Jay Adelson
Encyclopedia
Jay Adelson is an is an American Internet entrepreneur
. His Internet career includes Netcom
, DEC's Palo Alto Internet Exchange
, co-founder of Equinix
, Revision3 and Digg
, and CEO of SimpleGeo, Inc before they were purchased by Urban Airship.
In 2008, Adelson was named a member of Time Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential People in the World
and was listed as a finalist on the same list in 2009.
and lived in Southfield, Michigan
as a child. He attended Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
until he left for college. He attended Boston University
in 1988, where he studied Film and Broadcasting along with a concentration in Computer Science, graduating in 1992.
to pursue a career in post-production sound engineering. After a period of time and world travel, Adelson moved to San Francisco, California in 1993, pursuing instead a career in Internet infrastructure and entrepreneurism. Adelson met Brenda Shea, in May of 1994, and they were married in June of 1996.
After his experiences at Equinix
and stresses associated with his work with government on cybersecurity following 9/11, Adelson moved to Pawling, New York in June of 2004. Adelson commuted from New York to San Francisco to found and operate Revision3 and Digg
, eventually moving back to Mill Valley, California in the summer of 2009. Elements of these experiences are documented in Sarah Lacy's
book, Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good
, where a chapter on Adelson, titled "Fuck the Sweatervests."
On July 15, 2003, he testified before the United States House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, as part of an industry panel on "The Private Sector's Role in Keeping America's Cyberspace Secure."
, one of the first global ISPs, as an Installation Coordinator, and shortly moved-up to Director of Network Operations. At the time of his departure in 1996, Adelson was responsible for network engineering, operations and customer service. While at Netcom, In February 1995, Adelson was present and managing network operations during the pursuit and capture of former computer hacker Kevin Mitnick
by Tsutomu Shimomura
.
Network System Laboratory, specifically Albert M. Avery IV., to build and operate the Palo Alto Internet Exchange (PAIX). It was later renamed the Peering and Internet Exchange after the acquisition by Switch and Data Corporation
. Adelson worked along side Stephen Stuart and Paul Vixie
to build a datacenter and services suited for scaling the core of Internet traffic. Adelson's efforts led to the facilities success as an Internet Exchange Point
. The datacenter and exchange point remain in operation today in Palo Alto, California. PAIX was later acquired by Equinix in Equnix's October, 2009 acquisition of Switch and Data.
(briefly Quark Communications). Adelson served as Founder and Chief Technology Officer, responsible for the invention, design and construction of Equinix's datacenters and Internet Exchange Points (known by Equinix as Internet Business Exchanges). Adelson led research and development and was responsible for several patents. Adelson also assisted in the raise capital including private equity rounds, a high-yield new entrant bond deal, and an Initial Public Offering in August of 2000.
On July 15, 2003, Adelson testified before the United States House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technologies, as part of an industry panel on "The Private Sector's Role in Keeping America's Cyberspace Secure."
, along with co-founding team that included Ron Gorodetsky, Dan Huard
, Keith Harrison and David Prager
, founded Revision3 in April 2005. In addition to co-founding and acting as CEO of Digg
, Adelson remained CEO and Chairman of the Board of Revision3 for two and a half years, raising two rounds of capital. Jim Louderback
was hired as CEO in June of 2007. Adelson remains Chairman of the Board of Revision3 presently and hosts his own show called Ask Jay which demystifies the start-up process by providing advice, tips, and answering questions.
, met while Rose was producing an episode of The Screen Savers
in 2003 and interviewed Adelson then at Equinix
. On December 5, 2004 Kevin Rose, Owen Byrne, Ron Gorodetsky and Jay Adelson start Digg with a $6,000 investment from then 27-year-old Rose. Adelson continued to provide business mentorship throughout the company's first few months of operation, taking the position of CEO in February, 2005. Adelson raised the first venture capital round which closed in September, 2005.Adelson recruited the initial management team, set up the offices in San Francisco, and commuted from New York as CEO. Adelson raised two more rounds of capital, leading the company through its peak of over forty million unique visitors a month. Adelson left Digg in April, 2010 over disagreements with Rose and the board over the company's direction and leadership.
