David Lee: From Small Successes to Building a Global Media Localization Empire

As the CEO and founder of IYUNO, a global media localization company, David Lee shares his entrepreneurial journey, from humble beginnings in translation services to scaling international operations, highlighting key lessons learned along the way.

  • 1. The right way can be defined as building a flying car, or finding the obvious path in any industry.
  • 2. Key to success is building resilience through repeated small successes and confidence.
  • 3. David Lee is CEO and founder of IYUNO, the largest media localization company globally.
  • 4. IYUNO works with major video streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Disney, etc., producing around 600,000 running time hours of localization services per year.
  • 5. In his early years, David's father supported him in using computers, sparking his interest in mechanical engineering and NASA.
  • 6. An interim career led to founding IYUNO with a small group of colleagues, starting with a $2,000 investment each.
  • 7. Initial success with DVD subtitling was later overshadowed by losses due to low pay and employee turnover.
  • 8. Shifted focus to cable broadcasters, but encountered challenges including cultural differences and lost business due to missing a funeral.
  • 9. Decided to go international, relocating to Singapore to build an open company culture and better communicate globally.
  • 10. Utilized software development for efficient subtitling processes, saving 30% of time and cost.
  • 11. Moved on from vendors to building their own operations in various countries, using profits from initial vendor partnerships.
  • 12. Successfully delivered localization projects for Netflix's global launch, becoming a strong service provider and partner.
  • 13. Developed supply chain management software to optimize resource utilization and visualize workflows across different offices.
  • 14. Aimed to connect people through accessibility to other languages and deliver original content creators' intent effectively.
  • 15. Acquired studios in Europe and the US, forming strategic partnerships for growth and expanding language offerings.
  • 16. Confidently addressing industry challenges, aiming to be a front-runner in media localization and content distribution platforms.
  • 17. Believes in mastering various aspects of entrepreneurship, bringing in people smarter than oneself, and finding the right balance between confidence and humility.
  • 18. As a CEO, views repetition as key to effectively communicating visions and strategies to investors, employees, and clients.

Source: EO via YouTube

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