Tianhao Xu
Tianhao Xu
Welcome to Tim Xu's World
Having worked in my parents’ export business since childhood, I am a high school social entrepreneur and researcherpassionate about combining business innovation with social impact. With footprints across China, the U.A.E., Nepal, and Namibia, I have learned to see enterprise not just as a means of profit, but as a language of empathy and connection.
As the founder of Rooted Treasure, I aim to connect global artisans with fair and sustainable markets—preserving cultural heritage while promoting inclusive growth. My entrepreneurial journey began with research and collaborations across Nepal, Southeast Asia, and Africa, where I explored how traditional crafts could thrive through transparent trade models. Over time, this curiosity evolved into a broader pursuit: understanding how empathy itself can be built into business systems.
That question led me to Dialogues in the Dark, an exhibition operated by visually impaired guides. Working there reshaped my understanding of enterprise—showing me that impact is not born from charity, but from structure, strategy, and empathy that lasts. I helped design partnership models that made social good both sustainable and scalable, reinforcing my belief that purpose and profit can coexist.
Through programs such as Wharton Global Youth and Pioneer Academics, I have developed frameworks that integrate sustainability, ethics, and empathy into business practice. Today, I continue to explore how enterprises can empower marginalized groups—from artisans to the visually impaired—and how innovation, accessibility, and compassion can together build a more equitable world.
I hope to connect with innovators, mentors, and changemakers who share my vision of shaping a future where doing good and doing business move forward together.
Rooted Treasure
Rooted Treasures is a social enterprise dedicated to bridging the gap between artisans from underdeveloped regions and global customers. By showcasing the unique stories, cultural heritage, and craftsmanship behind each handmade piece, we aim to create a sustainable platform that empowers artisans economically while promoting cultural preservation. Our mission is to celebrate the beauty of traditional crafts and ensure their legacy endures for generations.
根源珍宝是一家致力于连接欠发达地区手工艺人与全球客户的社会企业。通过展示每件手工艺品背后的独特故事、文化传承和精湛技艺，我们旨在打造一个可持续的平台，帮助手工艺者实现经济赋能，同时推动文化保护与传承。我们的使命是弘扬传统工艺的美，确保其世代相传。
Dialogues in the Dark
Dialogues in the Dark is a social innovation project that challenges the way we perceive ability, empathy, and enterprise. Operated by visually impaired guides, the exhibition invites participants to experience complete darkness—where sight disappears and perception is redefined. Through this collaboration, I explore how business can illuminate inclusion: creating systems that make empathy sustainable, and transforming awareness into long-term social impact.
黑暗中对话是一项探索“感知、共情与商业”关系的社会创新项目。该展览由视障引导师全程运营，带领参与者在全黑的环境中体验一个没有视觉的世界，从而重新思考“看见”的意义。通过与这一团队的合作，我致力于探讨如何让商业成为传递共情的载体——让善意具备可持续性，并将认知转化为持久的社会影响力。
About Me
Meet Tianhao Xu
A high school student with an entrepreneurial mind, a heart for global exploration, and a growing vision: to use business not just as a tool for commerce, but as a bridge between the tangible and the intangible—between material wealth and spiritual richness, modern markets and ancient meaning.
Born “缺金” (lacking metal in the Five Elements theory), I grew up surrounded by symbols, rituals, and quiet signs that people seek to make sense of fortune, fate, and energy. Whether it was the way my family approached business, the role of luck in a game of mahjong, or the golden charms worn at significant life events, I began to realize that economics is never just about numbers—it is always shaped by belief.
As I traveled to different parts of the world, I developed a love for small objects with big stories: handmade jewelry, symbolic metalwork, tiny protective tokens. Some were worn for good luck, others for status, heritage, or faith. I started collecting these not only as souvenirs, but as artifacts of culture, economy, and human need. The more I traveled, the more I saw a pattern: highly skilled artisans in underdeveloped regions producing work rich in meaning and craftsmanship—yet disconnected from global markets that crave authenticity, spirituality, and cultural depth.
That’s where my vision began.
I believe in a kind of business that honors both civilization and culture, both profit and purpose. Business becomes meaningful when it respects heritage, channels creative energy, and uplifts those whose stories are embedded in their craft. What I want to build is a platform that connects high-net-worth individuals—those seeking not just luxury, but legacy—with artisans rooted in local traditions, especially in the realm of spiritual and symbolic handcrafts: items that carry not just material value, but energetic significance.
This is what I call 命理经济 (Destiny-based Economy)—an emerging idea where spiritual symbolism and market needs intersect. In a world chasing speed and scale, I choose to focus on precision and presence. Through thoughtful sourcing, transparent partnerships, and a respect for both the mystical and the modern, I want to revive the soul of craftsmanship in a globalized age.
For me, business is not just a career path. It is a form of storytelling, an act of preservation, and a tool to bring balance between what we own and what we believe. In the end, I’m building more than a brand—I’m building a philosophy, one that aligns the spiritual architecture of the past with the economic realities of the present.
