Samir Arora
Encyclopedia
Samir Arora is best known as the founder, CEO and Chairman of the web design
pioneering company NetObjects, Inc. from 1995 to 2001, and also as the co-founder, CEO and Chairman of Glam Media
since 2003. Samir Arora holds 13 US software patents as co-inventor.
, the executive management program at INSEAD
Business School in France, and the executive education program at Harvard Business School
. He holds a diploma in sales and marketing from the London Business School
and studied electrical and electronic engineering
at Birla Institute of Technology and Science
(BITS).
in Software and New Media from 1983 to 1992, and moved to Cupertino, California, in 1986.
Arora wrote a white paper called "Information Navigation: The Future of Computing" in late 1986, and worked on early Desktop Publishing
, HyperCard
and 4th Dimension
systems. He is known for creating the first "External Objects" specification, coined the terms "MacNavigator" and "MacBrowser" and worked on the early prototypes that lead to the making of the "Knowledge Navigator
" video in 1987. Arora worked for the Chairman and CEO of Apple Computer
, John Sculley
, from 1987 to 1991.
In 1991 Samir Arora worked on the first tablet Apple called Pen Mac. The project later was cancelled by John Sculley
in favor of the Newton
PDA
. The operating system of the Pen Mac had been created by Paul Mercer, who helped create the operating system, that was used by Apple to launch iPod
.
(a spin-off from Apple Computer), which developed "information navigation applications" that can be seen as predecessors of Web sites. Rae Technology created Rae Assist
, one of the first Personal Information Manager
s (PIM).
and Sal Arora, created NetObjects Fusion
, one of the first Web design tools. This Web design software was innovative at the time of its introduction in 1996 because of the way Web sites were designed and structured.
In 1998 Samir Arora was named as one of the "Web Innovators of the Year" by CNET
, and, together with Pointcast
, was named Entrepreneur of the Year 1997 by the Emerging Business Council of the Information Industry Association (now Software and Information Industry Association
).
After the launch of NetObjects Fusion
, IBM
invested approximately $100 million in a share exchange to buy 80% of NetObjects, corresponding to a valuation of around $150 million. NetObjects, Inc. went public on NASDAQ
in 1999 with IBM
staying the majority shareholder. Dependencies on IBM were high as the registration statement pointed out.
Not yet having turned a profit as a start-up company, tough competition and fast changing markets made NetObjects, Inc. introduce a shift in its business model from packaged software to a subscription model. Decreasing revenues and the decline in public markets heavily affected share prices, and following a de-listing notice from the NASDAQ
, its majority shareholder IBM
made the decision to sell the company in 2001. Its assets including NetObjects Fusion
were sold to Website Pros (now named Web.com
), a web services company, based in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. A portfolio of seven patents was acquired by Macromedia
(now Adobe Systems
), the distributor of Dreamweaver.
From June 2003 to February 2004, Arora served as Chairman of the Board of Emode: Tickle, Inc. Tickle, one of the first social networking sites, was founded in 1999 in Boston as Emode.com, and moved to San Francisco in 2000. Tickle was acquired by Monster.com
in May 2004 and shut down in June 2008.
- a privately held company that publishes Glam.com, one of the fastest growing Web properties in 2007 and 2008.
In an effort to diversify its fashion and life-style oriented business, Glam launched Tinker, a service based on Twitter
. Tinker "allows users to quickly browse through different real-time Twitter and Facebook searches relevant to various current events, trends and breaking news".
Samir Arora serves as Chairman and CEO of Glam Media. For his work at Glam, he was included by min Magazine in the The Digital Hot List 2008 in November 2008, and received the Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year award for Northern California in the category "Media, entertainment and communications" in 2009.
, the leader of the Theatre Action Group (TAG), and took part in over 30 theatre and TV productions, including Jesus Christ Superstar
(1975–76), Tommy
(1978), Kidstuff (1979), Death of an Anarchist (1980), and The Day of Atonement (1981). Samir Arora studied theatre and music composition and wrote as well as produced several plays and musicals during this time, amongst them the plays: The Pinnacle (1982) and The Vulture Stooped Low (1984), and two musicals: The Wall (1981) and Stronger than Superman (1984). Arora was one of the few members of the TAG team to leave theatre, TV and movies, and went on to join Apple Computer
.
Arora serves on the board of trustees of TheatreWorks
of San Francisco Bay Area
and is an associate producer of that institution
's Structural Integration, Moshé Feldenkrais
' Functional Integration, Zen Trigger Point, Berry Method, Trager Work, and Dub Leigh's Zentherapy. Samir Arora practices Zazen, and said in a Times-Interview from 2008: "The last time I had any traditional medicine was 18 years ago."
