Beini Da

Beini Da (Chinese: 达贝妮) is a Chinese entrepreneur, writer and artist best known for founding the Chinese video search engine PCpie^[1] and the online luxury retail website SohoNow. She serves as the CEO of SohoNow. She is regularly listed as one of the most beautiful Chinese women entrepreneurs by Chinese media publications.^[2][3][4]

Early life and education

As a child, Da learned ballet and oil painting. She participated in an international ballet contest in 1992 and was placed third.^[5][6] Da studied at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University and obtained a bachelor's degree, majoring in Public Service Administration and Computer and Information Engineering. After completing her education from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, she majored in Political Science and Law at the China University of Political Science and Law.^[1] When she was in college, she got $4000 from her mother and invested it in the Chinese real estate market.^[7]

In 2004, she launched an online shop on Taobao.com selling luxury goods. She called the shop Milan Station in Hong Kong. Owing to the popularity of her shop, she was called "Queen of Taobao."^[8]

Career

Da was crowned Miss Shanghai in 2003 and was named the Shanghai Tourism Ambassador in 2004. She launched a consumer entertainment magazine called DM after she graduated from China University of Political Science and Law. In 2004, joined the Australian law firm Allens Arthure Robinson, where she communicated with companies in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2003, she started working on creating a video search website called PCpie. The website was launched in 2005 and Da served as its CEO until 2007.^[9] In 2007, the website received $100 million in investment.^[10] In 2006, she served as honorary advisor to Internet Society of China DCCI Data Center Honorary Advisor.^[11][12]

In 2010, Da founded the jewelry brands New York Beini Da and Secret Love. In 2013, she collaborated with Maria Luisa to launch SohoNow, an online luxury retail store. The same year she held a public exhibition I Am The World, which featured oil painting by her.^[11]

Controversies

In 2005, Da was the subject of international media coverage when she posted luxury products and expensive real estate for auctioning on Taobao.com. People speculated that the expensive items were gifts from her former suitor and that she was a mistress. On discussion forums, she was called the "richest mistress in Shanghai."^[13] However, Da later clarified that she had purchased the items from her own money which she invested in Chinese real estate while in university.^[7][14] After the accusations she removed the items on auction from Taobao.com.^[15][16]

References