Solving real problems
Always a successful student, Wei originally thought upon entering grad school in the Department of Computer and Information Science at NCTU that he was headed for academia, but he made a discovery during the course of long hours in the labs and libraries: "Most thesis papers are baloney. They don't solve real problems."
But training in computer science can be applied in any number of ways. It takes a lot of exploration to pick a pursuit. While at NCTU Wei poured himself into the study of hot IT-industry topics, working together with lab mates in such fields as cable television, wireless telephony, and broadband networks. Wei eventually decided to concentrate on network security, and used the ITRI-NCTU Network Benchmarking Lab to hone his skills. "The people there were all the cream of the crop. To use a martial arts analogy, it was like sparring with the top fighters in the country."
In 2002 he and six buddies took part in the TIC100 Technology Innovation Competition organized by Advantech Foundation. Their entry--a network firewall at the cutting edge of global technology that offered protection at all seven layers of the network as opposed to the usual three-layer protection--took grand prize honors. In November of that same year, Wei's team ventured beyond the ivory tower to face real-world competitors in the first National Business Start-Up Award contest, organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Wei and his cohorts beat out many entries from strong industrial firms to take third prize.
Firewall technology has raced ahead by leaps and bounds in tandem with the spread of networks. Wei's team was a formidable competitor despite its newcomer status, and attracted close attention in the market with its combination of high performance, high efficiency, and reasonable prices. Network technology players D-Link, ZyXEL Communications, and Advantech all expressed interest in hiring them.
Given Taiwan's position as a global leader in the design and production of broadband modems and LAN switches, development of network equipment has a direct bearing on maintaining Taiwan's international competitiveness, and network security is a key link in the chain. For various reasons, it was clear that big things might well be in store for Wei's technology.
"Back when I was just getting started on my PhD dissertation, those companies were already wanting us all to go to work for them," recalls Wei. But he was getting more and more excited about the dream of starting a business of his own.
Wei stuck to his venture startup plans, and several companies eventually put up NT$60 million in capital for him to go into business. They were gambling that Wei's fledgling technology would solve a lot of people's problems.
The market didn't react with the expected enthusiasm, however, when the company was founded in 2003. By the following year, the initial investment capital was almost all spent. Pressed to write his dissertation and grow the business at the same time, the once-confident Wei watched as the company ran out of money and his founding partners one by one jumped ship.
Having cast aside a regular work desk for a set of jazz drums, this young boss has his own new style.