Samir Arora divides his time between his home in Woodside, California
and SoHo, New York. He is married to Rebecca Arora, née Bogle, who is one of the eight members of the founding team of Glam. They met in 2002 at the Esalen Institute
in Big Sur, California.
Web design
Web design is the process of planning and creating a website. Text, images, digital media and interactive elements are used by web designers to produce the page seen on the web browser...
pioneering company NetObjects, Inc. from 1995 to 2001, and also as the co-founder, CEO and Chairman of Glam Media
Glam Media
Glam Media, Inc. is a privately held vertical media company with more than lifestyle websites and blogs. Glam Media is best known for Glam.com, a website targeted at women...
since 2003. Samir Arora holds 13 US software patents as co-inventor.
Education
Samir Arora grew up in New Delhi, India, as the eldest son of a wealthy Indian family. His father ran a hotel-related business. Samir Arora attended a Jesuit high school at St. Xavier'sSt. Xavier's School, Delhi
St. Xavier's School, Delhi, India, is a Roman Catholic Christian, co-educational school from prep to grade 12 founded and run by Jesuits. The school is located on Raj Niwas Marg in the Civil Lines area of Delhi, India...
, the executive management program at INSEAD
INSEAD
INSEAD is an international graduate business school and research institution. It has campuses in Europe , Asia , and the Middle East , as well as a research center in Israel...
Business School in France, and the executive education program at 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...
. He holds a diploma in sales and marketing from the London Business School
London Business School
London Business School is an international business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London, located in central London, beside Regent's Park...
and studied electrical and electronic engineering
Electronic engineering
Electronics engineering, also referred to as electronic engineering, is an engineering discipline where non-linear and active electrical components such as electron tubes, and semiconductor devices, especially transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, are utilized to design electronic...
at Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, is a private university located in Pilani, Rajasthan, India. BITS Pilani is considered one of the most prestigious and selective universities in India...
(BITS).
Apple Computer
Samir Arora worked at Apple ComputerApple 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...
in Software and New Media from 1983 to 1992, and moved to Cupertino, California, in 1986.
Arora wrote a white paper called "Information Navigation: The Future of Computing" in late 1986, and worked on early Desktop Publishing
Desktop publishing
Desktop publishing is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal computer.The term has been used for publishing at all levels, from small-circulation documents such as local newsletters to books, magazines and newspapers...
, HyperCard
HyperCard
HyperCard is an application program created by Bill Atkinson for Apple Computer, Inc. that was among the first successful hypermedia systems before the World Wide Web. It combines database capabilities with a graphical, flexible, user-modifiable interface. HyperCard also features HyperTalk, written...
and 4th Dimension
4th Dimension (Software)
4th Dimension is a relational database management system and IDE developed by Laurent Ribardière. 4D was created in 1984....
systems. He is known for creating the first "External Objects" specification, coined the terms "MacNavigator" and "MacBrowser" and worked on the early prototypes that lead to the making of the "Knowledge Navigator
Knowledge Navigator
The Knowledge Navigator is a concept described by former Apple Computer CEO John Sculley in his 1987 book, Odyssey. It describes a device that can access a large networked database of hypertext information, and use software agents to assist searching for information.Apple produced several concept...
" video in 1987. Arora worked for the Chairman and CEO of 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...
, John Sculley
John Sculley
John Sculley is an American businessman. Sculley was vice-president and president of PepsiCo , until he became CEO of Apple on April 8, 1983, a position he held until leaving in 1993...
, from 1987 to 1991.
In 1991 Samir Arora worked on the first tablet Apple called Pen Mac. The project later was cancelled by John Sculley
John Sculley
John Sculley is an American businessman. Sculley was vice-president and president of PepsiCo , until he became CEO of Apple on April 8, 1983, a position he held until leaving in 1993...
in favor of the Newton
Newton (platform)
The Newton platform was an early personal digital assistant and the first tablet platform developed by Apple, the second platform being iOS, used in the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Development of the Newton platform started in 1987 and officially ended on February 27, 1998. Some electronic...
PDA
PDA
A PDA is most commonly a Personal digital assistant, also known as a Personal data assistant, a mobile electronic device.PDA may also refer to:In science, medicine and technology:...
. The operating system of the Pen Mac had been created by Paul Mercer, who helped create the operating system, that was used by Apple to launch iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
.
