How a Cup of Coffee Helped This Founder Secure Angel Investment

When Du Mengjie pitched his idea for a crowdfunding platform to help young people realize their dreams, he wasn’t sure if anyone would take him seriously—especially not a seasoned media personality like Wang Han. But in a pivotal coffee meeting, he managed to convey more than a business plan: he communicated vision, determination, and the rare trait of someone who actually follows through. That brief encounter changed everything.

Du Mengjie convinced Wang Han to become an angel investor in his crowdfunding platform DREAMER in just 90 minutes over coffee. Wang later said they invested in Du himself—not just the idea—because of his clear resolve, bold past actions, and unique ability to get things done.

The Origins of DREAMER: From Personal Fundraising to a Platform

In 2010, while studying at Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Du Mengjie felt lost amid peers preparing for post-grad plans. Inspired by the concept of a “gap year”—then rarely discussed in China—he hatched a plan to take a year off, travel, and discover his path. But he needed funding.

So he did what few had tried: he launched a personal crowdfunding campaign. In a detailed blog post titled “Taking a Gap Year to Travel the World,” Du outlined his goals, route, and motivations. He shared the letter widely and, within weeks, received donations from over 200 people, raising a total of 60,000 RMB (approximately $9,000 USD).

“I promised to repay everyone within three years. To date, I’ve repaid about 90% of the lenders, though some remain anonymous,” Du said. That experience planted the seed for DREAMER: a platform where others could crowdfund their personal projects and dreams just as he had.

Building—and Refining—the Platform

Launched in September 2011, the first version of DREAMER mimicked the then-popular U.S.-based Kickstarter, offering categories spanning music, film, tech, publishing, and more. But with a lean team of fewer than 10 people, the overly broad scope quickly became unmanageable.

“We were moving too slowly. In half a year, we’d only launched about 20 projects,” Du recalled. Early marketing relied heavily on Renren and Weibo, and Du spent much of his time giving university talks. Realizing the need for focus, Du experimented with niche directions: fintech crowdfunding (no financial expertise), agricultural products (team had no cooking skills), and tech hardware (no engineering background). None worked.

Eventually, Du zeroed in on his core strength: understanding young people. “Instead of chasing the biggest markets, we chose to serve the user group we knew best—post-90s youth looking for lifestyle and entertainment funding,” he said.

The Coffee Meeting That Changed Everything

By late 2012, DREAMER was still finding its footing when Du met Wang Han and his wife Yang Lele for coffee. The setting was casual—a small café—but the conversation was anything but.

“Wang asked me about failure, the books I read, and other questions that had nothing to do with the product. The talk lasted ninety minutes,” Du remembered. Though he left without a clear answer on whether he’d secured funding, a follow-up text from Yang Lele that night unsettled him: “No matter what Wang decides, we’ll support you. You’re doing something meaningful.”

Du assumed rejection. But three days later, the call came: Wang and Yang decided to invest. “You borrowed 300,000 RMB right after graduation to start a business. That shows extraordinary determination,” Wang later wrote on Zhihu. “Most people are smart, hardworking, or privileged, but few have real resolve. And you’d already crowdfunded your own trip around the world. You’re someone who gets things done.”

What DREAMER Does Today

Today, DREAMER supports everyday individuals in bringing personal projects to life. Among its success stories: a photo exhibition capturing 168 hours in the lives of eight strangers, and a volunteer trip to Africa funded by backers. More than 1 million users have participated in funding over 50,000 dreams.

The platform charges a fee—typically 5%—based on the duration of the fundraising campaign. If a project doesn’t reach its goal in the allotted time, all funds are returned to backers.

“Some platforms have turned crowdfunding into pre-sales. We remain committed to helping regular people achieve their dreams,” Du said. With hundreds of competitors now in China—including giants like Taobao, JD, and Baidu—DREAMER has stayed true to its original mission.

To build trust, DREAMER encourages users to share campaigns via social networks, leveraging personal connections. The company also expanded globally, opening a subsidiary in San Francisco in 2023 with a small team to explore opportunities in North America.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Du Mengjie come up with the idea for DREAMER?

Du was inspired by his own successful personal crowdfunding campaign in 2010, where he raised 60,000 RMB to fund a gap year abroad. Seeing how many people resonated with his journey, he envisioned a platform where others could do the same.

What was the original concept of DREAMER when it launched in 2011?

The first version of DREAMER copied Kickstarter’s model with over ten categories including music, film, tech, and publishing. However, the broad focus proved too ambitious for the small team and was soon scaled down.

Why did Du shift DREAMER’s focus to young people?

After experimenting with niches like finance, agriculture, and tech, Du realized the team’s strength lay in understanding youth culture. He refocused the platform on helping post-90s users fund lifestyle, entertainment, and personal growth projects.

How did Du convince Wang Han to invest in just 90 minutes?

During an informal coffee meeting, Wang asked Du about his character, values, and past actions—not just the business idea. Impressed by Du’s determination, past achievements (like crowdfunding a global trip), and clarity of purpose, Wang chose to invest in him as a founder.

What kinds of projects get funded on DREAMER?

DREAMER has supported diverse personal projects, from art exhibitions and volunteer trips to niche cultural experiences. Over 50,000 dreams have been funded by more than 1 million users, with fees typically around 5% of funds raised.

How does DREAMER handle failed fundraising campaigns?

If a project doesn’t meet its funding goal within the set timeframe, all pledged money is returned to backers. This protects supporters and maintains trust in the platform.

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