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Stories

June 23, 2023

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For William Lo, it’s a tool for change. In his non-profit project that aims to help talented underprivileged Chinese girls, he is using basketball to better their lives and further their education.


For Asian girls, pursuing sports like basketball can be challenging. Societal pressures, cultural barriers, and lack of resources often stand in the way of their dreams. In this article, we will explore the barriers that Asian girls face in sports, particularly basketball, and how William Lo’s project is breaking down those barriers, one basket at a time.

BASKETBALL HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PART OF MY LIFE

I was born and raised in Hong Kong until I was 15 years old and went to school in New Jersey. My mother is from New Jersey and my father is from Hong Kong.

Basketball has always been a big part of my life and I was able to play at a Division 3 level. After college, I came back to Hong Kong and started “Strive” — a strength and conditioning facility mainly for basketball players looking to become better athletes. I did that for 6 years and then in 2019, we decided that it was time to expand into basketball training, as well as strength and conditioning to have a holistic training facility where basketball players could do basketball and fitness in one facility. I have been the Managing Director of Strive for almost 10 years.

William Lo

THE GOLD TEAM

Our non-profit project, run by my wife Angela and I, is called “The Gold Team.” It’s a scholarship program where we help mainly talented and underprivileged Chinese girls, starting at ages 13-15, utilize basketball as a vehicle to further their education and better their lives.

We want our girls to be shining examples of what Chinese women are capable of on and off the court. Even if they don’t get the opportunity to play professionally, they could use the lessons they learned in the Gold Team and can move on to the next part of their life.

Gold Team is an elite training program, so we train 6 days per week on the court, 3 strength and conditioning sessions per week, and we also average 1 or more games against older women or boys.

We sign an agreement with all of our players and parents outlining what we will do for the girls and what is expected out of them. We also have a minimum GPA that we expect the girls to keep.

We believe in developing world-class players, students, and citizens at the same time. I take care of the basketball and training part, my wife Angela who was a much better student than I, monitors their grades closely. 

We want our girls to be shining examples of what Chinese women are capable of on and off the court.

William lo

CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS TO BECOME A SERIOUS ATHLETE

A lot of the challenges we see come from parents not understanding the point of why someone would want to become a serious athlete. I constantly hear “You can’t make a living on it so why spend so much time on it?” This is very common in our society and a lot of people do not see the value of how sports add value to a kid’s life mentally, emotionally and of course physically.

Another objection that I get a lot is the unwillingness to look outside of Hong Kong for bigger possibilities for basketball. Since there is a significant portion of Hong Kong people that have never traveled outside of Asia, they may not be aware of the possibilities of sports scholarships in countries such as the US, Canada, or Australia. I’m hoping that as we get more and more girls opportunities to play in the NCAA and other countries, this will change.

THE ROAD TO CHANGING ONE PLAYER’S LIFE FOREVER

Yannie Chan, who won Conference Player of the Year, is the first locally schooled Hong Kong girl in our city’s history to play in the NCAA, so that alone instilled a lot of hope for girls in our city. There will be more coming out of our program in the coming years!

In the classroom, we also have a girl who is now one of our best players — I got her when she was 13, she had a terrible track record at school and was ready to drop out and become a part-time waitress. I told her that in order to join the Gold Team she had to have a certain GPA. She immediately went to her teacher the next day and asked for tutoring, which left her teacher in shock! She has gone from a 2.5 GPA to a 3.4 GPA in 2 years. Now she has opportunities to play at prep school level in America. Her family is on government subsidies and now she is on the road to changing her life forever.

SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR CHINESE WOMEN ATHLETES

Men are often the first priority over women when it comes to sports. This is true, especially in our part of the world. However, after years of observation, I am very bullish on Chinese women’s sports. We have some of the best athletes in the world and girls who can compete with any country. Chinese women in the world cup are a perfect example coming in second after the US. I believe that if given the right opportunity, time, and love, the sky’s the limit for Chinese women athletes.

I want to also prove to parents that sports do, in fact, have a lot of value in the development of kids. Putting your sole focus only on studying is definitely not the way to developing a well-rounded adult in the future. If you are a great athlete and a great student, it opens up a lot more doors for you than only being good in the classroom.

Finally, as an Asian basketball player, I was not given a lot of respect just because of the color of my skin. Basketball in America is not an Asian-dominated sport and we need to be extra tough and extra skilled in order to earn that respect, which I’m totally fine with. I want to make a statement to the world that Asian players, when given the opportunity, can be just as good as anyone anywhere in the world. I firmly believe that.

