Dean Drako
Dean Drako | |
---|---|
Alma mater | University of Michigan (BS,EE 1987) UC Berkeley (MS,EE 1988) |
Occupation | Parallel Entrepreneur |
Board member of | Eagle Eye Networks, IC Manage, Brivo, Drako Motors |
Website | Linked in |
Dean Drako is an American businessman and serial entrepreneur who has started more than five companies. Drako is best known as a co-founder, president and CEO of Barracuda Networks[1] from 2003 to July 2012. Drako is currently President and CEO of Eagle Eye Networks,[2] IC Manage and Drako Motors. He is also an active angel investor.[3]
He graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MS in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley.[4] As of 2020, Drako is a holder of 46 patents, including patents on video streaming, video storage, video analytics, digital image processing, network security & protocols, digital circuits, biochemical assays, and electric automobiles.[5]
Career history
In 1982, Drako founded his first company, which sold a bulletin board system software package called T-net, used to share messages via modems. Drako used the profits to fund his college education.[6][7]
In 1992, Drako founded Design Acceleration, Inc, served as its CEO,[8] and sold it to Cadence Design Systems in 1999.[9] Drako was also founder and CEO of Boldfish and Velosel;[10] Boldfish was acquired by Siebel Systems in 2003.[11] In 2003 Drako founded IC Manage,[12] where he continues to be president and CEO.[13]
Drako has written a number of articles on open source, big data, and system on chip design.[14][15][16][17]
Drako is a frequently invited speaker and contributor on the topic of entrepreneurship, including by UC Berkeley,[18][19][20] University of Michigan,[21] ISPD,[22] and Forbes.[23][24]
Barracuda Networks
Also in 2003, Drako founded Barracuda Networks and introduced their email spam and virus appliance product line.[25][26] Other Barracuda product lines launched during Drako's tenure were: web filters,[27] load balancers,[28] email archiving,[29] and digital PBXs.[30]
Drako executed six acquisitions by Barracuda Networks: In 2007, NetContinuum, an application controller company;[31] in 2008, BitLeap, a provider of cloud-based backup services,[32] and 3SP, an SSL and VPN company;[33] in 2009, Yosemite Technologies, for incremental backup of applications;[34] a controlling interest in phion AG, an Austria-based public enterprise-class firewalls company,[35] and Purewire Inc, a software as a service (SaaS) cloud-based web filtering and security company.[36]
Drako contributed to or supported 16 different open source projects while running Barracuda including Valgrind, Apache, and the Free Software Foundation.[37]
Barracuda was ranked #2 by Glassdoor in 2011, with Drako receiving an 88% approval rating.[38] Drako resigned from Barracuda Networks in July 2012 to found Eagle Eye Networks, while continuing to serve on Barracuda's board of directors until 2014.[39] At the time of Drako’s resignation, Barracuda stated it was profitable, generating hundreds of millions in annual revenue, close to 30% year-over-year growth since inception, and had surpassed 150,000 customers.[40][41]
IC Manage
In 2003, Drako also co-founded[42] IC Manage, which provides Design & IP Management, Big Data Analytics, and high performance computing Scale Out I/O & Cloud Bursting software. He continues to serve as President and CEO.
