Foreign direct investment from China is flowing into the United States at record levels. It actually tripled during the first half of this year against the same period last year. One sector that's really driving this boom is technology. And a rather alternative team from China is one of the companies riding the wave. 

In Palo Alto, California, investors and city officials celebrate the launch of a 100 million dollar fund to invest in innovation.

One of the men behind the Aplus Fund is investor Tiger Sheng, who's helped more than 100 companies go public in China.

"The U.S. is the leader in high tech, while China has a very big market. The U.S. has a bigger capital market than China does. But in the start-up field, the gap is very small. Each has its own advantages. We are coming here hoping to bridge the start-up trends between the two countries, to bring more interactivities," said Tiger Sheng, founding partner of APLUS.

The other founding partner is Michael Yu, a teacher who built an education empire.

Yu's New Oriental has helped prepare millions of Chinese for college entrance exams and expanded into an education technology company. 

It's now listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

That's why at another event at a hotel on Silicon Valley's famous Sand Hill Road, the room is filled wall to wall with Chinese students, entrepreneurs and engineers who hang on Yu's every word.

 "When I was on my way here, I was asking friends if there was anyone in the U.S. who HASN'T used New Oriental. Laugh."

"They not only teach you how to study English, but also to help you understand American culture."

One of the hopes is that entrepreneurs who were once students of New Oriental and are now living in America could be potential candidates for the Aplus fund. Aplus has also set up a startup incubator here too and is hoping to invest in everything from artificial intelligence to financial tech. 

"It's a starting point into the U.S. market, but in the long run, I hope they can become part of mainstream U.S. business culture. He's very focused on youth development sounds like he wants to see them grow and to share his success story with them," said Bing Wei, bay area council of California China Trade Investment Office.

Yu's story began with humble roots - growing up poor in the Chinese countryside.

He says the keys to his success are passion and persistence-something he will continue to teach both inside and outside the classroom.