Rae Technology
From 1992 to 1995, Arora was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rae TechnologyRae Technology
Rae Technology was a software company founded as a spin-off from Apple Computer in 1992. Rae Technology was best known for its Personal Information Manager Rae Assist and for being the predecessor of NetObjects, Inc.. After transferring new developed technology for web site design to NetObjects, Inc...
(a spin-off from Apple Computer), which developed "information navigation applications" that can be seen as predecessors of Web sites. Rae Technology created Rae Assist
Rae Assist
Rae Assist was a software developed and distributed by Rae Technology from 1993 to 1995. Rae Assist was one of the first Personal Information Managers and available for Apple Macintosh.-Origin:...
, one of the first Personal Information Manager
Personal information manager
A personal information manager is a type of application software that functions as a personal organizer. The acronym PIM is now, more commonly, used in reference to Personal information management as a field of study...
s (PIM).
NetObjects
In 1995 Samir Arora co-founded NetObjects, Inc. and together with a design and development team including David Kleinberg, Clement MokClement Mok
Clement Mok is a graphic designer and author.Mok founded several design-related businesses — Studio Archetype , CMCD and NetObjects, Inc.. In 1997, Mok helped to launch the advertising campaign called the "The Internet Guy". From 1998 until 2001, he was Chief Creative Officer of Sapient...
and Sal Arora, created NetObjects Fusion
NetObjects Fusion
NetObjects Fusion is a web design tool, from 1996 - 2001 developed and distributed by NetObjects, Inc., marketed from 2001 until 2009 by Web.com , which acquired the application in 2001, and from July 2009 on distributed again by the re-established NetObjects, Inc.NetObjects Fusion has a graphical...
, one of the first Web design tools. This Web design software was innovative at the time of its introduction in 1996 because of the way Web sites were designed and structured.
In 1998 Samir Arora was named as one of the "Web Innovators of the Year" by CNET
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
, and, together with Pointcast
PointCast
PointCast may mean:* PointCast , a "Rich UI" & "push technology" company* PointCast Media, a defunct pay per click search feed and keyword advertising company founded in 1996...
, was named Entrepreneur of the Year 1997 by the Emerging Business Council of the Information Industry Association (now Software and Information Industry Association
Software and Information Industry Association
The Software & Information Industry Association is a United States based software trade association. The organization lobbies United States policy makers as well as conducting surveys and research and many conferences and webcasts....
).
After the launch of NetObjects Fusion
NetObjects Fusion
NetObjects Fusion is a web design tool, from 1996 - 2001 developed and distributed by NetObjects, Inc., marketed from 2001 until 2009 by Web.com , which acquired the application in 2001, and from July 2009 on distributed again by the re-established NetObjects, Inc.NetObjects Fusion has a graphical...
, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
invested approximately $100 million in a share exchange to buy 80% of NetObjects, corresponding to a valuation of around $150 million. NetObjects, Inc. went public on NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
in 1999 with IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
staying the majority shareholder. Dependencies on IBM were high as the registration statement pointed out.
Not yet having turned a profit as a start-up company, tough competition and fast changing markets made NetObjects, Inc. introduce a shift in its business model from packaged software to a subscription model. Decreasing revenues and the decline in public markets heavily affected share prices, and following a de-listing notice from the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
, its majority shareholder IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
made the decision to sell the company in 2001. Its assets including NetObjects Fusion
NetObjects Fusion
NetObjects Fusion is a web design tool, from 1996 - 2001 developed and distributed by NetObjects, Inc., marketed from 2001 until 2009 by Web.com , which acquired the application in 2001, and from July 2009 on distributed again by the re-established NetObjects, Inc.NetObjects Fusion has a graphical...
were sold to Website Pros (now named Web.com
Web.com
Web.com, Inc , formerly Interland , was a provider of websites and web services to small businesses and consumers, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Web.com's services included do-it-yourself and professional website design, web hosting, e-commerce, web marketing, and e-mail...
), a web services company, based in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. A portfolio of seven patents was acquired by Macromedia
Macromedia
Macromedia was an American graphics and web development software company headquartered in San Francisco, California that produced such products as Flash and Dreamweaver. Its rival, Adobe Systems, acquired Macromedia on December 3, 2005 and controls the line of Macromedia...
(now Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
), the distributor of Dreamweaver.
