![]() |
|
![]() |
|
||||||||
|
Worldview helps NVIDIA build key partnerships in Japan NVIDIA designs, markets, and sells industry-leading 3D graphics processors for a broad range of interactive applications, including enterprise visualization, e-commerce, e-business, entertainment and education. Our business is about enabling an experience that appeals to consumers, explains NVIDIAs CEO Jensen Huang. Consumer electronics is a major focus and core competence of Japan. We knew at the outset that, if our technology was to see the broad adoption we wanted, Japan was going to be very important to us. Worldview founder James Wei contacted NVIDIA when he learned they were talking to Sega about developing a platform together. Understanding the new market opportunity this presented for both companies, James connected NVIDIA with senior Sega management. Sega is one of the top three game developers and console manufacturers in the world, so a partnership with them was key to NVIDIA. Worldview helped us build relationships with several key senior executives at Sega. NVIDIA looked to Worldview to help them overcome some of the cross-cultural challenges of doing business in Japan. The ways we and the Japanese do business are fundamentally different. Japanese are driven by consensus, so there tends to be a rich amount of politics surrounding any major decision, says Huang. NVIDIA was a small American company trying to break through and collaborate with a large Japanese entity. The politics were very complicated. Having Worldview practically on the inside, with relationships at the highest levels, gave us a tremendous amount of insight and guidance, he says. Worldview’s team in Japan is terrific. They seem to know everything about everyone. —Huang A bridge between Silicon Valley and JapanWorldview brings unique value to entrepreneurs that want to establish a presence in Japan. Theres a wealth of venture capital money and a lot of smart people in Silicon Valley. If your company is planning on bringing on three to four VCs to raise $30-40 million, why wouldnt you want each one to bring something unique aside from money? asks Huang. Worldviews uniqueness comes from their deep cultural roots in Japan and in Silicon Valley. Worldview provides a strong bridge between the business of Silicon Valley and the business of Japan. With their headquarters in Palo Alto, they understand the U.S. venture community, but their roots are in Japan. In hot deals where the American company needs a presence in Japan, I can’t imagine why Worldview wouldnt be brought in, he says. Worldview is successful because theyre tenacious. They know who the ‘up and comers’ are. They get themselves involved with the deal. They don’t wait around for someone to discover them. They are very smart, enthusiastic, and ambitious people. They have very good business insights. We always learn something by getting together with them.” —Huang A long-term, supportive partnershipWorldview offers entrepreneurs a healthy combination of encouragement and advice, without overstepping their bounds. “I’m looking for a venture capitalist that supports me, not one that wants to do my job. If we need help, Worldview is on it right way, whether that means strategic guidance, meeting facilitation, help with introductions or travel plans” he says. “We want investors who are patient and understand the challenges of building a startup, but who are rigorous in making sure management is doing everything possible to help the company succeed. This exemplifies Worldview,” says Huang. “Worldview was always supportive of NVIDIA and recognized our potential before many people did. They have always been there for us. It’s terrific to have Worldview as investors, and it’s a pleasure to work with them.” —Huang |
||||||||||||||||||||