Computer History Museum | Oral History of Benny Lau and Lee Lau @ComputerHistory | Uploaded December 2022 | Updated October 2024, 15 hours ago.
Interviewed by Doug Fairbairn on 2021-07-13 in Toronto, Canada
© Computer History Museum
Lee and Benny Lau (not related), co-founders of ATI Technologies sat for a joint oral history and described their early lives growing up in Hong Kong and both eventually emigrating to Toronto, Canada. They both attended the University of Toronto where they studied electrical engineering. Both were involved in local startups when they decided to join forces and start ATI Technologies in 1985, along with one other founder, KY Ho.
Their initial product was a graphics card for the IBM PC. One key to their success with this first product was the use of a gate array chip, allowing them to put more logic and features on the card than their competitors. The company grew rapidly as they worked feverishly to stay ahead of the competition. They were indeed quite successful at this, being essentially the last graphics company standing from those early years when there were over 50 competitors.
Both Lee and Benny left the company around 2000 when they felt they had contributed all they could and were not motivated by the incremental challenges each new year brought. The company was sold to AMD in 2006 and continues to set a leadership standard in the industry
They describe the punishing development schedules, constant paranoia of what their competitors might be up to, and their joy and satisfaction which came from building a company with such a long-lasting legacy. It’s a down-to-earth story of the highs and lows which come from building a high-tech startup.
* Note: Transcripts represent what was said in the interview. However, to enhance meaning or add clarification, interviewees have the opportunity to modify this text afterward. This may result in discrepancies between the transcript and the video. Please refer to the transcript for further information - computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102792249
Visit computerhistory.org/collections/oralhistories for more information about the Computer History Museum's Oral History Collection.
Catalog Number: 102792250
Lot Number: X9500.2021
Interviewed by Doug Fairbairn on 2021-07-13 in Toronto, Canada
© Computer History Museum
Lee and Benny Lau (not related), co-founders of ATI Technologies sat for a joint oral history and described their early lives growing up in Hong Kong and both eventually emigrating to Toronto, Canada. They both attended the University of Toronto where they studied electrical engineering. Both were involved in local startups when they decided to join forces and start ATI Technologies in 1985, along with one other founder, KY Ho.
Their initial product was a graphics card for the IBM PC. One key to their success with this first product was the use of a gate array chip, allowing them to put more logic and features on the card than their competitors. The company grew rapidly as they worked feverishly to stay ahead of the competition. They were indeed quite successful at this, being essentially the last graphics company standing from those early years when there were over 50 competitors.
Both Lee and Benny left the company around 2000 when they felt they had contributed all they could and were not motivated by the incremental challenges each new year brought. The company was sold to AMD in 2006 and continues to set a leadership standard in the industry
They describe the punishing development schedules, constant paranoia of what their competitors might be up to, and their joy and satisfaction which came from building a company with such a long-lasting legacy. It’s a down-to-earth story of the highs and lows which come from building a high-tech startup.
* Note: Transcripts represent what was said in the interview. However, to enhance meaning or add clarification, interviewees have the opportunity to modify this text afterward. This may result in discrepancies between the transcript and the video. Please refer to the transcript for further information - computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102792249
Visit computerhistory.org/collections/oralhistories for more information about the Computer History Museum's Oral History Collection.
Catalog Number: 102792250
Lot Number: X9500.2021
