Asian Entrepreneur - November, 2000 -

Start up: CEO, founder Jackie Lee, 24
Email: Jackie@hardwarezone.com
Business established: Incorporated on 27 October 1999

What does it do?
HardwareZone (HWZ) position itself as a One-Stop IT Hub (OSIH). The OSIH is a market for ideas, interaction, information and products. HWZ creates, consolidates and delivers information that is a valuable and timely to its users. HWZ is a product reviewer, an advertising medium, a market researcher and a information provider. HWZ contains the largest and most accessible source of data from the industry, end-users, practitioners and in-house technicians in Southeast Asia. HWZ also acts as a market researcher or feedback channel, for advertisers, and allows IT companies to survey consumer trends in their market.

Money Received:
We have received venture funds from SiS Netrepreneur Ventures Corp and angel funds from Savory Associates Ltd. Total investment to date is S$1.5 million.

Seeking more funds?
Yes, we are constantly looking for angels who can add value to the company. We are also constantly looking for VCs to propel the business to the next level of operations. The investments will be used for regional expansion, human-resources operations, direct marketing and hardware/network acquisition.

Stage of development and what next?
Current stage: brand-building, stabilising local model, increasing content coverage, E-Comz (business-to-consumer). Next stage: regionalisation (Asia), E-Comz (business-to-business).

What is your revenue model and are you profitable?
Web advertising, product marketing, media designing, enabler and content hosting. We are profitable now.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I wouldn't change a thing. I am blessed with a good and hardworking team and a group of kind and patient mentors.

What has been the biggest mistake you have made so far and what did you learn from it?
My biggest mistake was trying to do everything myself a year ago. I learnt that one can only do so much alone.

What advice would you offer the other start-ups?
Do not fall into the comfort zone and feel contented or conceited about your progress or your little achievements. There are always things to be learnt every day. Think of win-win scenarios. Do not always skew deals just in your favour.