Despite a global chip shortage, Chris Lin is finding ways to keep moving forward with growth at his tech firm Aspeed.
T
he global chip shortage has left fabless chip firms such as Taiwan-based Aspeed Technology in a quandary. As with other companies that require chips for their business, sales are being crimped by the lack of this crucial item. “Your revenue depends on your supplies, not on your clients,” says Aspeed founder and chairman Chris Lin, 60. “It’s a strange phenomenon.”
Like other fabless chip makers, Aspeed depends on foundries such as Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) to produce the chips that it designs. It’s a strategy that has—so far—paid off. An unbroken run of top- and bottom-line growth put the company on Forbes Asia’s Best Under A Billion list of Asia’s best performing companies for seven straight years up until 2020—the only company on the list with this unbroken track record.
Last year, revenue climbed 23% to NT$3.1 billion ($111 million)…