Source: CCTV.com

08-01-2006 16:27

Considered China's No.1 venture capitalist, Peter Liu has helped build hundreds of companies across the Pacific Rim. Among his portfolio companies and strategic partners are some of China's most famous companies today and leading companies tomorrow, such as Lenovo, Aigo, Datang Telecom and CapitalBio. As chairman and co-founder of WI Harper Group, Peter Liu is striving to create excitement in China's markets and exponential growth in China's economy.

Born in Beijing and raised in Taipei, Peter was educated at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to founding the WI Harper Group, he was a general partner of Walden International Asia. His involvement with Asian venture capital dates to 1983, when Dr. K.T. Lee, Taiwan's high tech godfather, invited him to help birth the venture capital community in Taiwan. During the ten years from 1985 to 1995, Peter Liu led Walden International's investments in Taiwan's PC and relative industries successfully.

Founded in 1993, WI Harper was one of the first companies to become involved in fostering economic cooperation between the U.S. and Greater China. The firm's philosophy of bridge-building is reflected in its Chinese name, Mei Shang Zhong Jing He, which means Economic Cooperation between U.S. and Greater China. Its industry-recognized approach was profiled by Stanford Business School in a 1998 case study called "Bridge Between Silicon Valley and Asia."

This philosophy of bridge-building not only applies to Peter in the venture capital field. As Peter says, venture capital is a "people, people, people business". His caring for people is also reflected in his strong sense of social responsibility. Now, he holds several directorships including the Committee of 100, The 1990 Institute and the San Francisco and Shanghai Sister City Committee. He is also the recipient of the Asia Pacific Leadership Award presented by the University of San Francisco Center for the Pacific Rim.

In this episode, Peter and his business partners, friends as well as staff members gather in the "Up-Close" studio. They'll tell you the behind-the-scenes stories of Lenovo (then Legend)'s visit to Taiwan in 1998, which, to some extent, unfolded a new era for Lenovo's own development and also started successful exchange and cooperation for the IT industry across the Taiwan Straits. In addition, Peter will share with you his 8-years'effort of establishing China's 3G technology, which might be a disputed case for those "hit-and-run" venture capitalists, but is definitely a textbook one for Peter — attesting his business philosophy that venture capital is a "People, People, People and Patience, Patience, Patience" business.

— Written by Chai Haoran

 

Editor:Chen