Steve Kirsch
Encyclopedia
Steven Todd Kirsch is an American
serial entrepreneur who has started six companies: Mouse Systems, Frame Technology, Infoseek, Propel, Abaca, and OneID. He invented and owns a patent
on an early version of the optical mouse
. After bringing multiple successful startup companies through IPO and corporate buy-out, he became a multi-millionaire. In 2007, his personal fortune was estimated at $230 million.
He has a Bachelor of Science
and a Master of Science
in electrical engineering
and computer science
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
.
He used part of his fortune to set up a $75M charitable fund and became an philanthropist
. On August 11, 2007, Kirsch announced on his personal Web site that he had been diagnosed with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, a rare blood cancer that is usually fatal within five to ten years of diagnosis.
In 2003, Hillary Clinton presented Kirsch with a National Caring Award from the Caring Institute in Washington DC. The award celebrates those special individuals who, in transcending self, devote their lives in service to others, especially the disadvantaged, the poor, the disabled and the dying.
After he left the company, he co-founded Frame Technology Corp.
in 1986 to market the FrameMaker
publishing software. After Frame was acquired by Adobe Systems
for $500M, he founded a Web portal
company, Infoseek Corporation, in 1994. After Infoseek was acquired by Disney
, he founded Propel Software Corporation in 1999. As of 2007, he was leading Abaca Technology Corp., which makes an extremely accurate spam filter (99.99% according to two independent reviews).
In September 2011, he started OneID which is creating a user-centric Internet-scale digital identity system that uses public key cryptography to replace usernames and passwords with a single, stable, secure, digital identity that preserves privacy and is compatible with the NSTIC goals.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
serial entrepreneur who has started six companies: Mouse Systems, Frame Technology, Infoseek, Propel, Abaca, and OneID. He invented and owns a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
on an early version of the optical mouse
Optical mouse
An optical computer mouse or "optic mouse" uses a light-emitting diode and photodiodes to detect movement relative to a surface, unlike a mechanical mouse which has a ball which rotates orthogonal shafts which drive chopper wheels for distance measurement.- Early optical mice :Early optical mice,...
. After bringing multiple successful startup companies through IPO and corporate buy-out, he became a multi-millionaire. In 2007, his personal fortune was estimated at $230 million.
He has a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and computer science
Computer 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...
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
.
He used part of his fortune to set up a $75M charitable fund and became an philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. On August 11, 2007, Kirsch announced on his personal Web site that he had been diagnosed with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, a rare blood cancer that is usually fatal within five to ten years of diagnosis.
In 2003, Hillary Clinton presented Kirsch with a National Caring Award from the Caring Institute in Washington DC. The award celebrates those special individuals who, in transcending self, devote their lives in service to others, especially the disadvantaged, the poor, the disabled and the dying.
Career
Steven Kirsch founded Mouse Systems Corporation in 1982.After he left the company, he co-founded Frame Technology Corp.
FrameMaker
Adobe FrameMaker is a document processor for the production and manipulation of large structured documents. It is produced by Adobe Systems. Although FrameMaker has evolved slowly in recent years, it maintains a strong following among professional technical writers.- Overview :FrameMaker has more...
in 1986 to market the FrameMaker
FrameMaker
Adobe FrameMaker is a document processor for the production and manipulation of large structured documents. It is produced by Adobe Systems. Although FrameMaker has evolved slowly in recent years, it maintains a strong following among professional technical writers.- Overview :FrameMaker has more...
publishing software. After Frame was acquired by Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
for $500M, he founded a Web portal
Web portal
A web portal or links page is a web site that functions as a point of access to information in the World Wide Web. A portal presents information from diverse sources in a unified way....
company, Infoseek Corporation, in 1994. After Infoseek was acquired by Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, he founded Propel Software Corporation in 1999. As of 2007, he was leading Abaca Technology Corp., which makes an extremely accurate spam filter (99.99% according to two independent reviews).
In September 2011, he started OneID which is creating a user-centric Internet-scale digital identity system that uses public key cryptography to replace usernames and passwords with a single, stable, secure, digital identity that preserves privacy and is compatible with the NSTIC goals.
External links
- Personal website
- Kirsch Foundation website
- Propel
- Abaca
- OneID
- Profile on LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a business-related social networking site. Founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking. , LinkedIn reports more than 120 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories. The site is available in English, French,...
- The one problem he can’t solve from San Francisco Magazine