(sold to Google/YouTube in 2011), RoqBot, Plex, and Attachments.me.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. His Internet career includes Netcom
Netcom (USA)
NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc. was an Internet service provider headquartered in San Jose, California.It was established in 1988 by Bob Rieger, an information systems engineer for Lockheed and Bill Gitow of System V. Netcom started off in San Jose, California as a service to allow...
, DEC's Palo Alto Internet Exchange
PAIX
PAIX, the Peering And Internet eXchange, is a neutral Internet exchange point operated by Switch and Data.PAIX began operations in 1996 as Palo Alto Internet Exchange in Palo Alto, California, and was owned and operated by Digital Equipment Corporation, or DEC...
, co-founder of Equinix
Equinix
Equinix, Inc. is an American public corporation that provides carrier-neutral data centers and internet exchanges. Equinix provides network-neutral data centers and interconnection services...
, Revision3 and Digg
Digg
Digg is a social news website. Prior to Digg v4, its cornerstone function consisted of letting people vote stories up or down, called digging and burying, respectively. Digg's popularity prompted the creation of copycat social networking sites with story submission and voting systems...
, and CEO of SimpleGeo, Inc before they were purchased by Urban Airship.
In 2008, Adelson was named a member of Time Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential People in the World
Time 100
Time 100 is an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, as assembled by Time. First published in 1999 as a result of a debate among several academics, the list has become an annual event.-History and format:...
and was listed as a finalist on the same list in 2009.
Early Life
Adelson was born in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and lived in Southfield, Michigan
Southfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
as a child. He attended Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Bloomfield Hills is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan, northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,869...
until he left for college. He attended Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1988, where he studied Film and Broadcasting along with a concentration in Computer Science, graduating in 1992.
Later Life
In 1992, Adelson moved to San Rafael, CaliforniaSan Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
to pursue a career in post-production sound engineering. After a period of time and world travel, Adelson moved to San Francisco, California in 1993, pursuing instead a career in Internet infrastructure and entrepreneurism. Adelson met Brenda Shea, in May of 1994, and they were married in June of 1996.
After his experiences at Equinix
Equinix
Equinix, Inc. is an American public corporation that provides carrier-neutral data centers and internet exchanges. Equinix provides network-neutral data centers and interconnection services...
and stresses associated with his work with government on cybersecurity following 9/11, Adelson moved to Pawling, New York in June of 2004. Adelson commuted from New York to San Francisco to found and operate Revision3 and Digg
Digg
Digg is a social news website. Prior to Digg v4, its cornerstone function consisted of letting people vote stories up or down, called digging and burying, respectively. Digg's popularity prompted the creation of copycat social networking sites with story submission and voting systems...
, eventually moving back to Mill Valley, California in the summer of 2009. Elements of these experiences are documented in Sarah Lacy's
Sarah Lacy
Sarah Ruth Lacy is an American technology journalist and author.She co-hosts web video show Yahoo! Tech Ticker and is a columnist at BusinessWeek...
book, Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good
Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good
Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good is a book written by Sarah Lacy and published in 2008. It is about some of the most successful companies of Silicon Valley and an in-depth insight into the story behind the founders, including anecdotes and other stories....
, where a chapter on Adelson, titled "Fuck the Sweatervests."
On July 15, 2003, he testified before the United States House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, as part of an industry panel on "The Private Sector's Role in Keeping America's Cyberspace Secure."
Netcom
In 1993, Adelson joined NetcomNetcom (USA)
NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc. was an Internet service provider headquartered in San Jose, California.It was established in 1988 by Bob Rieger, an information systems engineer for Lockheed and Bill Gitow of System V. Netcom started off in San Jose, California as a service to allow...
