Early Life
Min Hwan Kao was born in Zhushan, Taiwan, in 1949. He grew up in a modest family and demonstrated an early aptitude for mathematics and science. He completed his primary and secondary education in Taiwan before enrolling at National Taiwan University.
Rise to Success
Kao's career began with research for NASA and the U.S. Army. He worked as a systems analyst and algorithm designer before co-founding Garmin with Gary Burrell in 1989 in Lenexa, Kansas. They combined their names to create the company's name. Garmin was initially focused on GPS technology, developing devices for aviation and marine markets.
Key Business Strategies
Under Kao's leadership, Garmin expanded into various markets, including automotive, outdoor, fitness, and wearable technology. Key milestones included the initial public offering in 2000 and the development of innovative products like the Forerunner series of sports watches. Garmin's success is attributed to its vertical integration, which includes design, manufacturing, and distribution, allowing it to maintain control over product quality and innovation. The company generated $7.25 billion in revenue in 2025.
Philanthropy
Kao is a dedicated philanthropist, primarily through the Kao Family Foundation. His philanthropic efforts include significant donations to the University of Tennessee for the Min H. Kao Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building, and to Kansas State University for engineering labs. He also funded the Kao Autoimmunity Institute at Cedars-Sinai.