Yang Fan, a 26-year-old Internet whiz, two years ago launched one of Shanghai's first new-media web-design companies, Shengquan Design.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Visions of China: Shanghai

Such scenes are the front lines of U.S.-based web consulting companies, thrust into global expansion by design--or by circumstances they couldn't control.

FORBES: Innocents Abroad

"Obviously, you have to have a lot of experience and education to go to those top companies, " said Chyld Medford, an instructor of introductory web design at General Assembly.

WSJ: Breaking Tech's Code