Arthur Rock
Encyclopedia
Arthur Rock is an American
venture capital
ist of Silicon Valley
, California
. He was an early investor in major firms including Intel, Apple Computer
, Scientific Data Systems
and Teledyne
.
He graduated with a Bachelor's degree
in business administration from Syracuse University
in 1948 and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School
in 1951.
Rock started his career in 1951 as a security analyst in New York City, and then joined the corporate finance department of Hayden, Stone & Company, where he focused on raising money for small high-technology companies.
After graduating from Harvard, he worked as an investment banker in New York
. In 1957, when the Traitorous Eight
left Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory
, Rock was the one who helped them find Sherman Fairchild
to start Fairchild Semiconductor
.
In 1961, he moved to California. Along with Thomas J. Davis, Jr.
, formed the San Francisco
venture capital firm Davis & Rock. In 2003, Rock donated $25 million to the Harvard Business School
to establish the Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship.
He is married to lawyer Toni Rembe
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
ist of Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was an early investor in major firms including Intel, 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...
, Scientific Data Systems
Scientific Data Systems
Scientific Data Systems, or SDS, was an American computer company founded in September 1961 by Max Palevsky, a veteran of Packard Bell and Bendix, along with eleven other computer scientists. SDS was an early adopter of integrated circuits in computer design and the first to employ silicon...
and Teledyne
Teledyne
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated is an industrial conglomerate primarily based in the United States but with global operations. It was founded in 1960, as Teledyne, Inc., by Henry Singleton and George Kozmetsky....
.
He graduated with a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1948 and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
in 1951.
Rock started his career in 1951 as a security analyst in New York City, and then joined the corporate finance department of Hayden, Stone & Company, where he focused on raising money for small high-technology companies.
After graduating from Harvard, he worked as an investment banker in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 1957, when the Traitorous Eight
Traitorous Eight
The Traitorous Eight, as they became known, are eight men who left Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory to form Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957. More neutral terms include the "Fairchild Eight" and the "Shockley Eight." They have sometimes been called "Fairchildren," although this term has been also...
left Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory
Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory
Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, the primary lab of the Shockley Transistor Company, was the first company to work on silicon semiconductor devices in what came to be known as Silicon Valley. It was purchased by Clevite in 1960, and officially closed shortly after being sold to ITT in 1968...
, Rock was the one who helped them find Sherman Fairchild
Sherman Fairchild
Sherman Mills Fairchild was an inventor and serial entrepreneur who founded over 70 companies namely Fairchild Aircraft, Fairchild Industries, Fairchild Aviation Corporation and Fairchild Camera and Instrument. Fairchild made significant contributions to the aviation industry and was inducted into...
to start Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. is an American semiconductor company based in San Jose, California. Founded in 1957, it was a pioneer in transistor and integrated circuit manufacturing...
.
In 1961, he moved to California. Along with Thomas J. Davis, Jr.
Thomas J. Davis, Jr.
Thomas Jefferson Davis, Jr. was an early Silicon Valley venture capitalist and founder of the Mayfield Fund.As Vice President of Kern County Land Company from 1957 to 1961, he managed its investment in four new companies including Watkins-Johnson Company, which investment of $900,000 was sold in...
, formed the San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
venture capital firm Davis & Rock. In 2003, Rock donated $25 million to the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
to establish the Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship.
He is married to lawyer Toni Rembe
Toni Rembe
Toni Rembe was the first female partner in the law firm of Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro, the predecessor to Pillsbury Winthrop LLP, San Francisco, California, when she joined in 1971. She remained with the firm until her retirement in December 2004. Rembe was elected a Director of AT&T Inc. in...
.
See also
- Rock's LawRock's lawRock's law or Moore's Second Law, named for Arthur Rock, says that the cost of a semiconductor chip fabrication plant doubles every four years...