Asian players, when given the opportunity, can be just as good as anyone anywhere in the world.

William lo

THE GOAL TO SHOOT FOR SUCCESS

My goal is to be able to travel with the girls multiple times per year around the world so that they can play against different competitions, learn about different cultures and see the world.

This June, My wife and I raised around 40-45,000 USD to sponsor 9 girls to come to the US and play on the AAU circuit (Amateur Athletic Union). Hopefully, with this trip many of our girls will be recruited to play in college.

SPREAD THE WORD

We are trying to change Asian sports and if you have any interest in knowing more you can contact me anytime. william@strivefitnesshk.com

Website: www.strivefitnsshk.com

Instagram: @willvlo

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Building Tomorrow: How Nan Lin Redefines Homebuilding with 3D Printing 

For Nan Lin, entrepreneurship isn’t just business; it’s freedom. A freedom earned through sacrifice, relentless execution, and a refusal to accept the limits of a broken system. As the founder of Kaizen Capital and 4DIFY, Lin is reimagining the housing industry, tackling its inefficiencies with cutting-edge technology and a bold vision. His mission? To build stronger homes faster, at lower costs, empowering communities and challenging the status quo.

From Immigrant Roots to Visionary Leadership 

Lin’s journey began at age 10, when he immigrated to America with his mother. While adapting to a new country, he was inspired by his loving parents’ sacrifices, which shaped his relentless drive. “I saw the lengths they went to give me a better life,” Lin says. “Their love and dedication became my compass.” Years later, that resolve led to the creation of Kaizen Capital, where he transforms underutilized properties into vibrant housing solutions: ADUs, subdivisions, condo conversions, and luxury short-term rentals. By unlocking hidden value in land, he delivers market-rate and affordable housing that strengthens neighborhoods.

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Nan Lin | Founder and Principal of Kaizen Capital and 4DIFY

3D Printing: The Future of Housing, Today

Lin’s vision for 4DIFY was sparked by a frustrating reality: “Wildfires destroy neighborhoods every year, yet we keep building stick-frame homes that burn like kindling,” he says.

After visiting several 3D printer manufacturers, Lin partnered with New York–based SQ4D. It took nearly a year to secure exclusive licensing rights, navigate regulatory hurdles, and obtain building permits, but he got it done.

Now, 4DIFY is building California’s first community of 3D-printed concrete homes. As this article goes live, their first printed home is nearing completion, despite heavy regulations and a steep learning curve. The team is already outperforming traditional timelines and cost benchmarks. The second and third homes will soon print simultaneously, targeting completion in two months, effectively one home per month at under $200 per square foot.

Despite challenges as an Asian immigrant, Lin managed to transform them into motivation and success. 

“We’re aiming to build at half the cost and in a quarter of the time,” Lin says. “That’s not a dream. It’s the direction we’re heading.”

Built with concrete, reinforced with rebar, and topped with metal roofs, these homes are resilient against fire, wind, earthquakes, mold, and pests. They’re also designed for long-term savings, with lower maintenance, less waste, and reduced energy and insurance costs.

“Critics doubted it would work,” Lin reflects. “But seeing is believing. This is the future.”

A Philosophy of Purpose and Resilience

Lin’s journey has been marked by relentless challenges, some seemingly insurmountable. “Obstacles never stop,” he admits. Yet he transforms adversity into opportunity, fueled by a positive mindset, solution-driven focus, and disciplined execution. His trusted team is his backbone. “No one succeeds alone,” he says. “My team turns the impossible into reality.” This resilience shapes his leadership, blending bold vision with purposeful action to create opportunities, particularly for communities long excluded from wealth-building. “Housing isn’t just a product,” Lin says. “It’s a platform for empowerment.”

Recognition and Inspiration

Lin’s impact is gaining notice. The Sacramento Bee named him one of the Top 20 AAPI Change Makers, and he was honored in the Business Elite Awards’ 40 Under 40. But for Lin, the real reward is inspiring others. “I want to show the next generation of Asian entrepreneurs what’s possible when we claim our seat at the table,” he says.

Lin wants to create opportunities for those marginalized by elevating the future of construction, making it more accessible for his community.

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Nan Lin isn’t just building homes, he’s redefining what’s possible. Through Kaizen Capital and 4DIFY, he’s creating a future where housing is affordable, resilient, and sustainable. Follow his journey and see the revolution unfold.

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