Founder Dominic Penaloza, a Chinese Canadian serial entrepreneur selected 100 influential business and tech leaders as charter members and informal advisers, then relied on these contacts to invite their connections to join.

FORBES: What's Left To Clone In China

An example of the kind of deals getting done in this current climate is Ushi, a Chinese version of LinkedIn founded by former Hong Kong investment banker and serial entrepreneur Dominic Penaloza.

FORBES: China deals, funds still strong despite new reality: ask Ushi, NLVC

Cheng, naturally, is a serial visitor to the cooking section, snapping up books in both English and Chinese.

FORBES: Restaurant Mogul Tony Cheng's Hong Kong: Table By Table