KT: I finance Dao Lab with money made from my previous companies, without seeking VC funds. While VCs help startups turn prototypes into products within a short time, a VC's goal is to take you to IPO--a startup's goal is to continuously enhance a product.

Having said that, I don't mean getting VC help is undesirable. But before accepting VC funds, a startup needs to understand the huge pressure it'll experience as a VC focuses on profit and loss. In addition a VC is an institutional financier which might not understand much about technology.

CWHK: While you stayed away from VCs, did you fund your initial product development by continuing to serve customers from your previous firms?

KT: I did support my previous customers--mostly mobile operators--for a short period of time [after founding Dao Lab]. But I stopped doing so in order to focus on R&D for new products.

CWHK: How does Dao Lab's video optimization product work?