Riding the Winds of Change
At Makani, We Dare To Innovate
CEO William Lee at a company carnival
Makani, meaning ‘wind’ in Hawaiian, represents our vision – to be at the forefront of the winds of change in entertainment technology.
Our story began in 2002. Early summer, electrical engineer William Lee created a technique that made waves in modern entertainment. The technology enables the display of high-quality images on compact electronic devices with limited storage.
The invention was timely amidst rising interest in digital entertainment. A researcher and professor at the Singapore University then, Lee recognized the potential of his technique and obtained a patent for its use.
As more digital entertainment gadgets hit the shelves, Lee decided to join the emerging market. With the financial sponsorship of Ong Boon Teck, a veteran in the field, Lee left academia in 2003 to start a company.
Hence, Makani was formed on 23 April 2003, with Ong as the Chairman and Lee as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The business would produce the fruits of Lee’s discovery and push the boundaries of entertainment technology through research.
Makani aims to be a pioneer in groundbreaking visual electronics. Among our 700-strong staff, we have a team of 80 highly-qualified researchers, led by the CEO Lee himself. This better equips our company’s products to be on par with more experienced and larger market competitors.
Despite strong rivals in the high-risk technology field, Makani has emerged as one of the industry leaders with a 30% market share. Lee attributes the company’s success to its focus on innovation. “Competition is tough. But Makani is different. We dare to innovate.”
This spirit of creativity has formed our distinctive company culture, which is instilled in our employees. Regardless of their role in the company, all are encouraged to voice their opinions on company products and possible inventions.
“Whether the idea comes from observation or wild imagination, every suggestion is valued and worth considering,” said Head of Research and Development Alice Tan.
This philosophy led to the creation of our best-selling product, which was conceived by the company janitor, Neo Ah Sook. uMod™ is a solar-powered video player the mere size of a fist. Its sophisticated technology and high resolution is unprecedented, earning the company several international awards in 2006.
This summer, we will be introducing our new product which represents the next generation of digital entertainment. One can literally watch movies before one’s very eyes with Zonk™, a pair of sleek shades which plays videos through its lenses. (For more information, click here.)
Following the official launch of Zonk™, Makani plans to expand its operations to Asia and Australia. We have signed contracts with 8 countries in the region, and branch offices will be established by mid-2009. This better equips us to monitor product quality and distribution, as well as strengthen relationships with our customers.
Another major initiative of our expansion programme is the construction of a SGD 120 million research facility in Tokyo, which will be completed in November 2010. The facility aims to attract an international pool of engineers and researchers.
With their array of expertise and fresh ideas, Lee is looking forward to exciting products in the pipeline. “Let us welcome a new era for Makani and for visual technology".
At Makani, we hold pride in our philosophy of daring innovation, which has taken the company thus far. While the future holds challenges and revolutionary changes in technology, Makani stands ready to face the winds of change in digital entertainment.
