How to Discover Someone Worth Investing in at the Age of 20

How Can We Identify Young People Who Might Change the World Before They Even Start?

I want to talk about a talent that’s often overlooked. It’s not as easy to quantify as IQ or resume credentials, yet it often determines whether a person can break out of the mold and forge their own path. I call it Structural Divergence Capacity. This isn't just discipline or self-motivation. It refers to the ability to set goals, make progress, and grow independently in the absence of tasks, supervision, or external pressure.

Over the past few years, I’ve met tens of thousands of entrepreneurs. The ones who fascinate me the most aren’t those with perfect resumes or polished presentations, but the unconventional young ones—intuitive, nonlinear thinkers who may struggle to explain themselves, yet carry a raw drive to explore. You can sense the fire in them—it just hasn’t ignited yet.

People often ask me, “Shouldn’t we wait until someone has proven themselves before investing in them?” My answer: not necessarily. In fact, those who haven’t “drawn their sword” yet may be the most worth betting on. As Sun Tzu said, “A masterful warrior achieves victory without a grand display.” These individuals have momentum before action, and they avoid premature moves that could backfire.

For young people, their most valuable phase might be that moment just before they make a move—when their motivations are strong and their judgment is forming, yet they haven’t solidified their direction. Supporting them at this time yields immense value. Of course, even those who have tried and failed can be promising—if they’ve learned and reflected quickly, that’s a signal of maturity.

Many young people don’t lack potential; they’re trapped by three invisible forces: limited perspective, fear, and lack of direction. They’re not unintelligent—they just haven’t stepped off the mainstream path, don’t dare to fail, or give up when ideals clash with reality. Those with true structural divergence capacity are the ones who are already breaking through these barriers.

They might not see themselves as “students” in the traditional sense. Their information sources are diverse, decentralized, sometimes unstable. They use VPNs to study cutting-edge content, reach out to strangers, download niche apps, prototype products, rally friends to test ideas. They even know how to “camouflage”—appearing as a student to ask for help when necessary. They might leave no trace on class rosters but have rich self-directed learning journeys; you won’t find them at club meetings, but they’re always in motion. They weren’t groomed—they grew themselves.

So we need to actively seek out these individuals. Their sword hasn’t been drawn, but they’re already glowing. They tend to share a few traits:

1. Perception Beyond Their Years

Our world is increasingly fragmented—generational, class, and industry gaps grow ever wider. Many adults have no intuition about what young people are really thinking. We assume they’re idealistic or naive, but often they’re standing on the front lines of future needs. Their sense of social interaction, AI, culture, and lifestyle is frequently more forward-looking than those embedded in traditional systems. The younger they are, the more they can sense the direction of the tide.

A good sign is if they can notice what others can’t—and use those insights to build something new.

2. Problem-Oriented and Hands-On

Lots of people say they’re learning AI, but most are just following trends. They take a class, forget it in days, try viral apps, then move on. The people worth investing in find a problem during exploration, then learn what’s necessary to solve it. They didn’t chase AI because it’s hot—they chose it because it was the only solution to a problem they personally faced.

Their learning starts from a problem → solution path → necessary skills. That changes everything. Goal-driven learning unlocks intense focus and absorption. Free from the constraints of jobs and responsibilities, they have time, energy, and curiosity. They don’t learn for grades or resumes—they learn to build, and sometimes to change the world.

This is the perfect soil for “learning by doing.”

3. High Density, High Execution Curiosity

Curiosity isn’t unique to young people—but theirs is the densest and most actionable. They’ll research, watch videos, test code, build mini-projects over one small question. They don’t worry about frameworks, career benefits, or resume-building. Most importantly, they aren’t yet constrained by structural norms; their lives aren’t fully taken over by the logic of productivity.

Most adults' curiosity becomes professionalized—exploration gets tied to specific outcomes. Young people still “wander,” and that’s when true creativity blooms.

4. Compounding Through Self-Iteration

They may not understand compounding intellectually, but their behavior reflects it. They habitually document experiments, analyze results, and adjust behavior. They refine how they interact with the world. This is one of the most underestimated but crucial long-term traits.

It’s also a sign of true long-term thinking—not saying “I want to do long-term work,” but after every setback, asking: What did I learn? Will it be useful again? How can I do better next time?

