Kasian Franks
Encyclopedia
Kasian Franks is the founder, CEO
, and CVO
of Mimvi
.
and Software Engineering
. While at UC Berkeley, Franks consulted for Genentech
and eventually started his own company in 1993, The Berkeley Integration Group, which later landed Genentech as its first client. While working with Genentech, Franks helped develop and manage the Pharmaceutical Recipe Builder (PRB), a toolset for construction and revision control of genetic “recipes” used to design breast cancer, asthma and blood clotting drugs (HER2, DNASE and Protein A).
Franks worked as software engineer
and product developer specializing in pattern matching algorithms and tools for companies and organizations such as Sun Microsystems
, Oracle
, Motorola
, Tivo
, mPower, and X-Mine. Franks worked at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
(LBNL), Life Sciences Division, as a Genomic Research Scientist from 2002–2005, where, along with Raf Podowski, and Connie Myers, he developed the technology behind SeeqPod
. Franks began to study biomimetics
along with pattern matching in data and nature. This led to 5 patents in the area of search and discovery. Later he went on to start SeeqPod
Inc. a music search, discovery and pattern matching company in which the U.S. Department of Energy, along with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
, holds a 5% stake. Under Steven Chu
and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Franks and SeeqPod
won a 2008 R&D 100 Award for biomimetic search engines. A number of record companies have attempted to sue SeeqPod, including Warner Music Group
, Elektra Records
, Rhino Records, and most recently EMI
and Capitol Records
.
Franks formerly held the CEO
and CVO
position at SeeqPod
. A number of record companies have attempted to sue SeeqPod, including Warner Music Group, Elektra Records, Rhino Records, and most recently EMI and Capitol Records. In addition, a multi-billion dollar lawsuit was filed by EMI and Capital Records against Kasian Franks as the founder of SeeqPod. However, the suit from EMI and Capital Records was recently thrown out of court.
Due to economic conditions and litigation, SeeqPod filed for bankruptcy protection on April 1, 2009 and continues its acquisition talks with a number of companies interested in its technology.
In January, 2010, Franks founded another company, Mimvi, Inc. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Mimvi, Inc. (OTCBB: MIMV), a pure-play search, discovery and recommendation engine, is the first of its kind to index the world’s mobile apps (or applications). The search engine will enable consumers and developers to find any app regardless of platform or device, including: the Apple iPhone, Google Android, Blackberry, Windows and Nokia devices. Mimvi's technology is based on proprietary search, recommendation and personalization algorithms. Mimvi plans to extend its platform to power partner sites and services. The company will generate revenue through multiple streams, including: sponsored search results, keyword and API marketplaces, mobile-enabled transactions, advertising and more.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, and CVO
CVO
CVO may refer to:* Chief visionary officer,* Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, a British honour* Chief Veterinary Officer * Circumventricular organs, positioned around the ventricular system of the brain...
of Mimvi
Mimvi
Mimvi Inc. is a search and recommendation engine for mobile web sites and native mobile applications for Apple iOS, Google Android, RIM BlackBerry, and Nokia Ovi phones. It was founded in 2010 by SeeqPod founder, Kasian Franks....
.
Career
Franks was born and raised in Berkeley California. At UC Berkeley, he studied Computer ScienceComputer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
and Software Engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
. While at UC Berkeley, Franks consulted for Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...
and eventually started his own company in 1993, The Berkeley Integration Group, which later landed Genentech as its first client. While working with Genentech, Franks helped develop and manage the Pharmaceutical Recipe Builder (PRB), a toolset for construction and revision control of genetic “recipes” used to design breast cancer, asthma and blood clotting drugs (HER2, DNASE and Protein A).
Franks worked as software engineer
Software engineer
A software engineer is an engineer who applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that make computers or anything containing software, such as computer chips, work.- Overview :...
and product developer specializing in pattern matching algorithms and tools for companies and organizations such as Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
, Oracle
Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
, Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
, Tivo
TiVo
TiVo is a digital video recorder developed and marketed by TiVo, Inc. and introduced in 1999. TiVo provides an on-screen guide of scheduled broadcast programming television programs, whose features include "Season Pass" schedules which record every new episode of a series, and "WishList"...
