My
entrepeurner experience : SDL and Pine
Photonics
Abstract:
The
speaker will share his entrepeurner experience with two
start up companies: SDL and Pine Photonics. SDL was a
optical component company. It was founded in 1983 based
on a high power semiconductor technology and was grown
into a successful optical communication company before
JDSU acquisition in 1999. Pine Photonics was founded in
2000 to meet a market need of 10 Gbps Transceiver for
datacom industry. After acquired by Opnext in 2003, it
has been growing as industry starts to recover. Two
start-up were fonded and grown in two entire different
industry environment. The speaker will make some
comparison and discuss key factors to make a start-up
successful.
Speaker Bio:
Hsing-hsien Kung
received a BS degree from National Cheng Kung University, an
MS degree from University of Texas at Austin, a Ph.D from UC
Berkeley, all in Electrical Engineering. He also received a
MBA degree from Santa Clara University.
From 1974 to 1978, he
was with Optoelectronics Division of Hewlett Packard, in the
development of GaAsP visible LED and GaAlAs infrared
emitters and laser diodes. He was appointed the manager of
the infrared emitter development and manufacturing in 1979.
In 1983, Dr. Kung joined SDL Inc. as a co-founder and VP,
manufacturing. He has led a successful effort to transfer
XEROX Palo Alto Research Center laser technology and has
established a complete semiconductor laser manufacturing
facility and organization. SDL has successfully IPO in 1995
and become a world leading optical communication company. In
1997, he joined American Xtal Technology (AXT) as a Sr. Vice
President, Business Development. In 1999, he co-founded
Luxnet Corporation. In 2000, he co-founded Pine Photonics
Communication and served as President/ CEO until its merge
with Opnext Inc. Currently, he serves as Sr. VP of Opnext.
He also serves on the boards of several optoelectronics
companies..
Dr. Kung has
participated in several technical committees and meetings in
Taiwan, including Chairman of Electro-Optics Section in the
National Development Seminar in 1983. Since 1983, he has
actively involved in organizing Overseas Chinese
Electro-optics workers to support the activities of the
Electro-Optics Science and Technology Committee of National
Science Council. He was former President of the Photonic
Society of Chinese-Americans and a board member and past
President of Chinese American Economic and Technology
Development Association. Currently, he is Vice Chair of
Monte Jade Science and Technology Association (West Coast).
In 1997, he was
awarded Distinguished Alumni Award from Northern American
National Cheng Kung University Alumni Association. In 1999,
he received Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary foundation. In
2000, he received ?000 year of the Dragon Award from
Chinese American Voter Education Committee. In 2001, he was
selected to participate in class 13 of American Leadership
Forum ?Silicon Valley. In March 2001, he has received a
Partnering for Education award from The National Council of
Negro Women, Northern California Sections. In December,
2001, Margaret and Hsing have received Centure
Culturists award from DeAnza College. In 2002, he
received Asian American Hero 2002 award from County of Santa Clara.
