Frédéric Artru
Encyclopedia
Frédéric Artru is a French entrepreneur born in Pau, France. He is best known for his work as co-author of the Versit CTI Encyclopedia and the specifications of Versit's protocols as well as the founder of Odisei
, a French-based software company that achieved the highest return on investment
on a time-basis for a French based technology company (50 to 1 ROI for seed investors). Most recently he has been active in technology and investment ventures in the telecommunications industry.
in January 1995 as protocol and communications architecture expert. He joined Michael Bayer at Apple Computer, Inc. as part of the Versit CTI Encyclopedia (VCTIE) team. The Versit CTI Encyclopedia is a 3,000 page, 6 volume set of specifications defining how computer and telephony systems are to interact and become interoperable. Frédéric was specifically responsible for defining, writing, validating and implementing the three CTI Protocols (one was based on ECMA
's CTI specifications, one on Novell
/Lucent TSAPI and the third was design by Frédéric Artru to support small footprint devices such as cellphones.
These specifications are now industry standards as part of the ECMA, ECTF as well as ITU
telephony standards. While at Apple Computer
, Frédéric also held several senior engineering positions related to communication architectures for existing and future Macintosh operating systems.
, a Sophia-Antipolis based startup developing the world’s first hosted iPBX technology. Frédéric funded Odisei through a round of business angels to sustain a team of 10 developers for 18 months. Frédéric based the iPBX technology on the Versit CTI Encyclopedia, which he co-authored while at Apple Computer
, providing technical direction in cooperation with Odisei’s Director of development.
Frédéric then recruited Odisei’s vice-president of sales and marketing and secured two VoIP customer premise equipment strategic partners, 8x8
and Calista (later acquired by Cisco
). At the Voice On the Net
trade show in March 1999, Frédéric demonstrated Odisei’s technology to major telecom players, showing that Odisei was ahead of competitors like NetSpeak, Clarent or Tundo. Based on its success, Odisei started merger discussions with partner 8x8. Frédéric oversaw the negotiation process and two months later, successfully closed an acquisition deal for a stock exchange valued at $14M, providing a 22 to 1 return on investment for the group of business angels and a 50 to 1 for seed investors, believed to be the highest return on investment on a time-basis for a French based technology company.
a series of technology and investment ventures aimed at shaping the new telecommunications industry, in great crisis at the time. In 2002, Frédéric Artru publishes the article "The Future of Media" in French in "La Revue Télécom", a specialized French magazine for telecom specialists. In this article, he lays the ground for what he calls at the time Enhanced Communications. This article defines, more than four years prior, the advent of YouTube, Skype
, Facebook, Joist
and other content driven concepts existing today.
Enhanced Communications companies are financially supported by SigEx Ventures, Inc., a US private investment fund, incorporated in 2001, focused on seed financing of technology ventures related to Enhanced Communications.
and Frédéric Artru incorporate SigEx SuperPBX, SAS, a French technology company that builds the core architecture (called SuperPBX) of a next generation telecommunications carrier. SigEx SuperPBX is funded by private investors as well as Chris Cantell
and Frédéric Artru's SigEx Ventures. The commercial name is SigEx SuperPBX is now SigEx Telecom. In March 2004, Chris Cantell
and Frédéric Artru incorporate privately funded Sigex Ventures Euro Fund, SAS, a French investment vehicle for telecommunications technology ventures.
. In parallel to this site selection, Chris Cantell promotes a European "Be a Part of It" tour in major cities considered for the site. With great media coverage and a final selection of a main site in Pau, France, Chris Cantell renews a successful training program that he had initiated four years prior in Montreal, Quebec.
Odisei
Odisei S.A. was a French company based in Sophia-Antipolis, France that developed the first Internet protocol private branch exchange software solution hosted by carriers Frédéric Artru launches Odisei in Sophia-Antipolis. It was founded by Frédéric Artru in 1998 based on his work at the Versit...
, a French-based software company that achieved the highest return on investment
Return on investment
Return on investment is one way of considering profits in relation to capital invested. Return on assets , return on net assets , return on capital and return on invested capital are similar measures with variations on how “investment” is defined.Marketing not only influences net profits but also...
on a time-basis for a French based technology company (50 to 1 ROI for seed investors). Most recently he has been active in technology and investment ventures in the telecommunications industry.
Versit
Frédéric Artru was brought into the Versit ConsortiumVersit Consortium
The Versit Consortium was a multivendor initiative founded by Apple Computer, AT&T, IBM and Siemens in the early 1990s in order to create Personal Data Interchange technology, open specifications for exchanging personal data over the Internet, wired and wireless connectivity and Computer Telephony...
in January 1995 as protocol and communications architecture expert. He joined Michael Bayer at Apple Computer, Inc. as part of the Versit CTI Encyclopedia (VCTIE) team. The Versit CTI Encyclopedia is a 3,000 page, 6 volume set of specifications defining how computer and telephony systems are to interact and become interoperable. Frédéric was specifically responsible for defining, writing, validating and implementing the three CTI Protocols (one was based on ECMA
Ecma International
Ecma International is an international, private non-profit standards organization for information and communication systems. It acquired its name in 1994, when the European Computer Manufacturers Association changed its name to reflect the organization's global reach and activities...
's CTI specifications, one on Novell
Novell
Novell, Inc. is a multinational software and services company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Attachmate Group. It specializes in network operating systems, such as Novell NetWare; systems management solutions, such as Novell ZENworks; and collaboration solutions, such as Novell Groupwise...
