How Jensen Huang found the chipmaker that saved Nvidia in an old phone book
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has revealed how the company’s 30-year partnership with TSMC began. Speaking to podcaster Lex Fridman, Huang said he found TSMC’s number in the Yellow Pages in the late 1990s, but nobody returned his calls. A lengthy letter to founder Morris Chang finally prompted a phone call one evening, leading to a Taiwan visit and a deal that runs without a contract.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recounted how TSMC became the world's largest chipmaker by starting with a phone book. In the late 1990s, Nvidia was a struggling startup seeking a manufacturing partner. TSMC, despite being a smaller company, had a reputation for integrity and long-term partnerships. Huang eventually reached out to TSMC through the Yellow Pages after several unanswered calls.
He left his contact details and explained Nvidia's AI chip ambitions. After a series of unanswered calls and letters, Huang received a call from Morris Chang, TSMC's founder. Chang invited Huang to visit TSMC in Taiwan, where Huang was impressed by the company's facilities. Chang emphasized TSMC's commitment to Nvidia, promising to "jump through hoops" for the struggling startup.
For nearly three decades, TSMC has maintained its promise, handling billions of dollars in business without a formal contract. Huang attributed Nvidia's success to trust and long-term commitment, noting TSMC's continued capacity struggles in meeting AI chip demand.
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