Rob Ryan (entrepreneur) explained

Rob Ryan
Birth Name:Robert J. Ryan
Birth Place:Bronx, New York, New York[1]
Nationality:American
Education:Cornell University (BA)
University of Wisconsin-Madison (MS)
Known For:Founder and CEO of Ascend Communications

Rob Ryan is an American businessman and entrepreneur. He is best known as a co-founder and former CEO of Ascend Communications,[2] which was ultimately acquired by Lucent Technologies.[3] [4] Ryan has authored two books with his lessons about startup companies.

Education

Raised in the Bronx, New York, Ryan received a scholarship to attend Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969.[5] [6] He married his Cornell classmate, Terry Wehe Ryan the same year.

Career

Early career

Ryan began his career as a systems analyst with Burroughs Corporation.[5] He then worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory a Federally funded research facility.[6] Ryan subsequently worked at Digital Equipment Corporation and Intel[1] where he worked on Ethernet protocols including the "blue book" which would form the basis for IEEE 802.3[7] His final job before founding his first company was a stint at Ungermann-Bass another pioneer in computer networking.

Entrepreneur and Ascend Communications

In 1983, Ryan founded Softcom, Inc. to make Ethernet cards.[1] [5] When the company faced cash flow problems, Ryan sold Softcom to Hayes Microcomputer Products in 1984[8] [9] and worked there as head of their West Coast division until 1988.[1] [10]

Ryan departed Hayes Micro along with Jennette Symons, Jay Duncanson, and Steven Speckenbach. With $3 million in venture capital funding the four of them founded Aria Communication Inc. in 1989, with Ryan as CEO, to make ISDN equipment.[2] The name was changed to Ascend Communications the next year[2] as the company transitioned to focus on equipment for Internet providers.[10] By 1994, profits reached $8.7 million on sales of $39.3 million.[2]

Ascend had its initial public offering in May 1994 raising further funds for growth.[2] Ascend became the leading manufacturer of PoP boxes for Internet providers.[1] [2] In 1995, Ryan's final year, Ascend was called the "top small public stock of the year" by Newsweek.[1] [11]

Recognition

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Out of Business. Inc.. Susan. Beck. May 1, 1997. June 10, 2019.
  2. Web site: Ascend Communications, Inc. History. FundingUniverse. June 9, 2019.
  3. News: Lucent Is Expected to Acquire Ascend for About $20 Billion. Laura M.. Holson. The New York Times. January 16, 1999. June 9, 2019.
  4. Lucent completes acquisition of Ascend. James. Niccolai. Computer World. June 29, 1999. June 9, 2019.
  5. You Call This Work? Yup. But here in the hills of Montana, Rob Ryan's business boot camp is more about survival than great fun.. Beth. Kwon. Fortune Small Business. via CNN Money. October 1, 2000. June 10, 2019.
  6. Web site: Rob Ryan '69. Cornell University. Entrepreneur Advisory Council Profile. June 9, 2019.
  7. Web site: Intel and Ethernet. Intel. 2. June 16, 2019.
  8. Book: Effective Small Business Management: A Entrepreneurial Approach. Norman. Scarborough. Thomas. Zimmerer. Prentice Hall. 160. 978-0130081162. August 7, 2002. June 10, 2019.
  9. Web site: Hayes Corporation History. FundingUniverse. June 9, 2019.
  10. Web site: How To Build A Billion Dollar Company. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/CklYA_p13Aw . 2021-12-15 . live. American Dreams. GROCO via YouTube. Alan. Olsen. Interview. 1:20. April 4, 2013. June 10, 2019.
  11. Business Week. December 25, 1995. 126–127. 0007-7135.
  12. Web site: Hall of Fame - EY Entrepreneur of the Year. Ernst & Young. June 9, 2019. User must search for 1995 and Northern California.
  13. News: Building a better business. Jane. Rider. Missoulian. October 16, 2019. June 9, 2019.
  14. Web site: Rob Ryan, Ascend Communications founder, is named Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year. 17 May 2002. Cornell University. 28 July 2010.
  15. Web site: Entrepreneur America. 2021-06-14. www.chapman.edu. en.
  16. Book: Ryan, Rob. Smartups: Lessons from Rob Ryan's Entrepreneur America Boot Camp for Start-Ups. 2002. Cornell University Press. 978-0-8014-8831-3. en.

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