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Benjamin Chiu (simplified Chinese: 邱泽堃; traditional Chinese: 邱澤堃; pinyin: Qiū Zékūn; born December 27, 1970) is the founder of KillerApp.com, a popular comparison shopping site for computers and consumer electronics that was acquired by CNET Networks Inc. in 1999. | Benjamin Chiu (simplified Chinese: 邱泽堃; traditional Chinese: 邱澤堃; pinyin: Qiū Zékūn; born December 27, 1970) is the founder of KillerApp.com, a popular comparison shopping site for computers and consumer electronics that was acquired by CNET Networks Inc. in 1999. | ||
== Early Life == | |||
Born in Taichung, Taiwan, Ben, the only child moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina at eight months of age with his mother (Hsiu Lan) and father (Sheng Dien) where they lived for six years before moving to Toronto, Canada. He attended high-school at Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute in Scarborough, Ontario and graduated with honors and awards in Computer Science and Visual Arts. In 1993 he received his Bachelor's Degree in Applied Science, Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto. | Born in Taichung, Taiwan, Ben, the only child moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina at eight months of age with his mother (Hsiu Lan) and father (Sheng Dien) where they lived for six years before moving to Toronto, Canada. He attended high-school at Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute in Scarborough, Ontario and graduated with honors and awards in Computer Science and Visual Arts. In 1993 he received his Bachelor's Degree in Applied Science, Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto. | ||
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In addition to high school, Ben also attended school for the gifted in visual arts. His art teacher once offered to buy one of his oil paintings but Ben declined. Some of his wildlife paintings have been displayed at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario. At the time, his style was inspired by Robert Bateman, Glen Loates and Andrew Wyeth. | In addition to high school, Ben also attended school for the gifted in visual arts. His art teacher once offered to buy one of his oil paintings but Ben declined. Some of his wildlife paintings have been displayed at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario. At the time, his style was inspired by Robert Bateman, Glen Loates and Andrew Wyeth. | ||
== Career == | |||
In 1994 while the Internet was still in its infancy, Ben moved to Fremont, California to help manage his father's publishing business--Pan Asian Publications. While buying computer hardware for the company, he discovered it was tedious to browse through thousands of magazine listings for the best deals. | In 1994 while the Internet was still in its infancy, Ben moved to Fremont, California to help manage his father's publishing business--Pan Asian Publications. While buying computer hardware for the company, he discovered it was tedious to browse through thousands of magazine listings for the best deals. | ||
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In 1998, Ziff-Davis approached Ben with a buy-out offer. He declined but instead brought in Deutsche Bank to produce competitive bids. A long M&A roadshow ensued. Ben held due diligence discussions with Microsoft, ZDNet, Yahoo!, CNET, Excite, Lycos and Inktomi. On March 23, 1999 he sold his company to CNET in a stock swap valued at USD 54 million and joined CNET as the Director of Commerce Services. | In 1998, Ziff-Davis approached Ben with a buy-out offer. He declined but instead brought in Deutsche Bank to produce competitive bids. A long M&A roadshow ensued. Ben held due diligence discussions with Microsoft, ZDNet, Yahoo!, CNET, Excite, Lycos and Inktomi. On March 23, 1999 he sold his company to CNET in a stock swap valued at USD 54 million and joined CNET as the Director of Commerce Services. | ||
== In the Media == | |||
Ben Chiu is the second Taiwanese American (since Jerry Yang co-founder of Yahoo!) to appear on the cover of Wired Magazine. Po Bronson chronicled Chiu's rags-to-riches story in his best-selling novel The Nudist on the Late Shift (ISBN 0-7679-0603-9). His story has also been recounted in Chinese by Peggy Teng (Chinese: 鄧海珠; pinyin: Dèng Hai Zhü) in her book 華裔網路英雄傳奇 (translation: Unique Passages of Overseas-Chinese Internet Heroes). | Ben Chiu is the second Taiwanese American (since Jerry Yang co-founder of Yahoo!) to appear on the cover of Wired Magazine. Po Bronson chronicled Chiu's rags-to-riches story in his best-selling novel The Nudist on the Late Shift (ISBN 0-7679-0603-9). His story has also been recounted in Chinese by Peggy Teng (Chinese: 鄧海珠; pinyin: Dèng Hai Zhü) in her book 華裔網路英雄傳奇 (translation: Unique Passages of Overseas-Chinese Internet Heroes). | ||
{{From wp|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Chiu}} | |||