Samsung is a company that is too big to fail. It's business categories represent more than 20% of Korea's GDP, and close to 30% of Vietnam's. The Samsung that we know, Samsung Electronics is made of the consumer electronics segment (50%), semiconductors (30%), displays (10%) and connected home systems (10%).

But Samsung is actually a massive business empire, owned by a mysterious Lee family who is now at its 3rd generation of leaders. The Lee family, part of Korea's elite chaebols, had been a boon for authorities in the last 60 years and yet they are often creditted for Korea's phenomenal rise.

Samsung was founded by Lee Byung-Chul or B.C. Lee in 1938, and eventually the empire would grow so huge that it fracture into 4 other entities - Saehan, Hansol, Shinsegae and the CJ Group. But it would be the world of consumer electronics that they are most known for, eventually beating the likes of Sony in TV, possibly Apple in the smartphone, and broker deals in software with Google.

In Ep 1. We reveal the humble beginnings of B.C. Lee, and Samsung Sanghoe In Ep 2. We explain the political partnerships, and inter-family rivalry that shattered the original Samsung empire. In Ep 3. We meet Lee Kun-Hee, the 2nd generation Lee that would turn Samsung Electronics into the global behemoth that it is today. In Ep 4. We dive into the war on Sony for TVs (Bordeaux) and Apple on smartphones (Galaxy). In Ep 5. We continue exploring the smartphone wars, and Samsung's software gamble against Google (Android, Milk).

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).

Want to meet the team? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Samsung is a company that is too big to fail. It's business categories represent more than 20% of Korea's GDP, and close to 30% of Vietnam's. The Samsung that we know, Samsung Electronics is made of the consumer electronics segment (50%), semiconductors (30%), displays (10%) and connected home systems (10%).

But Samsung is actually a massive business empire, owned by a mysterious Lee family who is now at its 3rd generation of leaders. The Lee family, part of Korea's elite chaebols, had been a boon for authorities in the last 60 years and yet they are often creditted for Korea's phenomenal rise.

Samsung was founded by Lee Byung-Chul or B.C. Lee in 1938, and eventually the empire would grow so huge that it fracture into 4 other entities - Saehan, Hansol, Shinsegae and the CJ Group. But it would be the world of consumer electronics that they are most known for, eventually beating the likes of Sony in TV, possibly Apple in the smartphone, and broker deals in software with Google.

In Ep 1. We reveal the humble beginnings of B.C. Lee, and Samsung Sanghoe In Ep 2. We explain the political partnerships, and inter-family rivalry that shattered the original Samsung empire. In Ep 3. We meet Lee Kun-Hee, the 2nd generation Lee that would turn Samsung Electronics into the global behemoth that it is today. In Ep 4. We dive into the war on Sony for TVs (Bordeaux) and Apple on smartphones (Galaxy). In Ep 5. We continue exploring the smartphone wars, and Samsung's software gamble against Google (Android, Milk).

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our ⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠ where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).

Want to meet the team? ⁠⁠⁠Follow me here⁠⁠⁠!

When you think of Sony, what products come to mind? Probably the Playstation, Headphones, maybe the Walkman.

Yet, cummulatively these business segments don't even make up 50% of Sony's revenue.

Curious? Here's a little breakdown for you - Games & Network Services (27%), Electronics Product and Solutions (23%), Insurance (15%), Movies (12%) and Music (11%)

This Japanese empire's beginning is forged from the rubble of World War 2 with 2 geniuses that inspired the modern day Apple - Masaru Ibuka the engineer and Akio Morita the business man. Both man would create a Japanese conglomerate that for a period of time, would dominate every sector within the consumer electronics company before Apple and Samsung stole the throne.

In Ep 1. We reveal the unbelievable confidence that Masaru Ibuka had in establishing Sony. In Ep 2. We unveil the businessman, Akio Morita that led Sony to become a global phenonmenon. In Ep 3. We follow both men as Sony ascended to become the dominant consumer electronics company in the world. In Ep 4. We join the Sony team as they released their greatest invention yet - the playstation...before learning the conditions that led to their ultimate decline. In Ep 5. We've a guest Matt Alt - ⁠ the author of "Pure Invention - How Japan Made The Modern World". Today he'll share his perspective on Sony's global cultural significance, and how they lost relevance.

