Ma Zeyu, founder of Hangzhou AppCircle Technology Co and now director of the company's Nanjing branch. [Photo/jschina.com.cn]

Ma Zeyu said revenue at his company is expected to double this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Established just two years ago, his company – the Nanjing branch of Hangzhou AppCircle Technology Co – has become an emerging player in overseas study circles after helping 120 students receive offers from overseas universities, a success rate of 100 percent.

Dare to think and dare to do is Ma's motto.

Ma realized that the overseas study market in China was overpriced and provided too many unnecessary services when securing his offer to study economics at the University of California, San Diego in 2014. Another Chinese student from Stanford University had a similar idea, and so the two of them decided to develop their own brand with the mission of fighting misinformation in the industry.

"We did not have any connections and really had to go all out in promoting ourselves before we finally found a partner," Ma said.

He recalled how he visited one university admissions office after the other in search of first-hand enrollment information. He also learned to edit videos, use Photoshop and program in order to more effectively promote his brand.

Ma said the supportive domestic entrepreneurial environment, promising market prospects, and abundant human resources in Jiangsu convinced him to set up operations in the province.

"Our company now has eight employees, all aged under 30, and they have a lot of passion for their work," Ma said. "Though the pandemic has hit a lot of industries, we were barely affected. We are confident applications to study abroad will jump next year and look forward to helping more students."