Minatake (Mitchell) Kashio, CEO, Fomalhaut Techno Solutions INC
“Innovation is seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” These insightful words, wisely proclaimed by Dr Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, encapsulate the very essence of a transformative mindset that drives progress and unlocks breakthroughs, particularly in dynamic fields like Reverse Engineering. This intricate process of deconstructing and comprehending existing technologies calls for more than mere technical expertise. It demands a creative perspective to recognize the potential hidden within these existing technologies and envision how they can be improved, adapted, or repurposed to address contemporary challenges. This visionary approach to technological advancement requires looking beyond the apparent limitations and conventional boundaries to explore uncharted territories, igniting innovation that can reshape entire industries. Embodying these exemplary traits, one visionary who stands as a true trailblazer in the domain of Reverse Engineering is Minatake (Mitchell) Kashio.
Born in Thailand in 1974, Mitchell has been at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries and technological advancements throughout his illustrious career. After graduating from Sophia University in 1997, his career began with a significant stint in the Japanese government, where he learned to navigate the complexities of bureaucracy with determination and finesse. Subsequently, he transitioned to the Canadian federal government affiliate office in the year 2000. During this period, he assumed a pivotal role in various domains, including semiconductors, intellectual property, aerospace, and clean energy. This is when he realized the significance of reverse engineering and its potential to unravel the very essence of innovation. This newfound understanding kindled his entrepreneurial spirit, leading him to establish Fomalhaut Techno Solutions, a pioneering independent reverse engineering firm with a focus on mobile equipment, cellular base stations, and automotive electronics.
Since its inception, Fomalhaut has achieved significant milestones, commencing whole car teardowns starting with the Nissan Leaf EV car in 2017, followed by the Tesla Model S in 2018, the Tesla Model 3 in 2019, and the Volkswagen ID.3 in 2020. The next year, the firm delved into cellular base station teardowns, beginning with the Ericsson 4G base stations in 2018 and subsequently exploring the Huawei/ZTE/Nokia 5G active antenna unit macero cell and baseband unit up to the present day. These undertakings have solidified Fomalhaut’s position as a pioneering force in the realm of reverse engineering.
Conquering Challenges Along the Way
Every success journey is dotted with its own share of obstacles and the story of Mitchell was no different. During the years 2020 to 2022, Mitchell encountered a significant challenge as he sought to expand his company’s size from a team of two, including himself, to a total of five employees. He set forth a determined action plan to achieve this objective within a tight timeframe of 1.5 years. However, the process of sifting through a pool of candidates, conducting extensive job interviews, and navigating the complexities of paperwork and trust-building procedures proved to be formidable and demanding.
But despite the challenges, Mitchell’s tireless efforts and perseverance bore fruit, and he was able to identify and recruit exceptional new employees, ultimately achieving his mission within the designated timeframe. This transformative experience not only allowed Mitchell to expand his team but also taught him valuable lessons that continue to shape his approach to leadership as he steers his company toward future growth and accomplishments.
Ensuring Unparalleled Precision Amidst the Information Abundance
Renowned as the world’s fastest teardown and BOM cost report vendor, Fomalhaut recognizes the challenges posed by the information abundance prevalent in today’s digital landscape. Amidst this inundation, the demand for accurate and reliable data has become increasingly vital, as clients prioritize efficient decision-making and investments. To meet these demands and ensure unparalleled precision, Fomalhaut places immense value on conducting face-to-face meetings with stakeholders worldwide. “ Critical information is very sensitive and can only be disclosed upon trusted relationship, which cannot be built by web meeting or conference calls,” elucidates Mitchell.
According to the visionary leader, to maintain the right position, analysts have to calibrate their own. Calibration precision and the number of information source is relevant. Striving to maintain its rapid turnaround time, Fomalhaut has implemented a defined “depth of search” protocol, ensuring consistency throughout its history while efficiently meeting the evolving needs of its clientele.
Keeping Client Satisfaction at the Core
At Fomalhaut, fostering enduring partnerships and ensuring client satisfaction lies at the core of its business philosophy. Even during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the firm remained committed to maintaining regular in-person meetings with its clients. Although the pandemic immobilized the company physically for a significant period of 1.5 years, it persevered and resumed international business trips in June 2021, when many other companies were suspending trips even within the country. According to Mitchell, every situation presents both positive and negative aspects, and during the pandemic, the reduced travel activity allowed Fomalhaut to facilitate meetings with key stakeholders more easily. “Relationship cultivated under difficult times creates a special bond. The best way to evaluate customer satisfaction is to meet them and hear from them. I encourage young leaders to value in-person meetings,” asserts Mitchell.
Mitchell’s Recipe for Success
Mitchell attributes his success to his profound understanding of his own capabilities and resources, a fundamental factor that he considers crucial during the ramp-up stage of any venture. As he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, he diligently assessed the technical, time, financial, and resource capacities of his team, ensuring that the business endeavours aligned with their capabilities. This self-awareness proved invaluable, regardless of the type of business pursued, and laid a strong foundation for sustainable growth.
Furthermore, Mitchell emphasizes the importance of continuously striving for improved efficiency, which creates extra time to process more work with the same resources. “This is helpful to maintain consistent operation expenses and increase income. By building up profit for years, the company gets ready for the next step of growth without financial anxiety,” he adds.
In addition to his business acumen, Mitchell’s experience working in the public domain and government sector also proved invaluable in his journey. These roles provided him with valuable insights into the workings of large organizations, allowing him to learn how to effectively make his voice heard at higher levels. This skill was particularly advantageous when he established Fomalhaut, as it facilitated successful interactions with key decision-makers and stakeholders. Furthermore, his tenure in the government sector instilled a strong appreciation for adhering to rules, routines, and regulations, which became the bedrock of stability in his own entrepreneurial venture.
Continues Exploring Knowledge, Technology, and History
Beyond his notable professional accomplishments, Mitchell’s interests are as diverse as they are intriguing. As an esteemed member of prominent organizations such as IEEE, and US Naval Institute, he exemplifies a deep commitment to excellence in both the technological and historical spheres. His passion for history led him to become a respected Japanese military submarine historian, dedicated to preserving the legacy of WWII’s underwater warriors. Beyond the realms of technology and history, Mitchell’s spirit of adventure soars to new heights, quite literally, as he holds a Private VFR flight certificate issued by the FAA, further adding to the multi-faceted persona of this visionary. Through these diverse passions, Mitchell continues to inspire others, leaving an indelible mark on the worlds of knowledge, technology, and history a like.