Xiao Chi Jie Ships 20 Million Soup Dumplings, Secures $31 Million in Funding
Xiao Chi Jie (XCJ), a frozen Chinese food startup co-founded by married couple Caleb Wang and Jen Liao, has achieved significant growth since the onset of the pandemic. Originally established as a physical restaurant in Bellevue, Washington, in 2018 to serve authentic Shanghai street food like sheng jian bao, the business pivoted to direct-to-consumer frozen sales when COVID-19 caused a 95% drop in dine-in revenue. By leveraging e-commerce platforms and social media groups, XCJ began shipping frozen xiao long bao (soup dumplings) nationwide. This strategic shift resulted in the sale of 20 million soup dumplings since 2020 and attracted $31 million in venture capital funding. The founders, second-generation Chinese Americans, emphasize authenticity and nostalgia, aiming to replicate the quality of home-cooked meals. Despite the success of their soup dumplings, they do not ship sheng jian bao due to its complex preparation requirements. The company’s journey highlights a successful adaptation to market changes, blending cultural heritage with modern business strategies to meet rising demand for high-quality Asian cuisine in American households.
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Xiao Chi Jie Ships 20 Million Soup Dumplings, Secures $31 Million in Funding
Xiao Chi Jie (XCJ), a frozen Chinese food startup co-founded by married couple Caleb Wang and Jen Liao, has achieved significant growth since the onset of the pandemic. Originally established as a physical restaurant in Bellevue, Washington, in 2018 to serve authentic Shanghai street food like sheng jian bao, the business pivoted to direct-to-consumer frozen sales when COVID-19 caused a 95% drop in dine-in revenue. By leveraging e-commerce platforms and social media groups, XCJ began shipping frozen xiao long bao (soup dumplings) nationwide. This strategic shift resulted in the sale of 20 million soup dumplings since 2020 and attracted $31 million in venture capital funding. The founders, second-generation Chinese Americans, emphasize authenticity and nostalgia, aiming to replicate the quality of home-cooked meals. Despite the success of their soup dumplings, they do not ship sheng jian bao due to its complex preparation requirements. The company’s journey highlights a successful adaptation to market changes, blending cultural heritage with modern business strategies to meet rising demand for high-quality Asian cuisine in American households.
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