It's time. We dive into the unbelievable history behind the quietest technology giant of them all — and as of recording the world's 9th (!) most valuable company — the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. This story checks every box in the Acquired pantheon of greatness: China, America, MIT, Don Valentine, Silicon Valley, "real men" looking silly, and... moats literally built by lasers. We're not kidding. Pull up a seat and settle in for a great one! 

Sponsors:

Anrok: https://bit.ly/anrokacquired
Statsig: https://bit.ly/acquiredstatsig24
Anthropic: https://bit.ly/acqclaude

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Links:

• Episode Sources:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rQMgQDY5c3Fs5DsjB4cZHVZGdhN4kK-6HapO_r7pjyQ/edit?usp=sharing

 Carve Outs:

• Ted Lasso (Season 1):  https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy
• Greek: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976014/
• Who is Michael Ovitz?: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B2HS77M/

‍Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.