OnePlus focussed on getting all its products right, says founder Pete Lau

Pete Lau, founder of smartphone company OnePlus, knows all about pushing back incumbents and busting myths. His company's smartphone was termed a ‘Nexus-killer', and it went on to become an aspirational brand in the United States, a status few Chinese firms have attained in the country

The only way he made it happen, he said, was by constantly focusing on his product.

"I've learned many things throughout my career. But of all that I've learned, the most important piece of advice I want to share is to focus on your product," said Lau. The 40-year-old recalled how the company decided to delay the launch of OnePlus 2 in April by three months, as the camera for the phone was below his expectations.

"I wanted to find the best camera for the OnePlus 2. That meant changing the entire structure of the phone and another month of testing," said Lau, a former employee of rival smartphone-maker Oppo. The decision paid off, he said, as over five million people joined their reservation list when the product was launched in July.

"This advice is not new, especially in the tech world. All founders say they put product first. Some of them truly want to, but few actually do," said Lau. One of the benefits of having a great product is that it is a ticket to becoming a global company, he said, referring to OnePlus' journey. At first, the OnePlus One was available in 16 countries, with a team in place in each of these geographies. "But what really blew us away was the response from regions we didn't launch in –– like India."

In less than a year, OnePlus has hired 18 employees for its Bengaluru office.

"Founders need to be brave enough to take tough decisions, even when money and resources are on the line. That is how you know a company is truly productfocused, and those companies are more likely to succeed," he said.