Rob Meadows
{{short description|American Internet entrepreneur (born 1976)}}
{{COI|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rob Meadows
| image = Rob Meadows.jpg
| caption =
| nationality = American
| birth_name = Robert Marc Meadows
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|12|26}}
| birth_place = Tarzana, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Bonanza High School
University of Arizona
| occupation = CEO, AI Foundation
| spouse =
| children =
| website =
}}
Rob Meadows (born December 26, 1976) is an American Internet entrepreneur who founded the AI Foundation, Originate, and Lumitrend. He has also served as a CTO and Advisor to several other technology startups and has spoken about artificial intelligence at conferences such as CES{{cite web|url=https://videos.ces.tech/detail/video/6290207841001/ai-and-equity:-using-ai-to-create-a-diverse-workforce-and-inclusive-world|title=Using AI to Create a Diverse Workforce and Inclusive World|publisher=Consumer Technology Association}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sxmmedia.com/insights/studio-resonate-showcase-ces-tunes-into-the-sound-of-the-future|title=CES Tunes into The Sound of the Future|publisher=SXM Media}} and South by Southwest.{{cite web|url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2023/events/PP131810|title=Unlocking the Power of AI: Insights & Innovations|publisher=South by Southwest}}{{cite web|url=https://www.houston.org/news/houston-house-returns-sxsw-spotlight-tech-and-innovation|title=Houston House Returns to SXSW to Spotlight Tech and Innovation|publisher=Greater Houston Partnership}}
Personal life
Meadows was born in Tarzana, California, and lived in Canyon Country, California, before his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he spent most of his childhood. Meadows graduated from Bonanza High School in Las Vegas in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://bonanzahighschool.org/las_vegas-nv/class-of-1995.html|title=BHS Class of 95 Alumni|publisher=Bonanza High School}} He then attended the University of Arizona where he received a bachelor's degree in computer engineering in 1999 and a master's degree in computer science in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://conferencehound.com/conference/its-a-big-world-why-not-use-it/220756|title=It's a Big World Why Not Use It|publisher=Conference Hound|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714115703/http://conferencehound.com/conference/its-a-big-world-why-not-use-it/220756|archivedate=2014-07-14}} During his time at Arizona, he worked at IBM and was President of Kappa Sigma fraternity.{{cite web|url=http://www.uakappasigma.org/about/about-us/grand-masters/|title=The Gamma Rho Chapter of Kappa Sigma Grand Masters|publisher=Kappa Sigma}}{{cite news|url=http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/93/66/01_1_m.html|title=Cops: new frat alcohol policy may increase DUI's|newspaper=Wildcat}} After graduating, Meadows moved to Silicon Valley to work for the dot-com startup Slam Dunk Networks.{{cite web|url=http://www.lvgea.org/key-industries/technology/originate/|publisher=Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance|title=Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance About Rob Meadows|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224558/http://www.lvgea.org/key-industries/technology/originate/|archivedate=2014-07-14}}
Career
In 2001, Meadows founded Meadows Consulting Corporation (MCC) which provided mobile development services for Fortune 500 companies including Qualcomm, Amazon, and Amadeus.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
In 2003, Meadows co-founded Lumitrend and was CEO of the company until its acquisition by Asurion in August 2006.{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2005/06/20/smallb2.html?page=all|newspaper=Silicon Valley Business Journal|title=Managing cell phone data is Lumitrend's fee-based business model}} Post acquisition, Meadows became the Director of Products at Asurion.{{cite news|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asurion-completes-acquisition-of-silicon-valley-based-lumitrend-56217347.html|newspaper=PR NEWS WIRE|title=Asurion Completes Acquisition of Silicon Valley Based Lumitrend}}
In 2007, Meadows founded Originate and served as CEO until 2016.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} While at Originate, he held several roles at portfolio companies including Co-founder and Chairman of THRIVE,{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/08/18/techies-take-fashion-plunge/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|title=Fashion Line Startup Up Clothing}} Executive at NewAer,{{cite news|url=http://www.socaltech.com/newaer_gets_funding_from_intel/s-0045386.html|title=NewAer Gets Funding From Intel|publisher=SocialTech}}{{cite news|url=http://readwrite.com/2011/02/24/neuaer_could_crack_open_a_new_world_of_smartphone|newspaper=Readwrite|title=Neuaer Could Crack Open a New World of Smartphone}} CTO of Stateless Networks,{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/benkepes/2013/12/17/stateless-networks-launches-to-deliver-networking-automation-management|newspaper=Forbes|title=Stateless Networks Launches to Deliver Networking Automation Management}} and CTO and board member of Best of All Worlds.{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-08/28/best-of-all-worlds|newspaper=Wired|title=Social network Best of all Worlds targets the one percent}}
In 2017, Meadows co-founded the AI Foundation and currently serves as its CEO. The AI Foundation's mission is to move humanity forward through the power of decentralized, trusted, personal AI, while anticipating and counteracting the risks of AI’s proliferation in society.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/endeavor-ai-foundation-founders-fund-biz-stone-1202946570|title=Endeavor Invests in AI Foundation|newspaper=Variety}}