Bill Andreozzi

  • Toolots Sponsors Local Event Encouraging Innovation and Entrepreneurship

    The event aimed to open discussions about cross-border business between the U.S.-China, while encouraging the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs within the community. 

    Toolots Team attending Day 2 of the Forum.

    September 30 and October 3, 2017-Toolots was a proud sponsor of the ShuiMu U.S.-China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, a two-day conference held on last weekend on September 30th and October 1st. The conference was co-organized by Tsinghua University's Alumni Association in Southern California and LEAP Career Development, a nonprofit dedicated to career advancement and networking for young people in STEM. The event aimed to open a dialogue about cross-border business in the U.S. and China, with a focus on topics such as culture, economy, innovation, and technology. In addition to a forum for innovators and investors, the conference integrated a Venture Capital (VC) pitch competition, as well as a Youth STEAM Innovation Competition. Tsinghua’s strong alumni presence in Southern California provided the forum with a distinguished lineup of exceptional business executives and leading minds across a wide range of fields.

    Dr. Jessie Ying Zhan speaking to attendees about how Toolots has collectively worked to achieved success.

    Day 1

    On Saturday, Toolots was pleased to host the events for Day 1 of the Forum which included an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and the Youth 3D Design Mini Hackathon. Both events were held at Toolots' headquarter office located in Cerritos, California. The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp featured three distinguished keynote speakers from Tsinghua's Alumni Association, including Toolots’ own Dr. Ying Zhan (Jessie). Topics covered included risks and solutions in start-ups, the entrepreneur’s mindset, and how to win over investors. The speakers shared their collective experience as cross-border business leaders and investors before offering advice on leadership and entrepreneurship.

    During the event, Jessie shared Toolots’ story and how the company was able to successfully garner VC investment. She explained that Toolots’ success, not only in its pitch but its overall trajectory as a start-up, could be attributed to its exceptionally strong board, its genuinely disruptive business model, and its ability to prove feasibility and user traction.

    The second event, the Youth 3D Design Mini Hackathon, occurred on Saturday afternoon. Participants of the event were allowed to work in teams of two or three, including an adult coach, and were required to be currently enrolled in a school between 6th-12th grade. Winners of the "Explore Mars, Build the Future" theme were invited to attend the final pitch of Day 2's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition event. Facilitation of this event, and similar ones, is part of Toolots' initiative to actively support education and encouragement of youth in technology through attending, hosting, and sponsoring community education events, an ongoing partnership with the ABC Unified School District, and a new summer internship for high school students interested in the manufacturing industry.

    Student winners of Day 1's Hackathon attend Day 2's pitch competition.

    Day 2

    The second day was held at the Hilton San Gabriel in Los Angeles and featured a full day of events intended to bring together the business forum and the youth competitions.

    The first discussion centered around the current environment for cross-border startups in China and the U.S. The panel mainly addressed the opportunities and challenges companies and business leaders in both countries must overcome to successfully do business overseas. During their dialogue, the panel also discussed innovation and cross-border entrepreneurship in both markets before noting that the legal environment has seen great improvements in China, and that IP protection has increasingly become a priority.

    The second panel featured speakers with technology industry knowledge who addressed potential business opportunities with AI and machine learning technology. The panelists discussed the current AI landscape and various applications of AI, including security, healthcare, and autonomous driving.

    Toolots CTO Bill Andreozzi speaking on the components of a good, successful pitch.

    Following the conclusion of the panel discussion portions of the event, Toolots CTO Bill Andreozzi kicked off the pitch competition after giving an opening speech. During his speech, Andreozzi demonstrated parts of Toolots’ own pitch, while analyzing the key components to provide insight into the necessary elements of a good, successful pitch. He began with an analysis of the title, “Machinery of operational transformation,” explaining that it was an effective yet simple way to tell investors that Toolots essentially provides a collection of tools and gears that work together to provide disruptive solutions.

    Andreozzi then gave an overview of the barriers SMEs going global often face: inefficiency, high prices, slow innovation. He elaborated by stating that products often don't go global until there is demonstrated market value, which results in slow innovation. Andreozzi stated that Toolots' platform and business model are intended to help SMEs overcome these barriers to expand their businesses and generate revenue.

    During his speech, Andreozzi also highlighted the importance of clearly distinguishing your business from competitors when pitching to investors. He referred to Toolots' pitch, wherein the company contrasts their new, innovative business model with the traditional model that often results in manufacturers losing their branding rights when selling products like industrial equipment overseas. Overall, the traditional model increases cost to consumer, while decreasing revenue to manufacturer in China.

    “Show the problem statement and then show what you do. What differentiates you? Break down specifics,” Andreozzi said, explaining a slide listing the comprehensive services Toolots offers its customers and vendor partners. He noted that at this point during the pitch, investors might ask whether Toolots really does all of this. The answer would be yes, because all the services are scalable, with the most important being after-sales services. Toolots has successfully built a network of service technicians with YuuTool, the Uber of service repair.

    “Make sure both your business model and market are sustainable. What is gluing your customer to your product?” prompted Andreozzi, before offering a deep dive into how Toolots “glues” the customer: it manages all their daily operations, and its ERP is being built so that Toolots can put business intelligence around it. Toolots focuses on ERP and partners with others for supply chain, etc. With a majority of data integrated into its ERP, Toolots will achieve true transparency with regards to operations and supply chain that will allow vendor partners to make informed decisions, focus on revenue generation, and day to day operations.

