TechnologyEXCLUSIVE Huawei founder urges shift to software to counter U.S. sanctions David Kirton 3 minute read Founder of Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) Ren Zhengfei has called on the companyâs staff to âdare to lead the worldâ in software as the company seeks growth beyond the hardware operations that U.S. sanctions have crippled. The internal memo seen by Reuters is the clearest evidence yet of the company's direction as it responds to the immense pressure sanctions have placed on the handset business that was at its core. Ren said in the memo the company was focusing on software because future development in the field is fundamentally "outside of U.S. control and we will have greater independence and autonomy".