Randy Saaf
Encyclopedia
Randy Saaf was the chief executive officer, and founder, of MediaDefender
, Inc., which was purchased by ARTISTdirect, Inc.
in 2005 for $42.5 million in cash.
Saaf co-founded Jirbo, a large developer of iPhone games, in 2008. Jirbo was sold to Insight Venture Partners
in 2010.
Saaf is currently the founding CEO of AlphaGenius. AlphaGenius is an investment and technology development firm that farms social media data and produces trading models for the hedge fund industry.
and has worked with Senator Leahy, Senator Arlen Specter, and Senator Orrin Hatch
to prevent piracy. In 2004, he donated $2,000 dollars to California Senator Barbara Boxer
.
Saaf appeared in a “60 Minutes” segment on piracy on 31 October 2003, where he talked about his efforts to prevent piracy. He has also been a prime source for other leading news organizations, and has authored many articles against piracy.
A Fresno
native, Saaf attended the University of California, Irvine
, after graduating from Edison Computech High School (in 1994). He then transferred to Harvey Mudd College
and graduated in 1998. Saaf graduated with a B.S. degree in engineering.
He spent less than a year with defense technology giant Raytheon, where he worked closely with airborne signal processing—systems that extinguish incoming missiles. Saaf left Raytheon to start the website with friends, InterFriendly.net. It was designed to use P2P technology to give small businesses the ability to transfer large and numerous files.
He then enrolled in the UCLA School of Law. A year later, he left, noting that "Law was too technical of a vocation for me."
Mediadefender
MediaDefender, Inc. is a company that offers services designed to prevent alleged copyright infringement using peer-to-peer distribution. They are controversial because of their use of unusual tactics such as flooding peer-to-peer networks with decoy files that tie up users' computers and...
, Inc., which was purchased by ARTISTdirect, Inc.
ARTISTdirect
Founded in 1994, Artistdirect, Inc. is an online digital media entertainment company. It owns several websites including Artistdirect.com, UBL.com and the Artistdirect Network...
in 2005 for $42.5 million in cash.
Saaf co-founded Jirbo, a large developer of iPhone games, in 2008. Jirbo was sold to Insight Venture Partners
Insight Venture Partners
Insight Venture Partners is a New York-based private equity and venture capital firm founded in 1995 by Jeff Horing and Jerry Murdock. The firm focuses exclusively on software and Internet-enabled businesses and currently has a capital base of approximately $5 billion.The firm’s Executive Advisory...
in 2010.
Saaf is currently the founding CEO of AlphaGenius. AlphaGenius is an investment and technology development firm that farms social media data and produces trading models for the hedge fund industry.
Biography
Saaf has testified before Congress on Internet piracy at least three times,and has worked with Senator Leahy, Senator Arlen Specter, and Senator Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
to prevent piracy. In 2004, he donated $2,000 dollars to California Senator Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer
Barbara Levy Boxer is the junior United States Senator from California . A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives ....
.
Saaf appeared in a “60 Minutes” segment on piracy on 31 October 2003, where he talked about his efforts to prevent piracy. He has also been a prime source for other leading news organizations, and has authored many articles against piracy.
A Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
native, Saaf attended the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
, after graduating from Edison Computech High School (in 1994). He then transferred to Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College is a private residential liberal arts college of science, engineering, and mathematics, located in Claremont, California. It is one of the institutions of the contiguous Claremont Colleges, which share adjoining campus grounds....
and graduated in 1998. Saaf graduated with a B.S. degree in engineering.
He spent less than a year with defense technology giant Raytheon, where he worked closely with airborne signal processing—systems that extinguish incoming missiles. Saaf left Raytheon to start the website with friends, InterFriendly.net. It was designed to use P2P technology to give small businesses the ability to transfer large and numerous files.
He then enrolled in the UCLA School of Law. A year later, he left, noting that "Law was too technical of a vocation for me."