How I Built This with Guy Raz Vizio: William Wang
103 snips
Apr 14, 2025 
William Wang, Founder and CEO of Vizio, shares his inspiring journey from mismanaging his first company to creating a top-selling TV brand. He recounts overcoming a near-fatal plane crash and his immigrant struggles, highlighting how these experiences shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. Wang's innovative strategies, such as cutting out middlemen, propelled Vizio to success, disrupting giants like Samsung. His partnership with Costco played a crucial role in Vizio's rise, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Walmart for $2.3 billion.
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Early Life and Education
- William Wong immigrated to the US at 14 and initially struggled to adjust, finding himself an outsider due to language barriers and cultural differences.
- Despite facing challenges and wanting to pursue art/architecture, he followed his mother's advice and studied electrical engineering at USC.
First Job and Discovering Sales
- After graduating from USC, Wong started his career in technical support at Datong, a Taiwanese electronics company.
- His multilingual skills and understanding of Taiwanese culture led to a sales role, where he discovered his passion for the computer monitor industry.
Leaving Datong and Founding MagInnovision
- At 26, Wong's frustration with Datong's management and rejection of his idea for improved monitors led him to leave.
- He secured $350,000 in funding from various sources, including his former employer, to start his own company, MagInnovision.