I'm a software development geek. I've tried other roles but I'm never really happy unless I'm building and launching a new product. I use development in the broadest sense - I still code for fun and professionally but I'm also an experienced product manager and marketer.
Currently I'm the CEO at Cucku. Our product provides social (peer-to-peer) backup to consumers and small businesses. Backing up to someone you trust solves the speed problem with online backup because you can transfer data via external hard drive as well as the Internet (sneakernet backups). We're also in the process of launching StackHash, a new service for developers.
Before Cucku I worked at Macrovision, mostly in Product Management and Business Development roles. Macrovision doesn't exist anymore, it's now Rovi, Flexera Software and part of Real Networks.
Earlier still I was lucky enough to spend time at two successful British startups. First at Verifier Systems where I wrote software for robotic semiconductor analysis including electrostatic discharge (ESD) and latch up testing. Verifier was acquired by Thermo Electron which is now Thermo Fisher Scientifc. Then at Ç-Dilla working on license management, copy protection and digital distribution. Ç-Dilla was acquired by Macrovision in 1999.
You can find more career detail on my LinkedIn profile.
I have a BSc (Hons) in Cybernetics and Control Engineering from the University of Reading. My final year project was optical head tracking for virtual reality systems.
For fun, I'm still pretty geeky. I publish various software tools, games and toys at Catfood Software. I like to hike with a GPS and then write about it later on my Hikes blog.
I'm British but an army brat so I grew up all over the place. I've lived in San Francisco since 1999 - I miss the UK when I'm here and San Francisco when I'm in the UK.
You can email me at rob@catfood.net, or send a tweet to @abfo.