Curtis explained the company while showing the office.
“We left our previous company and founded a CPU company in April last year, 1993. We decided to start up while drinking coffee at Denny’s, but we’re still designing our first product.”
Originally planning CPU production, but judging entry into that market difficult with big companies already entrenched, they recently shifted direction to graphic chipsets with growing demand from video games.
The company Jaesung targeted this time was NVIDIA, which in the future would surpass Tesla in Korea to become the No. 1 net buying stock by “West Sea ants” and the strongest in the GPU world.
Former AMD microprocessor engineers Curtis Priem, Jensen Huang (note: in novel “Jackson Hong”), and Chris Malachowsky decided to found the company while endlessly refilling coffee at the American casual brunch restaurant Denny’s, and established the semiconductor design and production company last year.
“Hey Jackson. This gentleman visited the company for investment, so please explain the chipset we’re designing now.”
The person Curtis called Jackson had a Black-sounding name but was a 30s Chinese-descended Asian.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jensen Huang. I didn’t believe it when you said you suddenly wanted to invest, but it was true. I didn’t expect an Asian too.”
“I’m Seokhun Yoo. Actually, my son is very interested in IT and wanted to invest in this company. So we visited in person.”
When Dad said the investor was Jaesung, not himself, Jensen Huang, Curtis Priem, and the last co-founder Chris Malachowsky made expressions of incomprehension.
“I’m interested in games, and I think demand for graphic chipsets will increase, so I looked for companies making graphic chips, and an acquaintance recommended here.”
Once again, he sold the still-innocent-faced Jefferson Bezos, thinking he’d have to silence him when returning home.
“Hmm. If it’s Seattle, there might be people who know us. Still, it’s rare for an investor to come first—thank you.”
He looked smart, but expectations from NVIDIA’s co-founders lowered at the words of a middle school boy wanting to invest.
Designing and trial-producing graphic chipsets required far more funds than expected, an amount hard for even a seemingly wealthy child to handle.
“I sold a logistics management program to Costco this time for $10 million, so I have some spare funds. If I judge the company good, I want to invest in shares.”
“It’s a bit unusual, but my son’s hobby is investing in startups he likes. It’s his own earned money, so hard to stop.”
With Dad’s additional explanation beside him, NVIDIA’s co-CEOs looked at Jaesung with revived spark in their fading eyes.
“You were an impressive young master. Since it’s microchip design, hard to explain, but I’ll tell you as easily as possible.”
Taiwanese-descended Asian Jensen Huang tried to explain the chip they were making to Jaesung, a Korean but fellow Asian.
Glancing at the design blueprint, Jaesung spoke first about what he saw.
“Looking at the architecture, it seems designed for 3D graphics processing. There’s polygon setup, vertex vector floating-point operations, pixel integer operations, texture mapping, a pipeline going through rendering, and other terminals for audio and input, so it’s a chipset for game consoles?”
NVIDIA founders’ mouths gaped as Jaesung understood just by glancing at a chipset hard even for experts.
Dad had given up understanding, so just let it flow in one ear.
“How did you know? Do you know how to read chipsets?”
“I have shares in a company mainly doing 3D rendering, so I know related chipsets well. Have you heard of Pixar?”
He used Pixar as excuse, but Jaesung had some chipset knowledge.
Plus, in previous life running AI business, naturally used graphics computation cards mostly from NVIDIA, and knew their early models well.
Was it NV1? Completed next year, made with quadrilateral polygon forward texture mapping architecture similar to Sega Saturn.
NVIDIA’s first NV1 drew attention but was expensive, low performance, and sold none.
Still, succeeded in winning American Sega’s favor, entrusted with designing graphic chip candidate for Sega’s next-gen console Dreamcast.
But contrary to NVIDIA’s focus on quadrilateral polygons, 3D graphics trend became triangular polygons with inverse texture mapping, pouring time and money into inferior technology.
Jensen Huang realizes developing NV2 as is would be meaningless, visits American Sega CEO, honestly says contract can’t be kept.
Here, Jensen Huang’s sincerity works; they leave development funds as is, additionally support $5 million to sustain the company.
Better to invest next year or the year after when NVIDIA struggles, rather than now.
NVIDIA, sustaining life thanks to Sega, conducts layoffs to cut costs.
Overhauls existing architecture, gambles by designing and testing chips only via simulation, producing without prototype, launches RIVA 128 in 1997.