, one of the first global ISPs, as an Installation Coordinator, and shortly moved-up to Director of Network Operations. At the time of his departure in 1996, Adelson was responsible for network engineering, operations and customer service. While at Netcom, In February 1995, Adelson was present and managing network operations during the pursuit and capture of former computer hacker Kevin Mitnick
Kevin Mitnick
Kevin David Mitnick is a computer security consultant, author, and hacker. In the late 20th century, he was convicted of various computer- and communications-related crimes. At the time of his arrest, he was the most-wanted computer criminal in the United States.-Personal life:Mitnick grew up in...
by Tsutomu Shimomura
Tsutomu Shimomura
is a Japanese scientist and computer security expert based in the United States, who became an instant celebrity when he, together with computer journalist John Markoff, tracked down and helped the FBI arrest hacker Kevin Mitnick....
.
PAIX
In late 1996, Adelson worked for Digital Equipment Corporation'sDigital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s...
Network System Laboratory, specifically Albert M. Avery IV., to build and operate the Palo Alto Internet Exchange (PAIX). It was later renamed the Peering and Internet Exchange after the acquisition by Switch and Data Corporation
Switch and Data
Switch and Data Facilities Company, Inc. was a U.S. public corporation that provided network-neutral data centers and Internet exchange services to network-centric businesses.. Switch and Data was acquired by Equinix in 2010....
. Adelson worked along side Stephen Stuart and Paul Vixie
Paul Vixie
Paul Vixie is an American Internet pioneer, the author of several RFCs and well-known Unix software.Vixie attended George Washington High School in San Francisco, California. He received a Ph.D in computer science from Keio University in 2011....
to build a datacenter and services suited for scaling the core of Internet traffic. Adelson's efforts led to the facilities success as an Internet Exchange Point
Internet Exchange Point
An Internet exchange point is a physical infrastructure through which Internet service providers exchange Internet traffic between their networks . IXPs reduce the portion of an ISP's traffic which must be delivered via their upstream transit providers, thereby reducing the average per-bit...
. The datacenter and exchange point remain in operation today in Palo Alto, California. PAIX was later acquired by Equinix in Equnix's October, 2009 acquisition of Switch and Data.
Equinix
In June of 1998, Adelson and Avery left Digital Equipment Corp and founded Equinix, Inc.Equinix
Equinix, Inc. is an American public corporation that provides carrier-neutral data centers and internet exchanges. Equinix provides network-neutral data centers and interconnection services...
(briefly Quark Communications). Adelson served as Founder and Chief Technology Officer, responsible for the invention, design and construction of Equinix's datacenters and Internet Exchange Points (known by Equinix as Internet Business Exchanges). Adelson led research and development and was responsible for several patents. Adelson also assisted in the raise capital including private equity rounds, a high-yield new entrant bond deal, and an Initial Public Offering in August of 2000.
On July 15, 2003, Adelson testified before the United States House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technologies, as part of an industry panel on "The Private Sector's Role in Keeping America's Cyberspace Secure."
Revision3
Jay Adelson and Kevin RoseKevin Rose
Kevin Rose is an American Internet entrepreneur who co-founded Revision3, Digg, Pownce, and Milk...
, along with co-founding team that included Ron Gorodetsky, Dan Huard
Dan Huard
Dan Huard is a computer enthusiast and American television personality who resides in San Francisco, California. Huard is best known for his work on the TechTV television program The Screen Savers, an hour-long technology-related variety show.-Early life:Huard attended California State...
, Keith Harrison and David Prager
David Prager
David Lawrence Prager is one of the co-founders and Vice President of Special Projects for Revision3. He has also worked for ZDTV, TechTV, and G4.-Early life:...
, founded Revision3 in April 2005. In addition to co-founding and acting as CEO of Digg
Digg
Digg is a social news website. Prior to Digg v4, its cornerstone function consisted of letting people vote stories up or down, called digging and burying, respectively. Digg's popularity prompted the creation of copycat social networking sites with story submission and voting systems...
