Dado Banatao at the APEC SME Summit

Rappler

22 Jan 201309:32

Summary

TLDRMr. D, a Filipino entrepreneur and venture capitalist, shares his journey and insights from Silicon Valley in a motivational speech. He emphasizes the importance of formal education and continuous learning as the foundation for success in the competitive tech industry. Mr. D recounts his experiences, from his initial challenges at Stanford to his innovative work in microprocessors at National Semiconductor. He highlights the significance of taking on tough projects to build confidence and push personal boundaries. As an entrepreneur, he discusses the development of the first PC chipset and the introduction of graphics acceleration, which revolutionized the industry. Mr. D stresses that success is not about a single 'Eureka' moment, but rather a series of training and self-challenges that lead to overcoming seemingly impossible tasks. His story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and underscores the value of perseverance and lifelong learning.

Takeaways

🎓 **Formal Education**: The importance of proper training and education as a foundation for an entrepreneur's journey, with a strong emphasis on math and science.
🧠 **Passion for Learning**: Having a passion for technical subjects like math and science from a young age can be a significant advantage in the tech industry.
📚 **Education as an Equalizer**: The belief that education is a great equalizer and a first challenge in life that can set the stage for future success.
🧐 **Performance as Evidence**: The idea that academic performance, such as GPA, can be an indicator of a person's ability to learn and their knowledge base.
🤓 **Challenges in School**: The notion that challenging educational experiences, like attending a competitive school like Stanford, can bring out one's true capabilities.
🚀 **Building on Knowledge**: The accumulation of knowledge and skills from schooling that can be applied in the professional world, especially in high-stakes environments like Silicon Valley.
🛠️ **Continuous Training**: The necessity of continuous learning and training to stay competitive and innovative in the field of technology.
💼 **Entrepreneurial Spirit**: The transition from being an individual contributor to an entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of taking on bigger challenges and gaining confidence.
🔄 **Challenging Oneself**: The belief that continuous self-challenge is key to personal growth and professional success, even after achieving a certain level of expertise.
💼 **Venture Capital Insights**: The shift from entrepreneurship to venture capitalism as a way to engage with multiple companies and continue learning about investing in technology.
🌟 **Success through Training**: The message that success in a competitive field like technology is not just about eureka moments, but a series of training and building confidence in one's abilities.

Q & A

What does Mr. D emphasize as the first step for an entrepreneur to succeed in Silicon Valley?
-Mr. D emphasizes proper training or education, including formal education in fields like engineering and a passion for math and science, as the first step for an entrepreneur to succeed.
Why does Mr. D consider education as the greatest equalizer?
-Mr. D views education as the greatest equalizer because it provides everyone with the same opportunities to learn and be tested fairly, without bias, laying a foundation for future challenges in life and entrepreneurship.
How does Mr. D connect his academic performance to his entrepreneurial success?
-Mr. D connects his academic performance to his entrepreneurial success by highlighting that his GPA and the challenges he faced in school were indicators of his ability to learn and apply knowledge, which later helped him in his career.
What was Mr. D's approach when he first joined National Semiconductor?
-When Mr. D first joined National Semiconductor, he sought out the toughest design project in the company to challenge himself and utilize his knowledge in computer architecture and chip design.
How did Mr. D's experience at Stanford influence his career?
-Mr. D's experience at Stanford, where he was challenged among the best students globally, helped him realize his potential as a natural engineer and instilled in him the confidence to tackle complex projects in his career.
What role did continuous training and challenging oneself play in Mr. D's career?
-Continuous training and challenging oneself played a crucial role in Mr. D's career, as it allowed him to build upon his knowledge, gain confidence, and take on increasingly difficult projects, which ultimately led to innovation and success.
Why did Mr. D decide to become a venture capitalist after being a successful entrepreneur?
-Mr. D decided to become a venture capitalist to engage with multiple companies and continue learning about investing in technology companies, after feeling that he had proven all he could as an entrepreneur.
What was the significance of the local bus concept introduced by Mr. D?
-The local bus concept introduced by Mr. D was significant because it sped up graphics acceleration in PCs, leading to an architecture that is still present in the industry today.
How does Mr. D view the process of becoming successful in the technology sector?
-Mr. D views the process of becoming successful in the technology sector as a series of training and developing confidence in one's abilities, rather than a single 'eureka' moment.
What was Mr. D's first major project at his first company?
-Mr. D's first major project at his first company involved writing all the software and algorithms for a new microprocessor design, which significantly reduced the project's completion time.
How did Mr. D's background in computer architecture and solid-state physics contribute to his entrepreneurial ventures?
-Mr. D's background in computer architecture and solid-state physics contributed to his entrepreneurial ventures by providing him with the knowledge to innovate in chip design and lead projects in the semiconductor industry.
What does Mr. D believe is the key to competing in a challenging environment like Silicon Valley?
-Mr. D believes that the key to competing in a challenging environment like Silicon Valley is a combination of proper education, continuous training, self-challenge, and leveraging one's instincts and knowledge gained through formal education.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 The Importance of Education for Entrepreneurship

The speaker, Mr. D, emphasizes the significance of proper training and education for an entrepreneur. He shares his personal journey, highlighting his passion for Math and Science from a young age, and how this led him to pursue engineering. Mr. D underscores the value of formal education as an equalizer and a foundational challenge that tests an individual's capabilities. He also discusses his experiences at Stanford, one of the most competitive academic environments, and how the rigorous academic training equipped him with the skills and instincts necessary for his entrepreneurial endeavors. His first phase as an entrepreneur was heavily influenced by the knowledge and practices he acquired through his educational journey.

