Partnership, xThink style

The concept of partnership, xThink style, is a direct outgrowth of xThink’s unusual culture and values.

xThink is primarily a research and development company. xThink has never sought venture capital that could fund a traditional enterprise with departments of sales, marketing, legal, HR, and so on.

Instead, we want to participate in development of next-generation software. We are willing to suffer privation, sustain day jobs, and wear multiple hats among our tiny dedicated staff, just so that we can always keep our eyes on the rewards of scientific research in advanced computer technology. We have a superior mix of personnel, technology, and deepening practical experience. These qualities will allow us write a chapter in the inevitable expansion of artificial intelligence that satisfies peoples’ passion to learn.

This “culture and values” factor clarifies xThink’s unique proposal to potential partners: work with xThink for the technology advantage that it can provide to the partner company. xThink’s ideal partner values that technology advantage and not xThink’s current or future market share or profitability.

If xThink fails to achieve its business plan, the technology will be built by someone else, based on other technical and funding models. But the point is, some parallel technology will be built by someone eventually. xThink’s mission is not rocket science; anyone could embrace it. It goes something like this: Empower learning and discovery; hide the technology. But can large corporations fulfill such a mission? Is it inevitable that 1) Focus on return-on-investment competes too strongly against 2) Focus on maximizing learning and on providing low-cost tools for broad consumer sectors? xThink doesn’t have the answer. We do know that focus item 2) always wins the competition at xThink. Hence, our corporate structure and style of partnership.

Here’s hoping that xThink’s modest progress continues!