Rob Ryan (entrepreneur)

Rob Ryan (born c. 1948) 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] Since then, Ryan has made a second career out of advising and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs through his Entrepreneur America venture. Ryan has authored two books with his lessons about startup companies.

Rob Ryan
Born
Robert J. Ryan

1948 (age 71–72)
Bronx, New York, New York[1]
NationalityAmerican
EducationCornell University (BA)
University of Wisconsin-Madison (MS)
OccupationBusiness mentor
OrganizationEntrepreneur America
Known forFounder and CEO of Ascend Communications
Spouse(s)
Terry Ryan (m. 1969)
Websitewww.entrepreneur-america.com

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. He later completed a master's degree in mathematics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

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][8] His final job before founding his first company was a stint at Ungermann-Bass another pioneer in computer networking.[7]

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[9][10] and worked there as head of their West Coast division until 1988.[1][7]

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.[7] 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]

"Retirement" and mentoring

Ryan retired from Ascend in 1995 when a broken back and subsequent surgery left him unable to walk for six months. Having felt burnt out, Ryan and his wife bought the 1200 acre Roaring Lion Ranch in Montana to retire, but after a couple of years he became bored and restless.[5][12]

After informally advising a few fresh entrepreneurs, the idea of a formal program at the ranch began to take shape. Ryan had a log guest house and conference room built on the property within view of the Bitterroot Mountains.[1][12]

Entrepreneur America have two entrepreneurial centers for developing, mentoring and transforming successful companies. Teton Springs Resort is a golf and casting resort acquired in 2014. In partnership with an affiliate partner, Bronze Buffalo Club, Ryan expanded to the Star Valley Trout Ranch in Afton, Wyoming.

Ryan has helped build several start-ups and early-stage ventures into multi-billion dollar companies, including Right Now Technologies and Silicon Spice, among others.

Recognition

Bibliography
  • Entrepreneur America: Lessons from Inside Rob Ryan's High-Tech Start-Up Boot Camp (2001 Harper Business ISBN 978-0066620664)
  • Smartups: Lessons from Rob Ryan's Entrepreneur America Boot Camp for Start-Ups (2002 Cornell University Press ISBN 978-0801488313)

References
  1. Beck, Susan (May 1, 1997). "Out of Business". Inc. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  2. "Ascend Communications, Inc. History". FundingUniverse. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  3. Holson, Laura M. (January 16, 1999). "Lucent Is Expected to Acquire Ascend for About $20 Billion". The New York Times. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  4. Niccolai, James (June 29, 1999). "Lucent completes acquisition of Ascend". Computer World. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  5. Kwon, Beth (October 1, 2000). "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". Fortune Small Business. via CNN Money. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  6. "Rob Ryan '69" (Entrepreneur Advisory Council Profile). Cornell University. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  7. Olsen, Alan (April 4, 2013). "How To Build A Billion Dollar Company". American Dreams (Interview). GROCO via YouTube. Event occurs at 1:20. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  8. "Intel and Ethernet" (PDF). Intel. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  9. Scarborough, Norman; Zimmerer, Thomas (August 7, 2002). Effective Small Business Management: A Entrepreneurial Approach. Prentice Hall. p. 160. ISBN 978-0130081162. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  10. "Hayes Corporation History". FundingUniverse. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  11. "...". Business Week. December 25, 1995. p. 126-127. ISSN 0007-7135.
  12. Rider, Jane (October 16, 2019). "Building a better business". Missoulian. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  13. "Hall of Fame - EY Entrepreneur of the Year" (User must search for 1995 and Northern California). Ernst & Young. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  14. "Rob Ryan, Ascend Communications founder, is named Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year". Cornell University. May 17, 2002. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
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