Providing a balance of consulting services, and VP/CTO positions in early stage startups. (martin@sommer.net)
San Francisco Bay Area
- Past
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- CTO at Genesis Interactive, Inc.
- CTO at BusinessFirst Connect (BVI) Ltd
- VP of Engineering at Zapptrio, Inc. (Acquired by FunMail)
- VP of Engineering at Improvista Interactive Music, Inc. (Acquired by G-Mode)
- VP of Engineering at Expand Cellular, Inc.
- Owner at Sommer Systems, LLC
- Education
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- Hawthorne University
- University of Virginia
- Purdue University - Krannert School of Management
- Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
- Ranken Technical College
- Recommended
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10 people have recommended Martin - Connections
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- Industry
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- Websites
Martin Sommer’s Summary
Balancing technical consulting, with VP/CTO positions in early stage startups.
Martin Sommer’s Specialties:
Strengths: Executive leadership, team building, and software architecture/development.
Technologies: PHP, Perl, MySQL, Java, RIA and wireless.
Management: Certified ScrumMaster, Agile development, and Waterfall model.
Martin Sommer’s Experience
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CTO
Genesis Interactive, Inc.
(Computer Software industry)
2008 — 2008 (less than a year)
Early stage startup, implementing VOIP, IM, RIA, social networking, and online advertising technologies.
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CTO
BusinessFirst Connect (BVI) Ltd
(Internet industry)
2007 — 2008 (1 year )
Early stage social networking and collaboration startup, focusing on the small to medium-sized business sector.
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VP of Engineering
Zapptrio, Inc. (Acquired by FunMail)
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Wireless industry)
2005 — 2006 (1 year )
Built and led our engineering department, establishing the engineering infrastructure, processes, and quality control. Hired and managed very talented engineers, and supported their continued professional growth. Managed outside vendors for delivery of wireless content and navigation systems to wireless carriers, via PSMS, WAP, and BREW. Member of a four person executive team, providing technical insight, strategic direction, and product road maps. Created intellectual property for investors, and attracted acquisition partners.
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VP of Engineering
Improvista Interactive Music, Inc. (Acquired by G-Mode)
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Wireless industry)
2004 — 2005 (1 year )
Built and managed the engineering and operations department, providing development of new products and 7/24 support for existing carrier deployments. Produced True BREW certified and J2ME wireless software applications, and delivered content to wireless carriers. Hired and developed a very talented and motivated engineering team, established engineering standards, processes, and quality control. Key member of executive team, providing business insight, product direction, and fund raising experience.
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VP of Engineering
Expand Cellular, Inc.
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Wireless industry)
2002 — 2004 (2 years )
Hands-on engineering manager for wireless startup, providing executive leadership, product direction and technical expertise. Built engineering department, establishing engineering platform, standards, processes, and quality control. Sought out investors, and presented our investment opportunity.
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Owner
Sommer Systems, LLC
(Computer Software industry)
1990 — 2001 (11 years )
Providing technical and managerial consulting in wireless, internet, client/server and real-time systems, and their surrounding ecosystems. This balance of consulting services and VP/CTO positions in startups, provides financial stability to take the "startup risk", and makes me a better VP/CTO in the process.
Clients include: Amazon.com, Secondlife.com, Motorola, FusionOne, Nokia, Autodesk LBS, Netscape, Oracle, Sybase, KPMG, QRS, diCarta, Xilinx, Electronic Arts, Merrill Lynch Japan, Nestle UK, IBM Professional Services, and Johnson Controls International.
Consulting was performed full-time from 1990 to 2001, and is now part-time, 2002 to present.
Martin Sommer’s Education
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Hawthorne University
Doctorate , Business Administration , 1993
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University of Virginia
Graduate Studies , Systems Engineering , 1987 — 1988
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Purdue University - Krannert School of Management
Graduate Studies , Business Administration , 1985 — 1986
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Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
BS , College of Engineering , 1985
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Ranken Technical College
Industrial Electricity and Electronics, Control Systems
Additional Information
Martin Sommer’s Websites:
Martin Sommer’s Groups:
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GABA -
Executive Suite -
Krannert MBA / MSM
Martin Sommer’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
