Recently, the opening ceremony of Nanjing University’s EMBA and International EMBA programs, along with the EMBA Strategic Development Seminar, was grandly held at the university’s Business School. Ding Wei, the founder and chairman of GeneIII Biotech, was reappointed as an EMBA lecturer at Nanjing University. As a representative industry mentor for Nanjing University’s master’s students, he was also invited to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony.
“I am deeply honored to be reappointed as an external lecturer for Nanjing University’s EMBA program. The last time I was appointed was in 2016, when I was still the president of A.O. Smith (China). Now, I have been an entrepreneur in the synthetic biology sector for three years, successfully leading GeneIII Biotech through its initial startup phase,” Ding Wei stated in his speech. “Over the past eight years, we have witnessed significant shifts in the global and domestic economic landscape and business environment. Some well-known companies have rapidly declined, while others, both old and new, have thrived by adapting to change. The fundamental difference between these two types of enterprises, in my view, lies in their ability to continuously learn, innovate, and stay true to their mission.”
01. Rising to Industry Leadership in Just Three Years—Bringing Ergothioneine to the Masses
As Ding Wei emphasized, in the ever-changing business world, a company’s success or failure hinges on its ability to continuously learn, innovate, and remain committed to its core values. As an EMBA lecturer, he will share his entrepreneurial journey and practical business insights with students.
Founded in 2021, GeneIII Biotech is a synthetic biology company that integrates research, production, and sales. Under Ding Wei’s leadership, the company has rapidly transitioned from the laboratory stage to becoming a world-class manufacturer of ergothioneine, achieving industry leadership in quality, production capacity, and cost efficiency. This success has transformed ergothioneine—once regarded as the “Hermès of antioxidants”—from an exclusive luxury to an affordable, widely accessible ingredient.
In 2023, GeneIII Biotech, alongside Bloomage Biotech and Giant Biogene, was listed among the Top 50 Most Valuable Synthetic Biology Companies. The same year, the company was selected as an official partner for CCTV’s “Quality China” synthetic biology segment. In 2024, it was recognized in the “Excellence in Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing” list and won the “Outstanding Enterprise in Synthetic Biology” award. Additionally, GeneIII Biotech led the development of China’s first national standard for ergothioneine raw materials, promoting its regulated use in the Chinese market and further solidifying its leadership in the industry.
Thanks to its superior raw materials, GeneIII’s ergothioneine-based consumer products quickly gained strong sales momentum and brand recognition upon launch. According to Alibaba’s Business Advisor data, GeneIII’s ergothioneine topped Tmall Global’s best-selling list for oral ergothioneine products.
Data from Alibaba Business Advisor: No.1 in oral ergothioneine sales on Tmall Global
Moreover, Xiaohongshu’s official report shows that in 2024, GeneIII Biotech ranked first in the “ergothioneine” category on Xiaohongshu’s trending searches, with market interest surging compared to the previous year.
Data from Xiaohongshu’s official report: No.1 in “ergothioneine” trending searches in 2024
Beyond oral supplements, GeneIII Biotech also pioneered the world’s first ergothioneine eye wash, featuring 5000+ PPM of ergothioneine. This product is a game-changer for people who frequently strain their eyes, wear cosmetic contact lenses, or suffer from dry eye syndrome. Impressively, within one week of launch, sales exceeded 1 million RMB ($140,000), making it one of GeneIII’s most promising new products.
02. Innovation-Driven Growth: Advancing R&D While Building a Strong Brand
At the start of his entrepreneurial journey, Ding Wei and his team faced major challenges in technology commercialization and large-scale production. To overcome these hurdles, GeneIII Biotech continuously optimized its manufacturing processes, tightly controlled costs, and implemented a comprehensive market strategy.
From the beginning, GeneIII Biotech assembled a highly motivated and professional R&D team, which has now grown to nearly 40 members. “Our lab operates 24/7 in three shifts, continuously analyzing experimental data. The entire team is focused on fermentation, purification, and scaling up production. Additionally, we develop new synthetic biological raw materials based on consumer demand. This ability to innovate quickly is what enables GeneIII Biotech to achieve rapid commercialization,” Ding Wei explained.
Over the past three years, GeneIII Biotech has integrated its technological processes across four key stages—strain construction, fermentation, purification, and industrial-scale production—creating a robust industrial chain.
- Purity: GeneIII’s ergothioneine raw material has reached an unprecedented purity level of 99.99%.
- Production Capacity: With a 30-ton fermentation system, the company has achieved a monthly production capacity of 3 tons, meeting global market demand.
- Cost Reduction: By leveraging synthetic biology advancements, GeneIII has cut ergothioneine production costs by 90%.
While strengthening its R&D capabilities, GeneIII Biotech also prioritizes brand-building and marketing innovation. To enhance consumer awareness, the company collaborates with industry experts, independent formulators, skincare specialists, pharmacy lab directors, and top ingredient influencers. Through industry expos, corporate traceability salons, and strategic partnerships, GeneIII Biotech has deepened its engagement with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and expanded its presence in both B2B and B2C markets.
Through a combination of technological innovation, market expansion, and brand development, GeneIII Biotech has quickly evolved from a startup into an industry leader, demonstrating remarkable technical expertise and market foresight.
03. “People First, Business Second”—A Talent-Driven Organization with 60% Graduate-Level Employees
“The principle of ‘people first, business second’ is often overlooked in startups. Many founders believe they should first build the business and then hire top talent once they have sufficient funds. But I see things differently,” said Ding Wei. “To succeed in entrepreneurship, you must first assemble a core team of top-tier talent. Only with the right people can you focus on your specialty and execute effectively.”
When asked why he chose Nanjing as the headquarters for GeneIII Biotech, Ding Wei explained:
- High density of universities provides a continuous talent pipeline.
- Lower cost of living compared to top-tier cities makes it a better environment for talent retention.
- Strong government support for tech startups creates a favorable business ecosystem.
Since its founding, GeneIII Biotech has prioritized talent acquisition and development. “Talent is the most valuable asset of any company. Technological innovation stems from the continuous emergence of outstanding professionals,” Ding Wei emphasized.
Currently, over 60% of GeneIII Biotech’s employees hold master’s or doctoral degrees, with its R&D team exclusively recruited from top-tier universities (985/211 institutions in China). This deep talent pool has solidified the company’s innovation capabilities, ensuring its long-term competitive edge.
During the 0-to-1 startup phase, GeneIII Biotech focused on hiring individuals with strong learning ability, innovation skills, teamwork, results-oriented mindset, and self-motivation. With a culture of collaboration and accountability, the team rapidly achieved technological breakthroughs and increased efficiency.
At Nanjing University’s EMBA opening ceremony, Ding Wei’s leadership provided invaluable inspiration to students embarking on their business education journey. As these EMBA students grow into future leaders, GeneIII Biotech will continue to push the boundaries of innovation, developing cutting-edge products that drive societal progress.
