TSMC (Remastered)
Acquired
Jan 21
TSMC (Remastered)
TSMC (Remastered)
Acquired
Jan 21
In the world of semiconductors, one company stands out not for flashy consumer products, but for its quiet dominance in manufacturing the most advanced chips on the planet. Founded by a visionary engineer who returned to the industry after a major setback, this company has become the backbone of modern computing. From humble beginnings to controlling the majority of the global chip supply, its journey is a story of resilience, foresight, and technological mastery.
TSMC, founded in 1987 by Morris Chang, has grown from a government-backed startup into the world’s leading semiconductor foundry. Chang’s background in the U.S. semiconductor industry, including a long tenure at Texas Instruments, shaped his vision for a pure-play manufacturing model. Despite early struggles, TSMC capitalized on the rise of fabless chip design and forged key partnerships, especially with Apple, which propelled it into the global spotlight. Its success is built on relentless investment in R&D, strategic alliances with companies like ASML, and the economics of scale that make it nearly unbeatable. Today, TSMC is central to the global tech ecosystem, with geopolitical implications as countries race to secure their own semiconductor supply chains.
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TSMC manufactures leading-edge chips for major tech companies
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Chose Sylvania over Ford due to a $1 salary difference
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Morris Chang resigns from TI after stalled career progression
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K.T. Lee asked Morris Chang to start a new semiconductor company in Taiwan and make it a global leader.
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TSMC became the ninth most valuable company in the world.
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TSMC was founded in 1987 with a $0 pre-money valuation.
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Morris Chang is considered a hero by engineers for building TSMC's foundry model
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ASML's EUV machines cost up to $300 million and require extreme precision to produce 5-nanometer chips.
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Apple took a risk by relying on TSMC, which paid off greatly.
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TSMC raises prices by 20%, signaling strong pricing power and a significant moat
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TSMC controls over 90% of leading-edge chip manufacturing and nearly all the profit in the foundry sector.
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Apple's decision to partner with Samsung over Intel reshaped the semiconductor industry.
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TSMC is considered the most successful B2B hardware company, surpassing Intel.