Information Capital LLC and Tickle
Since 1997, Samir Arora has been the Chairman of Information Capital LLC, a venture capital fund based in Woodside, California, USA, which invests in consumer publishing, media & technology companies.From June 2003 to February 2004, Arora served as Chairman of the Board of Emode: Tickle, Inc. Tickle, one of the first social networking sites, was founded in 1999 in Boston as Emode.com, and moved to San Francisco in 2000. Tickle was acquired by Monster.com
Monster.com
Monster.com is one of the largest employment websites in the world, owned and operated by Monster Worldwide, Inc. Monster is one of the 20 most visited websites out of 100 million worldwide, according to comScore Media Metrics...
in May 2004 and shut down in June 2008.
Glam Media
In 2003 Arora helped found and invested in Glam MediaGlam Media
Glam Media, Inc. is a privately held vertical media company with more than lifestyle websites and blogs. Glam Media is best known for Glam.com, a website targeted at women...
- a privately held company that publishes Glam.com, one of the fastest growing Web properties in 2007 and 2008.
In an effort to diversify its fashion and life-style oriented business, Glam launched Tinker, a service based on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
. Tinker "allows users to quickly browse through different real-time Twitter and Facebook searches relevant to various current events, trends and breaking news".
Samir Arora serves as Chairman and CEO of Glam Media. For his work at Glam, he was included by min Magazine in the The Digital Hot List 2008 in November 2008, and received the Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
Entrepreneur Of The Year award for Northern California in the category "Media, entertainment and communications" in 2009.
Awards
Samir Arora received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year© Award in 2009. The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year© award is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs, spanning more than 140 cities and 50 countries worldwide.Interests in the arts and entertainment
Besides his media and software activities, Samir Arora has had numerous activities in the entertainment industry. In Delhi from 1975 to 1983, he was trained by Barry JohnBarry John (theatre director)
Barry John is a British born, Indian theatre director and teacher, who was the Founder-Director of 'Theatre Action Group' , one of the early theatre group based in Delhi. In 1997, he launched Imago Media Company, along with Sanjay Sujitabh, and also started Imago Acting School in Delhi, both of...
, the leader of the Theatre Action Group (TAG), and took part in over 30 theatre and TV productions, including Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
(1975–76), Tommy
Tommy (rock opera)
Tommy is the fourth album by English rock band The Who, released by Track Records and Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and Decca Records/MCA in the United States. A double album telling a loose story about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy" who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, Tommy was...
(1978), Kidstuff (1979), Death of an Anarchist (1980), and The Day of Atonement (1981). Samir Arora studied theatre and music composition and wrote as well as produced several plays and musicals during this time, amongst them the plays: The Pinnacle (1982) and The Vulture Stooped Low (1984), and two musicals: The Wall (1981) and Stronger than Superman (1984). Arora was one of the few members of the TAG team to leave theatre, TV and movies, and went on to join 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...
.
Arora serves on the board of trustees of TheatreWorks
TheatreWorks (Silicon Valley)
TheatreWorks is a non-profit, professional theater company based in Menlo Park, California and founded in July, 1970. The company is a member of the League of Resident Theatres and employs some 300 artists annually, including Equity and non-Equity actors, directors, designers and specialty artists...
of San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and is an associate producer of that institution
Personal life
Samir Arora studied several forms of alternative health therapies. He is a certified body therapist (AISI) and has studied Bodywork, Ida RolfIda Pauline Rolf
Ida Pauline Rolf was a biochemist and the creator of Structural Integration or "Rolfing".-Early life and education:Rolf was born in New York in the Bronx on May 19, 1896....
's Structural Integration, Moshé Feldenkrais
Moshé Feldenkrais
Moshé Pinchas Feldenkrais was an Israeli physicist and the founder of the Feldenkrais Method, designed to improve human functioning by increasing self-awareness through movement.-Biography:...
' Functional Integration, Zen Trigger Point, Berry Method, Trager Work, and Dub Leigh's Zentherapy. Samir Arora practices Zazen, and said in a Times-Interview from 2008: "The last time I had any traditional medicine was 18 years ago."
Samir Arora divides his time between his home in Woodside, California
Woodside, California
Woodside is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States, on the San Francisco Peninsula. It uses a council-manager system of government. The U.S. Census estimated the population of the town to be 5,287 in 2010....
and SoHo, New York. He is married to Rebecca Arora, née Bogle, who is one of the eight members of the founding team of Glam. They met in 2002 at the Esalen Institute
Esalen Institute
Esalen Institute is a residential community and retreat in Big Sur, California, which focuses upon humanistic alternative education. Esalen is a nonprofit organization devoted to activites such as meditation, massage, Gestalt, yoga, psychology, ecology, and spirituality...
in Big Sur, California.