Eagle Eye Networks
In July 2012, Drako founded Eagle Eye Networks, a cloud-based video security company, and serves as its CEO.[43][44]
In January 2014, Drako formally launched Eagle Eye Networks and introduced its cloud-managed video surveillance system. Eagle Eye’s goal was “to do for video surveillance what Dropbox did for file sharing by making video more available and far easier to use.”[45][46] Drako has been credited with establishing the concept of ‘true cloud’ in the physical security industry, to emphasize the differences between applications designed specifically for the cloud and legacy-design applications being run on a cloud-hosted virtual server.[47]
In November 2019 Eagle Eye Networks ranked #133 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list of fastest growing technology companies in North America, with 936% growth from 2015 to 2018.[48][49]
In 2020, Eagle Eye Networks raised $40 million in Series E funding from Accel for a total of $100 million since the company was founded in 2012.[50]
Brivo
Drako acquired Brivo,[51] a provider of cloud-based physical access control systems, in June 2015 for a reported $50 million. Brivo will sell its cloud-based access control systems along with Eagle Eye’s cloud-based security camera system, although the companies will continue to operate as separate entities.[52] In March 2020, Brivo announced that it acquired Parakeet as part of its expansion into smart buildings.[53][54]
Drako Motors
Drako is co-founder[55] and CEO of Drako Motors, an electric sports car software platform provider, which on August 6, 2015 announced its first product, the Drako DriveOS, a single VCU (vehicle control unit) operating system which controls all four wheels independently.[56] In June 2019, Drako Motors pre-announced their Drako GTE electric quad-motor supercar, claiming speeds of up to 206 MPH and 1200 horsepower.[57] [58] [59] [60] In August 2019, Drako Motors formally launched the all-electric production Drako GTE.[61][62]
LivingTree
In December 2016, Drako acquired LivingTree, a K-12 family engagement platform provider.[63] The acquisition was described as a "multimillion-dollar investment."[64] LivingTree provides a secure, community-wide platform for educators and parents to engage, independent of language preference, and is stated to address directives set by the Every Student Succeeds Act.[65]
Swift Sensors
Drako founded Swift Sensors, a cloud-based wireless sensor company, in May 2015. In Dec 2016, Drako formally launched Swift Sensors and introduced its cloud wireless sensor system.[66] Swift Sensors’ goal is to eliminate the pain and cost of Internet of Things sensing applications by offering a unified solution that requires no programming skills or technical expertise.[67] Drako will serve as the company's Executive Chairman.[68]
Awards and recognition
In 1984, Drako won finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search for his solar energy research.[69]
In 2007, Drako was named Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California for Networking and Communications by Ernst & Young.[70]
In 2011, during Drako's tenure as CEO, Barracuda Networks was ranked #2 of the 2011 Best Tech Co's to Work For in 2011 by Business Insider.[71]
In 2012, Drako was elected to the Board of Directors of the Electronic Design Automation Consortium board.[72]
Since 2012 Drako has served on the University of Michigan Advisory council. [73]
In 2014, Drako was selected as Keynote speaker for UC Berkeley Engineering Week, where he reviewed his 5 principles of entrepreneurship.[74] During the keynote, he stated his favorite business principle was keeping customers happy.[75]
In 2014, Goldman Sachs named Dean Drako as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2014.[76]
In 2016, Dean was commencement speaker at University of Michigan Engineering School.[77]
References
- ^ SJ Mercury News Biz Break: Barracuda Networks IPO primes pump for Twitter
- ^ Security Info Watch Michael Dell bankrolls Eagle Eye Networks
- ^ Dow Jones Serial Entrepreneur and Ex-Barracuda CEO Launches Eagle Eye Networks to Take Video to the Cloud
- ^ Richard Newton Distinguished Innovator Lecture Series, Dean Drako Sept 2008 Archived 2014-03-31 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ US Patent Collection database search August 2020
- ^ CTAN January 2013 Archived 2013-08-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Apple II Computer Info Page 67
- ^ EETimes: DAI Reorganizes for Next Stage Growth Jul 1997
- ^ EETimes: Cadence acquires verification tool vendor DAI Jan 1999
- ^ Deepchip: How Dean Drako's 1/2 billion dollar "side hobby" might change EDA August 2012
- ^ Bloomberg Businessweek: Boldfish Retrieved March 2013
- ^ Deepchip: How Dean Drako's 1/2 billion dollar "side hobby" might change EDA August 2012
- ^ IC Manage management page: Retrieved April 2013
- ^ DeepChip: Big Data analytics coming for chip design May 2014
- ^ DeepChip: Design and IP management metrics May 2014
- ^ NetworkWorld Open Source Developers Must Chart Clear Defense in the Patent Wars Nov 2007
- ^ EETimes: IP reuse requires both design reuse and verification reuse April 2013
- ^ Berkeley Innovators Fresh off of Barracuda's IPO, Dean Drako MS '88 launches Eagle Eye & talks entrepreneurship with Berkeley Innovators
- ^ UC Berkeley CET 2015 Dean Drako, CEO Eagle Eye Networks
- ^ UC Berkeley Newton Lectures Dean Drako, CEO Barracuda Networks
- ^ University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship Dean Drako Entrepreneurship Talk
- ^ ISPD Concept & Research to Revenue: An Entrepreneurial Story Archived 2015-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Forbes 7 CEOs Reveal Lessons Learned as a Chief Executive
- ^ Forbes 7 CEOs Give Advice to First-Timers
- ^ CTAN January 2013 Archived 2013-08-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Deepchip: How Dean Drako's 1/2 billion dollar "side hobby" might change EDA August 2012
- ^ InformationWeek Barracuda Rolls Out Spyware-Blocking Appliance
- ^ IT & Security Portal Barracuda Networks Launches Barracuda Load Balancer Archived 2010-03-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Reseller News November 2007
- ^ Enterprise Networking Planet: Barracuda Launches CudaTel PBX August 2009
- ^ SCMagazine Barracuda Networks buys NetContinuum
- ^ eweek Barracuda Networks Buys into Data Backup Business
- ^ Eweek Barracuda Networks Breaks into SSL VPN Space
- ^ PCWorld Backup Merger Unites Barracuda, Yosemite
- ^ Silicon Valley Business Journal Barracuda Networks takes controlling interest in Phion
- ^ Atlanta Business Chronicle Barracuda buys Purewire Inc.
