To represent our clients effectively we need to understand their business, their products, and the sectors in which they operate. Our focus is squarely on the effective commercialisation of innovative technology.
The Senior Partners have known and worked together for nearly 20 years selling, licensing, and supplying products into many of the world’s leading electronics and IT corporations. Technologies that we have commercialised include inkjet, printed electronics, data compression, smart materials, RFID, and AI/Deep Learning. The applications that we have sold into cover mobile phones, consumer electronics, displays, industrial/commercial printing, semiconductors, automotive, and high value manufacturing.
Edwin Shiu - Senior Partner for Greater China
Edwin graduated from the University of Washington in International Studies, and subsequently studied at the London Business School as a Sloan Fellow. He has more than 20 years’ experience of establishing and growing new businesses in Greater China, mostly for and behalf of western corporations.
Edwin has successfully negotiated major commercial agreements with many Tier 1 companies in the technology/consumer electronics/manufacturing sector including Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, Honor, Tencent, HTC, Foxconn, Flextronics, Pegatron and Quanta. He has a wide network of senior contacts within these companies and their associated approved suppliers.
In addition, Edwin has extensive licensing and fundraising experience in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan – with established relationships within the venture arms of companies such as Huawei and Xiaomi, as well as Private Equity investors and Private Family funds.
Hugh Baker-Smith - Senior Partner for Europe
Hugh has more than 30 years’ experience of licensing and selling innovative technology across Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, and the USA. This is reflected in a consistent career track record of delivering revenue growth while serving in Executive Board positions for both public and private companies – and, more recently, in Non-Executive, Interim, and Advisory roles.
Throughout his career, Hugh has worked for and with ambitious tech companies seeking to partner with much larger, global corporations, including Swedish, German, US and South Korean employers. He has recruited and managed sales and technical teams across EMEA, APAC, and North America, and has particular experience of licensing intellectual property into Japan and China.
Based in the UK, Hugh takes the lead in managing our client relationships.
DH Shin - Senior Partner for South Korea
Donghyuk studied physics at Seoul National University and KAIST before earning a PhD in Applied Physics from Cornell University in the USA. He worked as a research scientist both in South Korea and the USA, and was a Professor of Physics at Dongguk University in Seoul for many years in parallel with his business career.
DH was the founder and remains the President of ELK Corporation, a manufacturer of touch panels and similar component assemblies for mobile phone, automotive, and industrial applications – and more recently focused on novel technologies related to mini-LED and u-LED displays.
With a strong background in physical science, DH has more than 20 years’ experience within the IT manufacturing business supplying global businesses such as Samsung, Sony, LGE, HP, Microsoft, Motorola, NEC and many others. He takes the lead in finding manufacturing partners and sub-contractors for our clients, and in managing subsequent supply chain relationships.
Ichiro Uehara - Senior Partner for Japan
Ichiro has been selling into major Japanese corporations for more than 30 years, with much of his career spent at Kaga Electronics, one of the leading distributors of electronic devices and components in Japan.
Ichiro graduated from Chuo University in Commerce and Accounting, and he speaks fluent English. He has held senior positions in both Sales and Business Development, often working on behalf of international partners and companies.
Within the last few years alone, he has managed client projects and customer relationships with Kyocera, Sony, Canon, Sharp, NEC, Fuji Xerox, Alps, Hoshiden, Hitachi, Casio, DNP, Konica Minolta, Futaba and Toppan.
Keith Smith - Senior Partner for North America
Keith has worked in senior Sales roles for over 25 years, managing North America Sales and Technical Support teams while targeting US corporate customers on behalf of international companies.
Keith has a repeat track record of delivering aggressive revenue growth in the B2B technology space, primarily on behalf of companies entering the US market and seeking quick commercial traction. His background spans industrial inkjet, PC’s, tablets, mobile phones, displays, SaaS and pharmaceuticals.
Much of Keith’s experience relates to selling into Tier 1 organizations such as Apple, Dell, Motorola, Microsoft – and all of their respective sub-assembly supply chains.