After CEO death, techies ponder 9-to-9 workday

The premature death of the 44-year-old founder of a prominent mobile health app startup has spurred a bout of soul-searching in the Chinese tech community, where working long hours in the hope of making a quick fortune has become a way of life.

Zhang Rui, founder and chief executive officer of the startup Chunyu Doctor, died from a heart attack on Oct 5. Heart attacks can have many causes and Chunyu spokesman Tan Wanneng said there's no evidence that Zhang's death was due to overwork.

Yet, as tech executives mourn his passing, that hasn't stopped some from wondering about the deeply competitive nature of their industry and the potential health burdens they face.