More jobs.

More products.

And, for the first time, a major marketing push.

Those are among the major goals for Chris Chuang, the CEO of newly spun-out Republic Wireless, which was among the first providers of hybrid WiFi/cellular service calling.

Raleigh-based Bandwidth spun out Republic effective Thursday morning, providing a $30 million cash infusion.

Chuang, who had been chief operating officer at Republic, replaces founding CEO David Morken. Morken is now chairman and says he plans to remain very involved in the company, which he hatched as an alterative to expensive, traditional cellphone calling plans. Chuang, already a three-year veteran at Bandwidth, joined the Republic team at launch five years ago.

Here’s the first part of a two-part interview:

  • Why was the decision made to spin out Republic? How does this help Republic grow?

The decision was made to maximize the growth opportunity for both Bandwidth and Republic. The spin-off specifically helps Republic in that we now have additional growth capital ($30M) to fund accelerated product development and marketing initiatives.

Additionally, the spin-off provides Republic with greater focus and flexibility to grow our business independent of Bandwidth’s interests, particularly as more of Bandwidth’s customers have become direct competitors of Republic, meanwhile Republic’s product roadmap has a few new “tricks up our sleeves” that will result in additional competition with Bandwidth’s customers.

  • How will the $30M be invested? Is it for expansion, new products, marketing?

The $30 million will be used to accelerate our product development roadmap.

[W]e have some new products in R&D that we can’t disclose yet, but, which will now be able to come to market faster in 2017.

Additionally, it will be used to fund expanded marketing initiatives.

[W]e have invested very little to-date as we’ve principally grown virally through customer referrals. It also provides us a much larger war chest which enables us financial flexibility in general.

  • How many employees does Republic have? Are you hiring? If so in what areas?

We have approximately 160 employees and are actively hiring in multiple areas, including engineering, marketing, operations, and finance.

  • Where will your headquarters be located – at NCSU? Where will Bandwidth’s HQ be?

We will continue to be headquartered at NCSU’s Centennial Campus, which is also where Bandwidth HQ is located. Naturally as separate companies we have separate offices and will operate independently of each other.