Let's Talk about .. Innovation and Entrepreneurship from MRA Univ. Relations Director's aspect

On November 17, 2014, through information from Prof. Junichi Iijima, I attended the Tokyo Tech Startup Weekend Follow-up Session. Many of my Thai and Japanese friends participated this talk as well.
It was a talk titled "Innovation and Entrepreneurship" by Dr. Tim Pan (University Relations Director of Microsoft Research Asia).

He started his talk with a big warning (but it's a fact) that there were two reasons people would make a startup: Rich and Freedom.

His warning was the fact that 90% of Startup failed and from his experience, there was no exact freedom at the beginning of the business establishment. The freedom seems to come after the business reaches the success.

He talked about his attractive Startup in 1997 when he started his business in Taiwan. It became successful and finally he sold it and moved to work with Microsoft since Microsoft, in his opinion, is the biggest Department of Computer Science in the world.

Let's go back to the topic. He introduced three books in his talk.

-"High-Tech Ventures: The Guide for Entrepreneurial Success" by C. Gordon Bell in 1991
-"Innovation and Entrepreneurship" by Peter Ferdinand Drucker in 1985
He summarized that the source of innovation consists of unexpected, process need,  new knowledge, and structural change. Actually there are more than these, but he chose the most important four ones. Among these, he said 'new knowledge' is the most important source.
-"The Innovator's Dilemma: Then New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail" by Clayton M. Christensen in 2000

In addition, we also introduced us some new products and services from Microsoft such as Skype Translator which is going to be launched in a few days and Microsoft Band.

Finally, his recommendation for the one who will go on StartUp.."Innovate on giants' shoulders!" would be a good way in the current situation which various technologies are rapidly moving.

Thank you very much Prof. Iijima for suggestion and Dr. Pan for the interesting talk.