Finisar Corporation
Frank H. Levinson founded Finisar in April 1987 and has served as a member of our Board of Directors since February 1988 and as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Technical Officer since August 1999. Mr. Levinson also served as our Chief Executive Officer from February 1988 to August 1999. From September 1980 to December 1983, Mr. Levinson was a Member of Technical Staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories. From January 1984 to July 1984, he was a Member of Technical Staff at Bellcore, a provider of services and products to the communications industry. From April 1985 to December 1985, Mr. Levinson was the principal optical scientist at Raychem Corporation, and from January 1986 to February 1988, he was Optical Department Manager at Raynet, Inc., a fiber optic systems company. Mr. Levinson holds a B.S. in Mathematics/Physics from Butler University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Virginia.
Related Links: investor.finisar.com
Last Updated: Wed, Apr 19, 2006
Frank Levinson, founder of Finisar, begins his talk with a story about a failed startup of his, Netek. Netek is an example of company that had all of the components that are commonly considered to be necessary - idea, business plan, VC investment, team and space. But even with all of that, Netek couldn't get off the ground, he says.
Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. These include: 
Number 10 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. The first thing you need is comfortable, cheap furniture. Spend everything you can on great people and great equipment, that's everything, Levinson says.
Number 9 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. Let people know you're in business, says Levinson. Name your company and put a sign up as soon as possible. Your main motivator should be the customers, he adds.
Number 8 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. Levinson believes you need "too little" money. He uses the famous coconuts from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" as an example.
Number 7 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. Levinson believes you should take stock of your company and determine what it is that you really need. He is an advocate of using common sense and realizing the main thing you need is customers.
Number 6 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. In the spirit of doing anything to keep your business afloat, Levinson explains why it's important to be open to all opportunities.
Number 5 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. When starting a business, says Levinson, it becomes your life. Having a family that supports you and understands that they may not see you often is a great benefit. He talks about his family and the way they adapted.
Number 4 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. Niche markets aren't always the way to go, says Levinson. He advises that your company should stay flexible and be willing to work with, and for, the masses.
Number 3 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. You and the members of your company must have the confidence that new ideas will always be present, says Levinson. He talks about creating a culture that encourages and expects new ideas, and learning to give those new ideas away.
Number 2 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. Levinson talks about how a real business involves selling to customers and receiving money in return. He warns new businesses not to shy away from selling their products early on. He also gives advice on recognizing a real customer.
Number 1 in Frank Levinson's Top 10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business. Levinson claims that the people you work with and your team are key in making your business successful. He explains the factors that should go into choosing your partner
It's often more difficult than it sounds, but it's important to be fanatically ethical when building a company, says Levinson. He believes people understand if it's an ethical environment right away. It is something that people gravitate to, he says, so you just have to build it early and never step off of it.
Levinson offers the following bit of advice to brand new entrepreneurs: Talk to customers. Identify potential customers and pick their brains: What do they want? Would they buy what you're selling? And how much would they pay?"
Levinson believes it is easy to feel like a little fish in a big pond when you're starting your company. He talks about leveraging what you have to make your company stand out from the rest, and it all comes back to customers.
The rate at which a company grows will vary for each individual venture, says Levinson. Sustaining the growth can be a tricky thing. He explains Finisar's rapid growth and weighs the pros and cons of quick growth and sustainability.
A company's IPO is often a symbol of success, says Levinson, but with that success comes a great deal of stress and change. He talks about his company's decision to go public, and their reasoning behind the decision.
Levinson discusses the starting point of Finisar, and why he founded it. He also talks about the initial months of the business and trying to make a profit.
A familiar question among potential founders, says Levinson, is how much business and operational experience do I need to have before starting this business? He talks about the best experience a founder can have - the kind learned only by jumping in with both feet and learning as you go.
The personalities of team members and the culture of the company are vital to its success, says Levinson. An unethical member of the team can cause stress, tension, and ultimately division within the company.