- ^ Barracuda Open Source Community Retrieved 2012 Archived 2014-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Business Insider The 25 Best Tech Companies To Work For In 2011
- ^ CRN Former Barracuda Networks CEO Acquires Cloud Access Control Company For $50M
- ^ Bloomberg October 2012
- ^ CRN Barracuda CEO Resigns
- ^ "Company - ICMANAGE". www.icmanage.com. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^ Barracuda management page: Retrieved Sept 2013
- ^ Venture Beat Michael Dell is funding this company to move surveillance cameras onto the cloud
- ^ The Wall Street Journal: Barracuda Networks Co-Founder Launches Video Surveillance Startup Jan 2014
- ^ MarketWatch: Startup puts video surveillance in the cloud Jan 2014
- ^ Security Info Watch Real words or buzzwords?: True Cloud
- ^ "Here Are the Austin Companies on the Deloitte Fast 500 List". Austin Inno. November 7, 2019.
- ^ "4 Austin Companies Made Deloitte's Technology Fast 500". Built In Austin. November 7, 2019.
- ^ Crunchbase News: Accel-backed Eagle Eye Networks Brings In $40M Series E For Video Surveillance Oct 2020
- ^ "Brivo acquired by Dean Drako of Eagle Eye Networks". SourceSecurity.com.
- ^ ”Austin’s Dean Drako Buys Maryland-Based Security Manager Brivo for $50M,” Xconomy, June 11, 2015 [1]
- ^ "Brivo makes first acquisition in 20-year history” Security Systems News, March 3, 2020 [2]
- ^ "Brivo Adds Smart Building Capabilities With Parakeet Buy” Security Sales & Integration, March 3, 2020 [3]
- ^ "Leadership - Drako Motors Inc". Retrieved 2016-09-07.
- ^ ”Drako Motors Debuts Company and Introduces Drako DriveOS Platform for Electric Sports Cars”[4]
- ^ "The Latest EV Startup Promises a 206-MPH Four-Seater With 6490 Lb-Ft of Torque". Road & Track. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
- ^ "Another EV startup is introducing a sports car with over 1,000 horsepower". Autoblog. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
- ^ "Barracuda Networks founder plans to unveil electric 'supercar' this summer". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
- ^ "The Drako GTE electric supercar allegedly boasts 6,491 lb.-ft. of torque". Driving. 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
- ^ Automobile Mag Automobile's 20 Best Car Stories of the Year
- ^ Inside Evs See All The Slick And Wild EVs Revealed In Pebble Beach.
- ^ EdWeek K-12 Dealmaking: Eagle Eye Networks CEO Acquires LivingTree
- ^ Austin Business Journal Austin entrepreneur buys developer of a social network for moms and dads
- ^ District Administration K12 family engagement company bought Archived 2017-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Manufacturing Connection Swift Sensors Launches Cloud Wireless Sensor System
- ^ DesignNews No Programming Required: Start-Up Rolls Out Simple IoT Solution
- ^ Channel e2e Swift Sensors Launches Cloud-based IoT Monitoring System
- ^ CTAN January 2013 Archived 2013-08-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year Hall of Fame: July 2007 Archived October 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Business Insider The 25 Best Tech Companies To Work For In 2011 Sept 2011
- ^ Kathryn Kranen elected chair of EDA Consortium , EETimes
- ^ Michigan EAC Members and Term of Service Retrieved April 2013 Archived 2013-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Berkeley Engineering Channel Retrieved May 2014
- ^ BestTech Views Retrieved March 2019
- ^ Security Systems News: Goldman Sachs names Eagle Eye Networks founder one of '100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2014' Oct 2014
- ^ Commencement Speaker[permanent dead link]. University of Michigan Engineering. Retrieved 2016-04-30.