused on artificial intelligence, including MiroMind and Apodex. His essays argue for AI that produces testable discoveries and for people retaining responsibility for consequential decisions.

- **Role:** Founder, Chairman and CEO at Shanda Group
- **Organizations:** Shanda Group, Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute, MiroMind, Apodex, Shanghai Lujiazui Group, Kinghing Trust & Investment
- **From:** Xinchang County, China
- **Nationality:** Chinese
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Fudan University
- **Known for:** Built Shanda from a 1999 startup into a Nasdaq-listed online entertainment business in 2004., Helped develop online gaming and online literature businesses in China., Led Shanda through its transition into a family-owned global investment group.

## Career timeline

- **1994–1998** — Held management positions at Shanghai Lujiazui Group.
- **1998–1999** — Served as vice director of the office of the president at Kinghing Trust & Investment.
- **1999** — Founded Shanda with family members, including Chrissy Luo and Danian Chen, in Shanghai.
- **2001** — Shanda began operating The Legend of Mir II in China.
- **2004** — Shanda Interactive Entertainment listed on Nasdaq.
- **2005** — Shanda announced free basic play with paid optional services for major online games.
- **2008** — Shanda reorganized businesses into units including Shanda Literature.
- **2009** — Shanda Games listed separately on Nasdaq.
- **2012** — Chen and his family took the Shanda parent company private.
- **2014** — Shanda identifies this as the beginning of its private investment firm chapter.
- **2016** — Co-founded the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute with Chrissy Luo.
- **2025** — Founded MiroMind and launched personal writing on ChenNative.
- **2026** — Publicly described a return to company building and identified himself as founder and CEO of Apodex.

## Achievements

- Built Shanda from a 1999 startup into a Nasdaq-listed online entertainment business in 2004.
- Helped develop online gaming and online literature businesses in China.
- Led Shanda through its transition into a family-owned global investment group.
- Recognized in MIT Technology Review’s 2004 young innovator list.
- Co-founded the Chen Institute with Chrissy Luo and supported basic scientific research and young researchers.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — An October 6 VnExpress report, citing his October 5 Financial Times interview, says Chen has invested $2 billion of his own capital in AI and could supply another $2 billion; these are his reported statements.
- **2026-10** — His public LinkedIn activity discusses Apodex’s TRACES benchmark for evaluating the process of scientific discovery.
- **2026-07** — Published “Why I Started Writing,” explaining his interest in discussing AI’s wider consequences through ChenNative.

## Links

- Website: https://chennative.ai
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tianqiao-chen
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/tianqiao_chen
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DYJ_Science

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/tianqiao-chen
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-27