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Worldview accelerates Tensilica’s success in Japan Silicon Valley-based Tensilica, Inc. developed a configurable microprocessor technology ideal for consumer electronics applications. Given Japan’s dominance in consumer electronics, it was critical for Tensilica to quickly establish a high-level presence in the Japanese market. “We were doing the rounds of many top venture firms, looking for partners,” explains Tensilica CEO Chris Rowen. “We were interested in Worldview because of the unique value they bring with their connections in Asia.” “We were intrigued by their approach. We had heard good things about them,” continues Rowen. “But I don't think anyone expected the level of understanding and support we’ve received from Worldview.” “Worldview has
provided advice and opened doors that have made a huge impact on the
growth of our business in Asia. In our wildest dreams, I don’t think we
anticipated the results would be as good as they are today.” Worldview acts as both an experienced venture capital firm and a business development partner. “James Wei is an insightful board member. You’d hope to get that from a VC partner in the first place. And we get this plus the advantages of Worldview’s business development teams in Asia,” Rowen says. Challenges of the Japanese marketTensilica faced the double challenge of trying to introduce a revolutionary technology into Japan, with no existing contacts or relationships. “The Japanese market is pretty conservative and doesn’t accept new technology very quickly,” explains Bernie Rosenthal, co-founder and Tensilica’s Vice President of Marketing. “We needed to find the right people in the right companies to start discussions with. We were starting from scratch.” When Tensilica signed on with Worldview, Worldview’s Japanese team immediately identified top-level decision-makers at Sony, Fujitsu, and Canon. “They got us audiences very early. Even before we had a product, we went to Japan to start educating potential customers about what we were doing,” he says. “Even now, after we’ve established our own subsidiary in Japan, Worldview continues to open doors for us at high levels that usually aren’t accessible to young companies.” “If Worldview had not been our virtual sale force during the early days
before we had product and revenue, we’d be just starting today with Japanese customers. Worldview has given us a one-year acceleration of our time-to-revenue in Japan.” Worldview’s Japanese team is led by company co-founder Tanaka-san and consists of a team of business development managers. “Worldview’s business development manager Watanabe-san is one of the most aggressive and intelligent business people I’ve met in Japan,” says Rosenthal. “I recommend Worldview to other entrepreneurs without reservation. We couldn’t have picked a better venture partner
for our business.” Tensilica worked hard to keep pace with their Worldview hosts. On their first visit to Japan, Worldview had Tensilica in front of 14 customers in five days. “The pace is amazing. We’re out of the hotel by 6 a.m., back by 11 p.m., and then get up and do it again the next day. We called it the Worldview ‘Diet and Exercise’ program—no breakfast, no lunch, always running for trains. My wife sends me over there to lose weight,” jokes Rosenthal. Tensilica quickly began to see results of their partnership with Worldview. “Usually, your first Japanese design win comes a year or more after you have results in the United States or Europe, particularly if it is a new methodology as is ours. We expect to close our first business deal in less than a year of our first visit, ” concludes Rosenthal. 
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