Jawbone (Bluetooth headset) and Techcrunch Disrupt Beijing

Techcrunch:

Let’s talk about how Jawbone needed China to succeed, but first tell me about your journey.

Jawbone:

Our company was founded in 1999 after we graduated from Stanford.

Originally we wanted to be the Dolby for mobile but later when we developed noise canceling technology, we knew we had something there.

Techcrunch

Will there be a renaissance of hardware coming out of the valley

Jawbone
I hope there will be more.  Hardware opens up all kinds of new possibilities for software. Just like the recent thermo stat announcement.

Techcrunch

Can you talk about your partnerships here?

Jawbone

It would cost us 20x to do this is the U.S., and this is a warning sigh, the U.S. really needs to figure out where to shift to other places for innovation.

Apple’s way is Designed in California and Manufactured in China.

I think the future is going to be Designed in California and “Crafted” in China.

I think there’s a whole new way of innovation that shifts the dynamic.  In China, people will figure out how to make things work.  You give them a plan and they have the resources to figure out the technical challenges.  They are not just basic assembly sites anymore.

Techcrunch:

What would you say to other Silicon Valley companies

Jawbone:

Everyone think China is about cloning, I think being copied here is a form of flattery.  It’s a validation to your business.

Having the culture understand and appreciating the culture is KEY.

Embrace your partner and build a solid relationship and you’ll be okay.

Techcrunch:

Why do still so many Silicon Valley companies screw up?

Jawbone:

Be Patient, absorb it in.  Silicon Valley’s short term flip mentality isn’t healthy.

Follow your long term vision and realize these things take time.

Enjoy the journey not the destination