Ray Chan (businessman)

Personal Life

Chan’s first job upon graduation from the Faculty of Law at the University of Hong Kong was in the legal department of a bank. Following that, he became an anchor as well as a reporter working for Now TV. Soon after, he worked at an information technology company as a project manager. In 2007, he realized the scope of the internet for development and joined aNobii as product manager. It was an online platform for book lovers acquired by a new venture backed by HMV Group, Harper Collins, Penguin Books and Random House. While working for this firm he launched 9GAG as a side project and four years later in 2011 he quit his job in order to focus on it.

9GAG was Chan’s first of three successful websites. Prior to 9GAG, he established a website to share cosmetics and a website for information on electrical appliances, both of which failed.

Education

Chan has a younger sister and a younger brother (Chris Chan), who is also a cofounder of 9GAG. During his university days at the University of Hong Kong, he was a member of the university Rawr XD team and a captain of the university debate team.

Chan grew up in Hong Kong where he and his family lived in a public housing estate.

Speaking

Given his experience and entrepreneurial expertise, Ray is often invited to share his story at various events and places. He was Unusual speaker at ContentStealer one-day conference at CoCoon and also featured at the ‘Echelon 2014: The Pulse of Asia's Innovation’ event and also at the ICT New Waves Symposium in 2013. In addition, he has been invited to universities in Hong Kong including his alma mater. as well as Polytechnic University as a speaker. Lastly, he has made many an appearance on YouTube channels such as DailySocialTV and Last Business Blog.