By: Madison Clark
Los Angeles, CA – February 7, 2025 — The Leading Entrepreneur Alliance (LEA) hosted the inaugural Chinese Game Developer & Entrepreneur Summit in Los Angeles, bringing together developers, founders, and industry experts from around the world. The event attracted executives from NetEase Games and Tencent Games, as well as professionals from EA, Riot Games, Amazon Games, Nintendo, Sony Games, and Blizzard Entertainment. With a focus on AI-powered game development, the rise of AIGC in art production, game designer growth, and startup strategy, the summit served as a unique bridge for collaboration between the Chinese and U.S. game industries.
The event featured robust panel discussions and industry showcases that explored how generative AI and automation are reshaping the creative and technical foundations of game development. Dozens of Chinese and international participants gathered to exchange insights and foster partnerships across cultural and commercial boundaries.
Group photo of selected participants at the Chinese Game Developer & Entrepreneur Summit
Chao Hu, President of the Leading Entrepreneur Alliance, stated: “We are committed to fostering collaboration between Chinese and U.S. developers and helping young entrepreneurs access the global market.” Zhihao Dong, President of LEA, emphasized the transformational role of AI and AIGC in the industry: “This summit is designed to connect developers with the resources, expertise, and networks they need to grow.”
From left to right: California State Assemblymember Mike Fong, San Gabriel Mayor John Wu, City Councilmember Tony Ding, Leading Entrepreneur Alliance President Zhihao Dong, Walnut City Councilmember Allen Wu’s Representative Chengwu Xu, and Leading Entrepreneur Alliance President Chao Hu
LEA Vice Chairpersons Qianxu Jin, Jiachen Zhan, and Estefany Wu Chen jointly added, “AI presents unprecedented opportunities. Through this summit, we aim to help developers build meaningful relationships and accelerate technological innovation and global market access.”
The summit drew strong support from public officials. Attendees included California State Assemblymember Mike Fong, San Gabriel Mayor John Wu, San Gabriel City Councilmember Tony Ding, Walnut City Councilmember Allen Wu’s representative Chengwu Xu, and Monterey Park Vice Mayor Elizabeth Yang. In their remarks, officials acknowledged the summit’s role in connecting talent across borders. Assemblymember Mike Fong stated, “AI and AIGC are reshaping the gaming industry. This summit is an important platform for cross-cultural collaboration.” Mayor John Wu affirmed San Gabriel’s support for cultural and tech-driven enterprises. Councilmember Tony Ding underscored gaming’s role in global cultural exchange, while Vice Mayor Elizabeth Yang encouraged young developers to embrace innovation and entrepreneurial risk. Chengwu Xu noted the summit’s contribution to U.S.-China collaboration in technology, business, and creative industries.
The summit also featured insights from premier gaming companies, including EA, Riot Games, and others. Beiyou Zhu, Senior Gameplay & Narrative Engineer at EA, shared how AI-driven NPC behavior is transforming player-driven storytelling. Jinghui Dong, Lead UI Programmer at a major North American studio, discussed how AI is improving production workflows and enabling new forms of artistic expression. Haoyun Zhang, Game Design Intern at Riot Games, advised aspiring designers to build their portfolios through Game Jams and solo projects, and to use social media for personal branding. Tiying Zhao, founder of Sparkware Design Studio, shared her transition from artist to entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of long-term vision, business strategy, and team leadership in creative entrepreneurship.
Exhibition booths at the summit were filled to capacity, drawing strong interest from attendees and providing developers with hands-on feedback and potential partnership opportunities. The event combined high-level thought leadership with an active, inclusive networking environment that left a lasting impression on participants.
As a key initiative of LEA’s growing international platform, the summit underscored the organization’s ongoing mission to empower young Chinese entrepreneurs, especially those under 35, by connecting them with capital, mentorship, and global markets. According to LEA, more industry events are planned in the coming months to continue supporting developers and founders as they pursue innovation and scale in the North American market