Each failure isn’t a reset, it’s a layer. Over time, this builds into surprising maturity and creativity. What looks like overnight success is often the flowering of years of invisible underground growth.

5. Perseverance Through Misunderstanding and Failure

These young people don’t start off fearless. They hesitate too—but they don’t run. They know they’re not ready but still walk the path. They’re not afraid of failure because they see it as part of the process.

They aren’t fearless by nature. They just know that if you fear the cost, you can’t afford to dream. They’re not necessarily smarter—just more willing to believe that confusion today is the fuel for tomorrow. Those with structural divergence often keep going in complete isolation—without applause or external push.

That said, they can get worn down by difficult, misguided paths. Not because they lack direction—but because they go too deep, too far, alone. In those times, they need our guidance and truth. Help them avoid detours. Protect the spark inside them—even if it's faint.

6. Wise and Foolish

Finally, there’s one misunderstood trait: they often look a little foolish. They’re stubborn. They don’t cut losses or take shortcuts. In the early days, they have broad interests. But once they choose a direction, they drop hundreds of distractions—social life, entertainment, even school. They’re not calculating—they’re focused. Willing to sacrifice whole life stages for an idea.

The smartest people can do anything—but often don’t go deep enough in one thing. These “foolish” ones break through. They’re not flashy, not slick—but they’re clear on the goal and move steadily.

You won’t find their path on resumes or course schedules. They may not make PPTs, may be awkward, may drop out or pursue niche ideas. Their “weirdness” isn’t rebellion—it’s an instinctive refusal to conform. They aren’t drifting—they’re just always searching for their path.

Because these traits don’t fit conventional evaluation, I started developing this framework of Structural Divergence Capacity.

The Young People I’ve Met Who Were Worth Betting On

I met a Zhejiang University undergrad who didn’t join any campus activities. He worked at the bottom of a company for 1.5 years to learn from scratch, then spent months analyzing the industry. His long-term goal is embodied intelligence in 10 years—but he knows the timing isn’t right yet. So his current plan is to launch a startup to build skills and capital. Despite his elite background, he chose a path few respected—and dove in.

At our first meeting, he didn’t speak or look at me for 20 minutes. Only after I shared something valuable did he engage and ask questions. He wasn’t cold—just didn’t want to waste time. Once he opened up, the potential was immense.

Another time, I was in a student dropout group. One kid came to talk when I randomly asked on social media. Another time, I needed a badminton partner, and he showed up again. It wasn’t about opportunity—it was instinct. That kid dropped out of Tsinghua at 19. At 23, he’d raised hundreds of millions in RMB, backed by top global funds. His journey started not with strategy, but with quiet observation, timely action, and the courage to show up.

Of course, I’ve missed people too. Years ago, I overlooked a girl with no elite background, who interned at a small startup and behaved like a cofounder. She later founded her own company and raised millions. I missed her because she wasn’t from a big school, wasn’t technical, and seemed too young.

That made me realize: meaningful investing isn’t backing those already destined for success—it’s spotting overlooked potential early. Ivy League founders have high success rates, but they already have platforms. Our added value is limited. True impact lies in finding and supporting the underestimated.

Examples abound: Pop Mart’s Wang Ning graduated from Sias University; DJI’s Frank Wang from East China Normal University; HeyTea’s Nie Yunchen from Guangdong Polytechnic. Not elite backgrounds—but intense growth and structural divergence. They stretch our definition of success.

Now I listen more closely to young people—understand their stories, not just their resumes or decks. Early-stage judgment isn’t about business plans—it’s about whether you can recognize raw potential in the subtle, fragmented signals.

Investing in people isn’t like funding a project. It’s not formulaic. It’s a leap of faith in low-information situations. Greatness often begins in youth—are you willing to believe in someone who hasn’t graduated yet?

Have you met someone like this?

Look around. Or maybe you are that person—quietly striving in a corner. If so, let’s talk. Maybe your story begins with a coffee chat, or a game of badminton.

I’m working on ways to help more of these people be seen. Not to filter for excellence—but to prevent the most promising from being buried.

Investing in people is both scientific and romantic. The science is in analysis and modeling. The romance is in believing: this young, unproven person might redefine an industry—or the world—in 10 or 20 years.

My role is to say, at the right time: “I see you.”

And if you’re willing, you can be the one who sees them too.

Source: 如何发现一个20岁时就值得投资的人