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our ⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠ where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).

Want to know the brains behind the series? ⁠⁠Follow me here⁠⁠!

When you think of Sony, what products come to mind? Probably the Playstation, Headphones, maybe the Walkman.

Yet, cummulatively these business segments don't even make up 50% of Sony's revenue.

Curious? Here's a little breakdown for you - Games & Network Services (27%), Electronics Product and Solutions (23%), Insurance (15%), Movies (12%) and Music (11%)

This Japanese empire's beginning is forged from the rubble of World War 2 with 2 geniuses that inspired the modern day Apple - Masaru Ibuka the engineer and Akio Morita the business man. Both man would create a Japanese conglomerate that for a period of time, would dominate every sector within the consumer electronics company before Apple and Samsung stole the throne.

In Ep 1. We reveal the unbelievable confidence that Masaru Ibuka had in establishing Sony. In Ep 2. We unveil the businessman, Akio Morita that led Sony to become a global phenonmenon. In Ep 3. We follow both men as Sony ascended to become the dominant consumer electronics company in the world. In Ep 4. We join the Sony team as they released their greatest invention yet - the playstation...before learning the conditions that led to their ultimate decline.

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our ⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠ where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).

Want to know the brains behind the series? ⁠⁠Follow me here⁠⁠!

When you think of Sony, what products come to mind? Probably the Playstation, Headphones, maybe the Walkman.

Yet, cummulatively these business segments don't even make up 50% of Sony's revenue.

Curious? Here's a little breakdown for you - Games & Network Services (27%), Electronics Product and Solutions (23%), Insurance (15%), Movies (12%) and Music (11%)

This Japanese empire's beginning is forged from the rubble of World War 2 with 2 geniuses that inspired the modern day Apple - Masaru Ibuka the engineer and Akio Morita the business man. Both man would create a Japanese conglomerate that for a period of time, would dominate every sector within the consumer electronics company before Apple and Samsung stole the throne.

In Ep 1. We reveal the unbelievable confidence that Masaru Ibuka had in establishing Sony. In Ep 2. We unveil the businessman, Akio Morita that led Sony to become a global phenonmenon. In Ep 3. We follow both men as Sony ascended to become the dominant consumer electronics company in the world. In Ep 4. We join the Sony team as they released their greatest invention yet - the playstation...before learning the conditions that led to their ultimate decline.

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our ⁠Tiktok⁠ where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).

Want to know the brains behind the series? ⁠Follow me here⁠!

When you think of Sony, what products come to mind? Probably the Playstation, Headphones, maybe the Walkman.

Yet, cummulatively these business segments don't even make up 50% of Sony's revenue.

Curious? Here's a little breakdown for you - Games & Network Services (27%), Electronics Product and Solutions (23%), Insurance (15%), Movies (12%) and Music (11%)

This Japanese empire's beginning is forged from the rubble of World War 2 with 2 geniuses that inspired the modern day Apple - Masaru Ibuka the engineer and Akio Morita the business man. Both man would create a Japanese conglomerate that for a period of time, would dominate every sector within the consumer electronics company before Apple and Samsung stole the throne.

In Ep 1. We reveal the unbelievable confidence that Masaru Ibuka had in establishing Sony. In Ep 2. We unveil the businessman, Akio Morita that led Sony to become a global phenonmenon. In Ep 3. We follow both men as Sony ascended to become the dominant consumer electronics company in the world. In Ep 4. We join the Sony team as they released their greatest invention yet - the playstation...before learning the conditions that led to their ultimate decline.

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our ⁠Tiktok⁠ where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).

Want to know the brains behind the series? ⁠Follow me here⁠!

Our partner this week: historyogi

When you think of Sony, what products come to mind? Probably the Playstation, Headphones, maybe the Walkman.

Yet, cummulatively these business segments don't even make up 50% of Sony's revenue.

Curious? Here's a little breakdown for you - Games & Network Services (27%), Electronics Product and Solutions (23%), Insurance (15%), Movies (12%) and Music (11%)

This Japanese empire's beginning is forged from the rubble of World War 2 with 2 geniuses that inspired the modern day Apple - Masaru Ibuka the engineer and Akio Morita the business man. Both man would create a Japanese conglomerate that for a period of time, would dominate every sector within the consumer electronics company before Apple and Samsung stole the throne.