05:00

🚀 Continuous Learning and Challenging Oneself

The speaker continues by illustrating the importance of continuous learning and challenging oneself throughout one's career. He recounts his experience at National Semiconductor, where he sought the most difficult design projects to push his limits and apply his knowledge in computer architecture and chip design. Mr. D's proactive approach led to innovative solutions, such as automating design processes with software to expedite project completion. He also speaks about his transition to entrepreneurship, where he faced new challenges and opportunities, particularly in the field of PC chipsets and graphics acceleration. His ventures resulted in significant successes, such as the introduction of the local bus concept, which is still relevant today. The speaker concludes by stressing that success is not about sudden epiphanies but rather a series of training and building confidence in one's abilities to tackle difficult tasks, even in competitive sectors like technology.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is an individual who creates a new business, bearing most of the risks and enjoying most of the rewards. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses his journey as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and challenging oneself to achieve success.

💡Formal Education

Formal education refers to the structured learning process that takes place in educational institutions such as schools and universities. The speaker highlights the significance of formal education in shaping his career, particularly in developing a strong foundation in math, science, and engineering, which later helped him in his entrepreneurial endeavors.

💡Innovation

Innovation is the process of introducing new ideas, methods, or products. It is a key theme in the video, as the speaker talks about the necessity of innovation to compete in the technology sector. He shares his experience of designing the first PC chipset and introducing the local bus concept, which are examples of innovation in his career.

💡Challenges

Challenges are difficult tasks or situations that require considerable effort to overcome. The video emphasizes that challenges are opportunities for growth and learning. The speaker recounts how he sought out the toughest design projects at his first company and how adversity in his career led to new opportunities.

💡Confidence

Confidence is a feeling of self-assurance arising from an appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities. In the video, the speaker discusses how gaining confidence through education and overcoming challenges is crucial for an entrepreneur. It is illustrated by his belief in his abilities as an engineer after completing a difficult project at National Semiconductor.

💡Risk Taking

Risk taking involves the willingness to take on calculated risks, especially in business or investment. The speaker mentions that after establishing a solid educational foundation, there is a level of risk taking involved in the next phase of his career. This is evident when he decided to tackle the most challenging design project at his company, which was a risk that paid off.

💡Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is a region in California known for its high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship. It serves as the backdrop for the speaker's story, where he discusses his experiences competing and succeeding in one of the most competitive technology innovation hubs in the world.

💡Venture Capitalist

A venture capitalist is an individual or firm that provides capital for startup firms with high growth potential in exchange for equity or ownership stake. The speaker transitions from being an entrepreneur to a venture capitalist, allowing him to engage with multiple companies and continue learning about investing in technology firms.

💡Microprocessors

Microprocessors are miniature processors that integrate the functions of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) on a single chip. The speaker's interest in microprocessors is significant in the video, as it led him to pursue the design of a computer chip that combined computer architecture and design, which was a new sector at the time.

💡Graphic Acceleration

Graphic acceleration refers to the use of dedicated hardware to improve the performance of graphics in computers. The speaker's venture into graphic acceleration led to the introduction of a local bus concept that significantly sped up computer graphics, which is still utilized in modern architectures.

💡Continuous Training

Continuous training is the ongoing process of learning and updating one's skills and knowledge. The speaker stresses the importance of continuous training throughout his career, which allowed him to stay competitive and innovative in the technology sector.

Highlights

The speaker emphasizes the importance of proper training and education for an entrepreneur, starting from a young age with a passion for math and science.

Formal education, including university, is viewed as the greatest equalizer and provides foundational knowledge for an entrepreneur's career.

The speaker shares his belief that school is the first challenge in life, and performance in school is an indicator of one's capabilities and knowledge.

The speaker's first quarter at Stanford was extremely challenging, but it revealed his natural talent as an engineer.

Continuous training and challenging oneself is crucial for growth, both in school and throughout one's career.

The speaker's first company, National Semiconductor, allowed him to apply what he learned in school to real-world projects and gain confidence.

Taking on the toughest design project at National Semiconductor and successfully completing it showcased the speaker's ability to innovate and perform.

The speaker's next phase as an entrepreneur involved creating the first PC chipset in Silicon Valley, which led to the formation of Chips and Technologies.

Chips and Technologies achieved significant revenue growth, reaching a $650 million run rate before the speaker left to start a new venture.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of continuously challenging oneself and learning from each new experience as an entrepreneur.

The speaker's venture into graphics acceleration introduced the local bus concept, which is still used in modern architectures today.

After proving himself as an entrepreneur, the speaker transitioned to venture capitalism to work with multiple companies and continue learning.

The speaker's venture capital investments, including being the first investor in Marvell, have been very successful.

The speaker emphasizes that success is not about a single eureka moment, but rather a series of training and developing confidence in one's abilities.

The speaker's journey from engineer to entrepreneur to venture capitalist demonstrates the value of continuous learning and challenging oneself.

The speaker's experiences in Silicon Valley show that even in a highly competitive industry, success is achievable through proper training, continuous learning, and self-challenge.