, Adelson remained CEO and Chairman of the Board of Revision3 for two and a half years, raising two rounds of capital. Jim Louderback
Jim Louderback
James 'Jim' Louderback is the CEO of Revision3. He has had numerous jobs in media companies involved in technology, most notably with TechTV and editor-in-chief of PC Magazine...
was hired as CEO in June of 2007. Adelson remains Chairman of the Board of Revision3 presently and hosts his own show called Ask Jay which demystifies the start-up process by providing advice, tips, and answering questions.
Digg
Adelson and Kevin RoseKevin Rose
Kevin Rose is an American Internet entrepreneur who co-founded Revision3, Digg, Pownce, and Milk...
, met while Rose was producing an episode of The Screen Savers
The Screen Savers
The Screen Savers was a live American TV show on TechTV. The show launched concurrently with the channel ZDTV on May 11, 1998. The Screen Savers originally centered around computers, new technologies, and their adaptations in the world...
in 2003 and interviewed Adelson then at Equinix
Equinix
Equinix, Inc. is an American public corporation that provides carrier-neutral data centers and internet exchanges. Equinix provides network-neutral data centers and interconnection services...
. On December 5, 2004 Kevin Rose, Owen Byrne, Ron Gorodetsky and Jay Adelson start Digg with a $6,000 investment from then 27-year-old Rose. Adelson continued to provide business mentorship throughout the company's first few months of operation, taking the position of CEO in February, 2005. Adelson raised the first venture capital round which closed in September, 2005.Adelson recruited the initial management team, set up the offices in San Francisco, and commuted from New York as CEO. Adelson raised two more rounds of capital, leading the company through its peak of over forty million unique visitors a month. Adelson left Digg in April, 2010 over disagreements with Rose and the board over the company's direction and leadership.
SimpleGeo
In November 2010, Adelson assumed the role of CEO of SimpleGeo, Inc. when co-founder Matt Galligan stepped down. SimpleGeo ia a location-aware services company for developers of mobile applications. Adelson had been advising the business, largely stemming from a relationship with the company's founder, Joseph Carl Stump, who served as Lead Architect at Digg, Inc. previously. In October 2011 SimpleGeo was purchased by Urban Airship and Jay resumed his advising role.Boards and Advisorships
Adelson sits on the board of 3Crowd Technologies, Inc., Revision3 Corporation, and SimpleGeo, Inc. He also advises companies, including NewsBasis, Graphic.ly, FflickFflick
fflick was a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films based on information collected on Twitter the microblogging and social media service.-History:...
(sold to Google/YouTube in 2011), RoqBot, Plex, and Attachments.me.
Interviews and Keynotes
- FastCompany, July 2011 Co.Location: SimpleGeo
- NBC Press Here, March 2011 Jay Adelson, SimpleGeo
- This Week in Tech, October 2010 TWiT Live Specials 45: Live With Jay Adelson
- FailCon, October 2010 Part 1 Part 2
- BammTV, October 2010 Jay Adelson of Digg.com and Revision3 Interview
- Cranbrook School, October 2010 Sirchio Lecture
- CNBC Meeting of the Minds, June 2010 The Future of Technology
- FutureMidwest, April 2010 We Need Crazy
- Web 2.0, November 2009 A Conversation with Jay Adelson and Kevin Rose
- NBC Bay Area, May 2009 Meet The Man Behind Digg.com
- Web 2.0, September 2008 Organizing Chaos: The Growth of Collaborative Filters
- Forbes, November 2006 Putting A Price On Digg
- Venture Voice, August 2006 VV Show #37 - Jay Adelson of Digg
- Screen Savers, Fall 2003 Kevin Rose interviews Jay Adelson at Equinix for Screen Savers on TechTV
- TechTV, September 26 2001 TechTV - Jay Adelson of Equinix interviewed about Exodus Communications Bankruptcy