 I'm a 30+ year software veteran and innovator who has served as Chief Technology Officer/Senior VP Development at some great software leaders like Lotus Development, Dun & Bradstreet Software, Cullinet Software and McCormack & Dodge and VP of Technology Strategy at IBM. And when not working at the big companies, I've had the amazing experience in taking raw start-ups with great ideas to rewarding successful exits. Companies that I've been directly involved with as either CTO or Chairman (or both!) have been acquired nine times.
When I got into the software business, the term 'software' was so rarely used that my father initially thought I was getting into the lingerie business! I'm a self-taught programmer and systems designer with degrees in finance and accounting who's had the amazing luck to be a pioneer in an industry that rewards applied creativity like virtually no other. I love building software systems and software companies and I continue to do both to this day.
I'm founder of Lead Dog Ventures (LDV), best described as a business acceleratgor. We provide emerging technology enterprises access to a well-developed network of intellectual, relationship and financial capital. We package technology vision, business expertise and funding alternatives and try to help provide the means for today's entrepreneurs to become the "Lead Dogs" of tomorrow.
I love working with entrepreneurs who want to change the status quo -- with a vengance! Lead Dog was created while I served in a unique capacity at IBM, a role I assumed following IBM's acquisition of Lotus (SVP/CTO 1990-95). In 1995, then IBM CEO Lou Gerstner asked me to lead IBM's Internet Strategy Task Force, chartered to design and develop IBM's Internet strategy across the corporation. Following approval in what became IBM's wildly successful e-Business strategy, I proposed to Lou a unique dual role -- identifying disruptive "Lead Dog" technologies via direct involvement in their businesses, while simultaneously, as an IBM insider, providing IBM top management and customers with a view of activity at "the edge". I served in this capacity as VP of Technology Strategy at IBM from 1995 to 2001, while simultaneously co-founding and selling two successful start-ups.
This role of "knowledge broker” has continued to evolve as Lead Dog grows both its strategic technology advisory business with large clients that have included IBM, McKinsey, Deloitte, Accenture as well as numerous smaller companies, and its investment portfolio with recent investments including cloud plays Good Data and Sonian, mobile leader Apperian, and start-up incubator TechStars.
Previously I served as Executive Chairman and CTO in three of Lead Dog's investments: interactive advertising leader Narrative Communications (acquired by Excite/AtHome in 1999), web calendaring powerhouse AnyDay.com (acquired by Palm in 2000) and web services management pioneer Adjoin Solutions (acquired by Computer Associates in 2004). I've had the honor to serve on the Board of Directors of over 36 companies over the years and currently I'm a Director of several tech companies including DoubleTake Software, Metatomix and Sonian. I'm on the Board of Advisors of Apperian, Jingle Networks, the DEMO conference and the
Nantucket Conference.
And finally, I've been a long-time trustee of the Mass Technology Leadership Council , a Mass Hi-Tech All-Star, an Xconomy Xconomist, a member of CommonAngels, a TechStars mentor, the past-president of the Information Technology Assoc of America (ITAA) and the American Software
Association, and a Trustee and Instructor at my alma mater, the #1-ranked Entrepreneurship college in the USA, Babson College in Wellesley, MA.
And when not doing tech stuff my interests include history, particularly 16th century England and colonial America (it's all around me!), teaching/speaking/moderating on tech & entrepreneurship, cooking (my mother-in-law says "Yanni.. he's a good cooker"), the stock market (I've traded since I was 6 -- and have discovered 'the system'!) and golf (if only my investments performed like my handicap!). But on top of all these lists above, stands my wonderful family and my great friends.
Life -- It's been a good thing!
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