In Ep 1. We reveal the unbelievable confidence that Masaru Ibuka had in establishing Sony. In Ep 2. We unveil the businessman, Akio Morita that led Sony to become a global phenonmenon. In Ep 3. We follow both men as Sony ascended to become the dominant consumer electronics company in the world. In Ep 4. We join the Sony team as they released their greatest invention yet - the playstation...before learning the conditions that led to their ultimate decline.

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our Tiktok where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).

Want to know the brains behind the series? Follow me here!

Tencent is a complicated company - the parent company of WeChat, the WhatsApp of China with over 1.2 billion users.

Tencent also owns, an entire entertainment arm, owning movie rights such as Terminator: Dark Fate, and a music group (Tencent Music Group) with 1.5 times the users of Spotify.

But its most profitable segment is on games, owning League of Legends, Clash of Clans and Honor of Kings.

This Chinese empire have humble and mystical beginnings that can be traced back to when a little carp, who's name was Tony Ma, decided to swim up stream to join the new wave of Chinese Billionaire Dragons.

You've learnt in: In Ep 1. We tell the grueling rise of the founding team, creating QQ - the MSN of China In Ep 2. We detail the epic battle battle between QQ vs MSN that cemented Tencent as the Microsoft Killer In Ep 3. We breakdown its gaming empire that led to the highest revenue mobile game in the world - Honor of Kings In Ep 4. We learn about the rise of WeChat - the app that made Tencent famous, and China's tech crackdown that wiped trillions off the Chinese stock market

In Ep 5. We've a guest - Cynthia Ding the founding partner and managing partner of Yincubator. Her past experience includes Microsoft, Nokia, Siemens and IBM in China. Today she'll weigh in on Tencent's strategy, and explains the implications of the tech behemoth within our South East Asian and East Asian region. 

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our Tiktok where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).

Tencent is a complicated company - the parent company of WeChat, the WhatsApp of China with over 1.2 billion users.

Tencent also owns, an entire entertainment arm, owning movie rights such as Terminator: Dark Fate, and a music group (Tencent Music Group) with 1.5 times the users of Spotify.

But its most profitable segment is on games, owning League of Legends, Clash of Clans and Honor of Kings.

This Chinese empire have humble and mystical beginnings that can be traced back to when a little carp, who's name was Tony Ma, decided to swim up stream to join the new wave of Chinese Billionaire Dragons.

In Ep 1. We tell the grueling rise of the founding team, creating QQ - the MSN of China In Ep 2. We detail the epic battle battle between QQ vs MSN that cemented Tencent as the Microsoft Killer In Ep 3. We breakdown its gaming empire that led to the highest revenue mobile game in the world - Honor of Kings In Ep 4. We learn about the rise of WeChat - the app that made Tencent famous, and China's tech crackdown that wiped trillions off the Chinese stock market

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our Tiktok where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).

Tencent is a complicated company - the parent company of WeChat, the WhatsApp of China with over 1.2 billion users.

Tencent also owns, an entire entertainment arm, owning movie rights such as Terminator: Dark Fate, and a music group (Tencent Music Group) with 1.5 times the users of Spotify.

But its most profitable segment is on games, owning League of Legends, Clash of Clans and Honor of Kings.

This Chinese empire have humble and mystical beginnings that can be traced back to when a little carp, who's name was Tony Ma, decided to swim up stream to join the new wave of Chinese Billionaire Dragons.

In Ep 1. We tell the grueling rise of the founding team, creating QQ - the MSN of China In Ep 2. We detail the epic battle battle between QQ vs MSN that cemented Tencent as the Microsoft Killer In Ep 3. We breakdown its gaming empire that led to the highest revenue mobile game in the world - Honor of Kings In Ep 4. We learn about the rise of WeChat - the app that made Tencent famous, and China's tech crackdown that wiped trillions off the Chinese stock market

Want to discover more origins, rise & fall on Asian business empires? Follow us on our Tiktok where we share 5 minute breakdowns of some of the most interesting Asian businesses such as Foxconn (producer of 70% of iphones), or Shein (a $64 billion TikTok phenomenon).