, mPower, and X-Mine. Franks worked at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory conducting unclassified scientific research. It is located on the grounds of the University of California, Berkeley, in the Berkeley Hills above the central campus...
(LBNL), Life Sciences Division, as a Genomic Research Scientist from 2002–2005, where, along with Raf Podowski, and Connie Myers, he developed the technology behind SeeqPod
SeeqPod
SeeqPod was a search and recommendation engine specifically for indexing and finding playable search results including audio, video, podcasts and Wikipedia articles that are publicly accessible on the World Wide Web. The site claimed to have indexed more than 13 million individual tracks and...
. Franks began to study biomimetics
Biomimetics
Biomimetics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems as models for the design and engineering of materials and machines. It is widely regarded as being synonymous with biomimicry, biomimesis, biognosis and similar to biologically inspired design.-History:The term biomimetics...
along with pattern matching in data and nature. This led to 5 patents in the area of search and discovery. Later he went on to start SeeqPod
SeeqPod
SeeqPod was a search and recommendation engine specifically for indexing and finding playable search results including audio, video, podcasts and Wikipedia articles that are publicly accessible on the World Wide Web. The site claimed to have indexed more than 13 million individual tracks and...
Inc. a music search, discovery and pattern matching company in which the U.S. Department of Energy, along with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory conducting unclassified scientific research. It is located on the grounds of the University of California, Berkeley, in the Berkeley Hills above the central campus...
, holds a 5% stake. Under Steven Chu
Steven Chu
Steven Chu is an American physicist and the 12th United States Secretary of Energy. Chu is known for his research at Bell Labs in cooling and trapping of atoms with laser light, which won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997, along with his scientific colleagues Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and...
and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Franks and SeeqPod
SeeqPod
SeeqPod was a search and recommendation engine specifically for indexing and finding playable search results including audio, video, podcasts and Wikipedia articles that are publicly accessible on the World Wide Web. The site claimed to have indexed more than 13 million individual tracks and...
won a 2008 R&D 100 Award for biomimetic search engines. A number of record companies have attempted to sue SeeqPod, including Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
, Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
, Rhino Records, and most recently EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
.
Franks formerly held the CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
and CVO
CVO
CVO may refer to:* Chief visionary officer,* Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, a British honour* Chief Veterinary Officer * Circumventricular organs, positioned around the ventricular system of the brain...
position at SeeqPod
SeeqPod
SeeqPod was a search and recommendation engine specifically for indexing and finding playable search results including audio, video, podcasts and Wikipedia articles that are publicly accessible on the World Wide Web. The site claimed to have indexed more than 13 million individual tracks and...
. A number of record companies have attempted to sue SeeqPod, including Warner Music Group, Elektra Records, Rhino Records, and most recently EMI and Capitol Records. In addition, a multi-billion dollar lawsuit was filed by EMI and Capital Records against Kasian Franks as the founder of SeeqPod. However, the suit from EMI and Capital Records was recently thrown out of court.
Due to economic conditions and litigation, SeeqPod filed for bankruptcy protection on April 1, 2009 and continues its acquisition talks with a number of companies interested in its technology.
In January, 2010, Franks founded another company, Mimvi, Inc. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Mimvi, Inc. (OTCBB: MIMV), a pure-play search, discovery and recommendation engine, is the first of its kind to index the world’s mobile apps (or applications). The search engine will enable consumers and developers to find any app regardless of platform or device, including: the Apple iPhone, Google Android, Blackberry, Windows and Nokia devices. Mimvi's technology is based on proprietary search, recommendation and personalization algorithms. Mimvi plans to extend its platform to power partner sites and services. The company will generate revenue through multiple streams, including: sponsored search results, keyword and API marketplaces, mobile-enabled transactions, advertising and more.