Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang recently shared a story about how his company came into being despite a disastrous pitch, a testament to the importance of one’s past and relationships in business.
Failing The Elevator Pitch
In 1993, Huang, then 29, pitched his startup idea to his former boss, Wilf Corrigan. Corrigan, however, was unimpressed.
"I have no idea what you just said. That was one of the worst pitches I’ve ever heard," he said.
Corrigan, despite his lack of understanding, recommended Huang to the renowned venture capitalist Don Valentine, who had previously invested in companies like Apple Inc. and Atari.
Huang knew he messed up, and was humble enough to accept it. "I did a horrible job with the pitch," he told Valentine, recalling the ...