President at Webvanta Inc.
San Francisco Bay Area
- Current
-
- CEO at Webvanta Inc.
- Past
-
- Proprietor at Topaz Web Solutions LLC
- Director, DI Research at Adobe Systems
- Chairman at Fotiva (aka PhotoTablet)
- Principal Analyst at MicroDesign Resources
- Principal at Gryphon Engineering
- Member Technical Staff at Hewlett-Packard
- Education
-
- Univ. of Calif. Berkeley
- Connections
-
282
connections
- Industry
- Internet
- Websites
Michael Slater’s Summary
I'm cofounder (with Christopher Haupt) of Webvanta Inc. (formerly called Collective Knowledge Works), an early-stage startup developing a hosted service for small businesses. We also operate www.BuildingWebApps.com, a portal for web developers, and produce the LearningRails.com online course.
I am also the proprietor of BoatingSF.com, a resource site for San Francisco Bay boating and marine history.
I was at Adobe for five years, from 2002 through 2006, leading a research team in digital imaging focused on photo management. I joined Adobe when it purchased Fotiva, a startup I cofounded two years earlier. Fotiva began as PhotoTablet, which I cofounded to create a tablet-based appliance (later switched to PC software) for digital photography. After we sold the company to Adobe, PhotoJournal evolved into Photoshop Album, and then into the Organizer mode of Photoshop Elements.
From 1987 through 1999 I was a computer technology analyst, consultant, writer, publisher, and conference producer. I created the Microprocessor Report newsletter in 1987 and launched the Microprocessor Forum conference the following year. During the next decade, we added the Embedded Systems Report newsletter and PC Tech Forum and Embedded Processor Forum conferences.
Before starting Microprocessor Report, I was an independent consultant specializing in embedded microprocessor applications. I began my career as an R&D engineer at Hewlett-Packard, where I worked from 1977-1980.
At Hewlett-Packard, back in 1978, I wrote a self-instructional text for technicians, titled Practical Microprocessors. While working as a consultant in the mid-80s, I wrote Microprocessor-Based Design, a textbook on embedded systems engineering. Between 1987 and 2000, I wrote hundreds of articles for Microprocessor Report, as well as for many other publications. More recently, I wrote two books on how to make the most out of Photoshop Album and Elements.
Michael Slater’s Specialties:
Creating web-based applications (especially with the Ruby on Rails framework), building businesses, technology licensing, product management, digital imaging, photo management, writing, teaching, and event production.
Michael Slater’s Experience
-
CEO
Webvanta Inc.
(Internet industry)
October 2007 — Present (1 year 1 month)
Webvanta Inc. (formerly Collective Knowledge Works) is developing a hosted service that enables a small business to quickly and easily create and maintain a powerful web presence. The platform combines a content management system, a knowledge management platform, and business process modules.
The platform can also be used to host information portals. Our first such portal is BuildingWebApps.com, which is an application of the platform to the Ruby on Rails developer community. -
Proprietor
Topaz Web Solutions LLC
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Internet industry)
November 2006 — December 2007 (1 year 2 months)
Providing semi-custom web applications for service businesses, using the Ruby on Rails framework.
-
Director, DI Research
Adobe Systems
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; ADBE; Computer Software industry)
December 2001 — November 2006 (5 years)
Advanced development for digital media management and sharing.
-
Chairman
Fotiva (aka PhotoTablet)
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)
February 2000 — December 2001 (1 year 11 months)
Cofounder of venture-backed startup. Originally planned to build a tablet appliance for photos; switched to PC software, and ended up getting acquired by Adobe.
-
Principal Analyst
MicroDesign Resources
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Publishing industry)
September 1987 — January 2000 (12 years 5 months)
Founder of MicroDesign Resources, and founding editor/publisher of Microprocessor Report newsletter. Started Microprocessor Forum and Embedded Processor Forum conferences.
-
Principal
Gryphon Engineering
(Privately Held; Myself Only; Computer Hardware industry)
September 1980 — September 1989 (9 years 1 month)
Independent consulting specialing in embedded microprocessor applications.
-
Member Technical Staff
Hewlett-Packard
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Computer Hardware industry)
July 1977 — July 1980 (3 years 1 month)
Michael Slater’s Education
-
Univ. of Calif. Berkeley
BSEE, EECS, September 1973 — June 1977
Additional Information
Michael Slater’s Websites:
Michael Slater’s Interests:
Web applications, writing, photography, user interfaces, software, services, boating
Michael Slater’s Groups:
North Bay Angels, North Bay Internet Society
-
Adobe Alumni -
Ruby on Rails -
Friends of Lady Washington
Michael Slater’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