/Lucent TSAPI and the third was design by Frédéric Artru to support small footprint devices such as cellphones.
These specifications are now industry standards as part of the ECMA, ECTF as well as ITU
Itu
Itu is an old and historic municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2009 was 157,384 and the area is 641.68 km². The elevation is 583 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, meaning big waterfall. Itu is linked with the highway numbered the SP-75 and are flowed...
telephony standards. While at Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
, Frédéric also held several senior engineering positions related to communication architectures for existing and future Macintosh operating systems.
Odisei
In 1998, Frédéric returned to France and founded OdiseiOdisei
Odisei S.A. was a French company based in Sophia-Antipolis, France that developed the first Internet protocol private branch exchange software solution hosted by carriers Frédéric Artru launches Odisei in Sophia-Antipolis. It was founded by Frédéric Artru in 1998 based on his work at the Versit...
, a Sophia-Antipolis based startup developing the world’s first hosted iPBX technology. Frédéric funded Odisei through a round of business angels to sustain a team of 10 developers for 18 months. Frédéric based the iPBX technology on the Versit CTI Encyclopedia, which he co-authored while at Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
, providing technical direction in cooperation with Odisei’s Director of development.
Frédéric then recruited Odisei’s vice-president of sales and marketing and secured two VoIP customer premise equipment strategic partners, 8x8
8x8
8x8 Inc. is a United States communications technology company, one of the largest VoIP service providers in the country. 8x8, Inc. offers integrated voice, video and mobile unified communications solutions for small to medium-sized business and distributed enterprise customers.-Products:*8x8...
and Calista (later acquired by Cisco
Cisco
Cisco may refer to:Companies:*Cisco Systems, a computer networking company* Certis CISCO, corporatised entity of the former Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation in Singapore...
). At the Voice On the Net
Voice On the Net
Voice Over the Net is a conference and expo focused on Voice over IP industry. The VON Coalition was established to be an industry voice to government organizations such as the FCC and influence government decisions that are made.-External links:*...
trade show in March 1999, Frédéric demonstrated Odisei’s technology to major telecom players, showing that Odisei was ahead of competitors like NetSpeak, Clarent or Tundo. Based on its success, Odisei started merger discussions with partner 8x8. Frédéric oversaw the negotiation process and two months later, successfully closed an acquisition deal for a stock exchange valued at $14M, providing a 22 to 1 return on investment for the group of business angels and a 50 to 1 for seed investors, believed to be the highest return on investment on a time-basis for a French based technology company.
SigEx Ventures
In 2000, Frédéric Artru launches with partner Chris CantellChris Cantell
Christopher M. Cantell is an American entrepreneur born in St Albans, Vermont. He is best known for his work in supercomputers in the 80s, his public relations and advertising businesses and most recently his technology and investment ventures in the telecommunications industry.-Multipath...
a series of technology and investment ventures aimed at shaping the new telecommunications industry, in great crisis at the time. In 2002, Frédéric Artru publishes the article "The Future of Media" in French in "La Revue Télécom", a specialized French magazine for telecom specialists. In this article, he lays the ground for what he calls at the time Enhanced Communications. This article defines, more than four years prior, the advent of YouTube, Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
, Facebook, Joist
Joist
A joist, in architecture and engineering, is one of the horizontal supporting members that run from wall to wall, wall to beam, or beam to beam to support a ceiling, roof, or floor. It may be made of wood, steel, or concrete. Typically, a beam is bigger than, and is thus distinguished from, a joist...
and other content driven concepts existing today.
Enhanced Communications companies are financially supported by SigEx Ventures, Inc., a US private investment fund, incorporated in 2001, focused on seed financing of technology ventures related to Enhanced Communications.
SigEx Telecom
In July 2002, Chris CantellChris Cantell
Christopher M. Cantell is an American entrepreneur born in St Albans, Vermont. He is best known for his work in supercomputers in the 80s, his public relations and advertising businesses and most recently his technology and investment ventures in the telecommunications industry.-Multipath...
and Frédéric Artru incorporate SigEx SuperPBX, SAS, a French technology company that builds the core architecture (called SuperPBX) of a next generation telecommunications carrier. SigEx SuperPBX is funded by private investors as well as Chris Cantell
Chris Cantell
Christopher M. Cantell is an American entrepreneur born in St Albans, Vermont. He is best known for his work in supercomputers in the 80s, his public relations and advertising businesses and most recently his technology and investment ventures in the telecommunications industry.-Multipath...
and Frédéric Artru's SigEx Ventures. The commercial name is SigEx SuperPBX is now SigEx Telecom. In March 2004, Chris Cantell
Chris Cantell
Christopher M. Cantell is an American entrepreneur born in St Albans, Vermont. He is best known for his work in supercomputers in the 80s, his public relations and advertising businesses and most recently his technology and investment ventures in the telecommunications industry.-Multipath...
and Frédéric Artru incorporate privately funded Sigex Ventures Euro Fund, SAS, a French investment vehicle for telecommunications technology ventures.
The Foundry School
In 2003, Frédéric Artru engages into a European site selection to start a leadership school called The Foundry SchoolThe Foundry School
The Foundry School is a private advanced training, research and development center based in Pau, France and established to develop retraining programs, promote technology research and launch new ventures. It was created in 2000 by Chris Cantell and started in France with his partner Frédéric Artru...
. In parallel to this site selection, Chris Cantell promotes a European "Be a Part of It" tour in major cities considered for the site. With great media coverage and a final selection of a main site in Pau, France, Chris Cantell renews a successful training program that he had initiated four years prior in Montreal, Quebec.