The Birth of a Company
The first of two programmes The American Way
Xerox, Polaroid, Digital, Intel ... and a host of other prosperous corporations were founded on inventions which came good, and on the faith of financiers prepared to raise venture capital to back the new technologies.
Tonight Judith Hann reports from Palo Alto, California - better known as Silicon Valley - on three brand-new companies founded to exploit the discoveries of scientists and designers. In particular, she follows the venture capitalists and their role not only in funding but also in shaping the new-born companies. In the studio, Andrew Neil traces the steps which any new company has to take to move from drawing-board, or test tube, into production. Americans believe that their prosperity increasingly depends on the growth of new, high-technology companies.
Film editor ALISTAIR MCKAY
Film cameraman JOHN WYATT Studio director JOHN GORMAN Producer MICHAEL BLAKSTAD