FOR Luis Martin Harder, it’s easier to succeed as an entrepreneur in the semiconductor industry if one combines several factors.
For Harder, Wings Technology Enterprise Inc. president, these factors include the readiness of the market to accept the products and services. Combine this with the application of skills he learned while working as a technical salesperson and the stark reality that a monthly income was insufficient to bring enough food on the table for his growing family.
“These factors led me to become an entrepreneur regardless of the challenges I encountered in my journey to this path,” the Santa Ana, Manila, native told the BusinessMirror. “Equally important is that I was also facing my own financial crisis at that time.”
Before becoming an entrepreneur, the Jose Rizal University economics graduate took several jobs that he says gave him the knowledge, skills and experience to prepare him to the road to entrepreneurship. His work with Intel Philippines as a foot buyer required him to find suppliers for certain electronic components. He also credits Robert Hornbossel, owner of the former Republic Crystal Labs (RCL), for giving him the opportunities to learn the important points of the electronics business.
“My working stint at [RCL] allowed me to learn the ropes of the business.”
In 1990 Harder opened WTEI with only three employees. Just like any fledgling enterprise, Harder reveals there were also various challenges confronting them.
“The financial aspect is one of our major challenges,” Harder said. “Even though we had a dearth of financial resources, we have to give an open credit line to our suppliers. We also have to secure additional funds from other sources to keep us going.”
Harder said he tapped the Small Business Corp. for loans. “As long as I had the contract and the purchase order, I was able to avail of their assistance.”
In a globalized economy, Harder and fellow local suppliers faced challenges from foreign companies. “The Internet made it easier for them to enter the [Philippine] market.”
The setup allows foreign companies to be nimbler because they just need a single agent to talk directly with companies and other clients. The agent goes to the companies and talks directly with their clients. It is doubly cheaper for companies because they are operating in the Philippine Economic Zone Authority zones, according to Harder.
“Unlike the foreign companies, local suppliers have to pay taxes to the government,” he said. “We are also forced to level up. But I believe we can compete given the necessary support.”
Being a developing country, Harder believes the Philippines remains a big prospect for foreign companies because the economy is still in need of materials and components to drive the electronics industry.
Harder says keeping a good name and reputation has helped WTEI reach its current level of competitiveness.
“From the start I believed it’s a one-way journey for me as sole proprietor and I have to focus on the objectives to move forward as a respectable Filipino entrepreneur.”
He urges government to give more support to the electronics industry because it is one the biggest contributors to the national coffers.