Gamble succeeds, NVIDIA revives; hits consecutive products in 98 and 99, even goes public.
NVIDIA grows to market cap No. 1 company, but stock rises significantly only after overcoming several crises until 2020.
Though later dominates external graphics card market, stock puffed up once at IPO doesn’t rise much after.
Then, with COVID pandemic, Bitcoin, AI data center demand explosion, NVIDIA boasting terrifying margins grows instantly to world’s top company.
Even collecting NVIDIA stock around 2018, not now, yields big profit, but to build early connections with Jensen Huang, who values loyalty and ties, he visited a bit early.
“You’re no ordinary kid. Better to sell shares to someone understanding our chipset than to someone knowing nothing.”
“Jackson, we don’t need operating funds right now, right?”
They founded with sufficient funds raised, and though a year and half passed, reducing operating costs much, still had leeway.
“I don’t plan to invest right now either. Need to due diligence first and calculate my way. Plus, next week going to Walmart headquarters to make their logistics system, plan to invest after getting money there.”
NVIDIA management naturally thought it reasonable he came to check before immediate investment, not investing now.
Plus, surprised the three at words of making program used by Walmart with stores nationwide.
Meanwhile, the one surprised at Jaesung delaying investment decision was Dad.
“Yes. Good thinking. Looks like operating costs will be really high, no need to decide hastily. Let’s go home and think slowly.”
Dad relieved, and with Jaesung’s chipset knowledge confirmed, company tour continued in bright atmosphere.
“Thank you for detailed explanation despite busy.”
“Usually we go out seeking investment, but you came directly, so not hard. And glad to meet a smart, capable young friend.”
“I’ll positively review investment. Probably invest mid-next year or later.”
“Year almost ending, so soon. Yes. Contact when decided.”
Didn’t invest immediately, but properly imprinted on NVIDIA founders who become future market cap No. 1 company.
Planned to continue ties, gradually taking shares each time crisis-hitting NVIDIA struggles.
Especially Jensen Huang values loyalty and ties, so needed long-term buildup.
To do AI business this life too, server graphics cards essential.
If continue investing steadily like now, could start own graphics card company, but until time Jaesung remembers, world not changing much allows stable wealth growth.
Successfully finished NVIDIA tour, exchanged personal contacts with CEOs, promised to meet again.
Came to San Francisco with Dad, didn’t hook big fish this time but scattered bait; Jaesung returned to Seattle satisfied.
“Oppa, Michael Jackson got married.”
“Really? To whom?”
“A woman named Lisa, daughter of a famous singer.”
Jaeeun, watching TV at home, ran to Jaesung making program in garage, telling Michael Jackson married.
Michael Jackson first married Elvis Presley’s daughter, right?
Vaguely recalled Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, who had two children, in Dominican Republic, divorced 2 years later.
America buzzing with Michael Jackson’s marriage, but biggest shock to youth this year was Nirvana vocalist Kurt Cobain’s death.
Michael Jackson still active, hip-hop not yet mainstream—really old times.
Recently enjoyed watching Shawshank Redemption in theater, momentarily wanted to meet American celebrities, but Jaesung’s type found meeting famous CEOs far more enjoyable.
Time short just attending school and meeting future famous CEOs. Must focus investment until dot-com bubble.
Listening to sister’s chatter about Michael Jackson’s wedding while briefly looking back at 1994, Jaesung reorganized goals, refined mockup of program to demo at Walmart for funds to invest in dot-com bubble.
Week passed quickly, Jaesung’s family headed to small airport outside Seattle.
“Thanks to son, riding private jet too.”
Mom admired private jet sent by Walmart, sister marveled touring clean yet cozy interior.
Boarded plane with varied food and drinks prepared, comfortably moved to Bentonville, Arkansas.
Upon landing at small airport in Bentonville, Arkansas—one of America’s notable rural areas—a long Lincoln limousine wasn’t waiting, but an old red Ford pickup truck.
As Jaesung’s family disembarked, a cap-wearing grandfather in driver’s seat came out to greet.
“Welcome to Bentonville. It’s rural, but good enough for business.”
“I’m Seokhun. Thank you for inviting.”
“You’re James. Heard a lot. Wife and princess beautiful too.”
Jaesung recognized the welcoming elder as Sam Walton and inwardly groaned with a sigh.
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