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  • Toolots Hosts Distinguished Guests at US-China Manufacturing Delegation

    Xiuzhou Economic Development Delegation from Jiaxing, China visits Toolots and local SMEs

    Tenghui Guo, Executive Deputy Governor of Jiaxing, giving open remarks to attendees.

    CERRITOS, Calif – August 17, 2017 – Toolots was honored to receive over 40 prestigious guests Tuesday for an exclusive US-China Manufacturing Delegation held at its’ headquarters. The event aimed to gather US and Chinese government officials with expertise and experience in the manufacturing industry with local US manufacturers to discuss the importance of bridging the gap between the Pacific, how to improve trade relations, and the future of the industry as a whole. Attendees were given the unique opportunity to ask delegates questions regarding the industry and the importance of California and the Xiuzhou District.

    The event began with with remarks by Toolots Founder Jason Fu and the Executive Deputy Governor of Jiaxing Tengui Guo, who stressed the importance of strong trade relations to streamline industrial commerce between the United States and China. Cerritos Mayor Grace Hu then delivered a proclamation certificate to Guo, to thank the delegation for choosing the city of Cerritos and its’ businesses to begin strengthening relations.

    “California is open for business [and happy to] support our residents here within the district” Adam Galia, a District Representative for California State Senator Tony Mendoza, stated. Galia then presented the delegation with a certificate on behalf of the Senator for the 32nd District. “[We] commend your contributions to this form of helping  American businesses in advancing and improving relations between our two countries” Galia read, verbatim, from the certificate.

    Lisa Zhou, President of the Chinese CEO Organization, followed Galia by presenting a certificate of recognition for contributions to the development of the Chinese-American business community, noting the Xiuzhou Economic Development Delegation’s commitment to improving trade relations. Desmond E. Thompson, Vice Chairman of the Board for the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce, then discussed China’s role in international trade with the US. With over $600 billion in total trade with China in 2016, the Vice Chairman was thrilled that Toolots and the Delegation chose Cerritos as their headquarters and event location. “Toolots [is] helping expand the local opportunities for all businesses to play a role in this significant source of trade,” said Thompson.

    Vice Chairman of the Board for the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce, Desmond E. Thompson, discusses US-Chinese trade and the potential benefits for local SMEs.

    Toolots Chief Technology Officer, Bill Andreozzi then took the stage to provide guests an introduction to Toolots’ unique platform. Briefly, Andreozzi explained Toolots’ vertical approach to the market, and how after-sale services can disrupt traditional eCommerce models. The event concluded with an industrial equipment cross-border eCommerce platform signing ceremony, a group photo, and a networking luncheon.

    Representatives from the Xiuzhou Economic Development Delegation from Jiaxing, China (嘉兴市秀洲区经贸考察团) included:

    • Tenghui Guo: Executive Deputy Governor, People's Government of Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City
    • Chunfu Dong: Deputy Director, People's Republic of Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City
    • Xihua Xu: Director, Jiaxing Xiuzhou Bureau of Economy & Commerce
    • Jianzhong Du: Deputy Director, Development and Reform Bureau of Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City
    • Yong Qian: Director, Bureau of Economic Development & Statistics, Jiaxing Xiuzhou National Industrial Development Zone
    • Yanqin Ma: Project Manager of Service Investment Bureau, Jiaxing Xiuzhou National Industrial Development Zone (interpreter)

    According to the Chinese government officials who attended, California’s role in global commerce is imperative. International contributions through trade and investment will provide significant benefits to the manufacturing community,extending beyond American businesses and their employees to assist the communities they operate in as a whole.  

    Group photo of attendees of the US-China Manufacturing Delegation hosted by Toolots at their Cerritos, CA headquarters.

    “Xiuzhou can help American companies to develop their businesses,” said Guo, Executive Deputy Government for the People’s Government of Xiuzhou in Jiaxing City. Guo was one of six members of the delegation who traveled to Toolots Cerritos headquarters for the event. He further added that the Chinese government wants to reinforce its national manufacturing reach by solidifying strategic partnerships with esteemed foreign manufacturers, like those located throughout the state of California. During a brief presentation, Xihua Xu, Director of the Jiaxing Xiuzhou Bureau of Economy and Commerce, discussed the manufacturing resources, potential partnerships, and investment or partnership opportunities in his city. While these partnerships are valuable to Chinese government officials, it’s also an opportunity for American manufacturers to broaden their market, invigorate production, and spark increased localized growth. “We think Toolots will become a bridge between companies in China and California, and elsewhere in the United States.”

    The US-China Manufacturing Delegation is one example of Toolots’ ongoing ambition to increase engagement between the US and Chinese industrial communities to help promote localized economic growth in Southern California while also educating US SMEs on how to effectively export their products to the overseas market. Additionally, the Company’s streamlined global eCommerce platform makes it easy for manufacturers to sell their products to long-tail, or niche, markets.

    Toolots differentiates itself from the competition by providing the logistical, financial, and personnel support to get new products in the hands of new customers in addition to comprehensive after-sales services. This affords small to medium sized enterprises the ability to focus on the quality of their products, while Toolots handles the heavy lifting. To learn more or to list your company’s products on our eCommerce platform, sign up at www.toolots.com.


    Jason Fu and William Andreozzi speak with American Multimedia TV USA about the importance of improving international trade relations.

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