Sky Dayton

Dayton's father was the sculptor Wendell Dayton,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/28/t-magazine/art/wendell-dayton.html|title=A California Sculptor Gets His Moment in the Sun, at Age 80|work=The New York Times |date=June 28, 2018 |access-date=2018-07-29|language=en |last1=Zara |first1=Janelle }} and his mother is Alice Pero, a poet and flutist.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-01 |title=Meet Alice Pero: Flutist, Poet, Poetry Teacher |url=https://shoutoutla.com/meet-alice-pero-flutist-poet-poetry-teacher/ |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=SHOUTOUT LA |language=en-US}} Shortly after his birth in New York City, the family moved to Los Angeles. He lived for a time with his maternal grandfather, David DeWitt, an IBM Fellow, who played a large part in introducing Dayton to technology.Bloom, David (June 9, 1998), "Electronic Midas Touch", Los Angeles Daily News

At the age of 9, he got his first computer, a ZX81, which he used to learn programming in BASIC. At 16, Dayton graduated from The Delphian School, a private boarding school in Oregon, which uses study methods developed by L. Ron Hubbard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwais.org/page.cfm?p=58|title=Delphian School, The|website=Northwest Association of Independent Schools|access-date=5 August 2019|archive-date=August 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805210120/https://www.nwais.org/page.cfm%3Fp%3D58|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2010/may/31/connecting/|title=INTERVIEW: Boingo Wireless Chairman Sky Dayton cites communication as a guiding factor in his artistic pursuits and his Internet business career.|last=Lee|first=Alfred|date=31 May 2010|work=Los Angeles Business Journal|access-date=5 August 2019}} He wanted to be an animator but was rejected when he applied to CalArts (the California Institute of the Arts), saying he was too young at the time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2006-09-10/online-extra-q-and-a-with-sky-dayton|title=Online Extra: Q&A with Sky Dayton|newspaper=Bloomberg|access-date=2016-05-30}} Instead, Dayton got an entry-level job at a Burbank, California, advertising firm and three months later headed the graphics department.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2002/10/boingo/|title=Sky Dayton's Long Road to Internet Nirvana|magazine=WIRED|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-30}} He moved to a larger advertising agency, Mednick & Associates, where he held a similar role until he was 18.Bloom, David (June 9, 1998), "Electronic Midas Touch", Los Angeles Daily News"Interview: Boingo Wireless Chairman Sky Dayton". (June 1, 2010). Los Angeles Daily News.{{cite web |url=http://www.losangelesdailynews.org/interviewboingo-wireless-chairman-sky-dayton/ |title=Interview:Boingo Wireless Chairman Sky Dayton |access-date=2010-08-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710103404/http://www.losangelesdailynews.org/interviewboingo-wireless-chairman-sky-dayton/ |archive-date=July 10, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}{{Relevance inline|date=February 2015|discuss=Everyone has jobs as a teenager. Why is this notable?}}

Dayton started his first business in 1990 at age 19. He and a friend raised money from family and friends to open Mocha Gallery (later Cafe Mocha), an art gallery and coffee house in Los Angeles.{{cite news |last = Armstrong |first = Larry |title = The Mac of Internet Providers |work = BusinessWeek |date = December 4, 1997 |url = http://www.businessweek.com/1997/50/b3557120.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19990117060159/http://www.businessweek.com/1997/50/b3557120.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = January 17, 1999}}{{cite news |title = Q&A with Sky Dayton |work = Businessweek |date = September 10, 2006 |url = http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-09-10/online-extra-q-and-a-with-sky-dayton| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121023235544/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-09-10/online-extra-q-and-a-with-sky-dayton| url-status = dead| archive-date = October 23, 2012}} While managing Cafe Mocha, Dayton and friend Adam Wicks Walker opened Dayton/Walker Design in 1992, a Studio City advertising and design firm, serving entertainment clients including Fox Television, Disney, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures, and Warner Brothers.Nee, Eric (July 27, 1997), "Surf's Up". Forbes, p. 106

In 1993, after initially having great difficulties getting his Macintosh computer to access the Internet, Dayton said that he realized the Internet was likely to become the next mass communications medium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/14980|title=Sky's The Limit|last=McGarvey|first=Robert J.|website=Entrepreneur|date=January 1998 |access-date=2016-05-30}} In an article in Vanity Fair, Dayton described his earliest interest in the Internet and its business potential:Keenan Mayo and Peter Newcomb (July 2008)[http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/07/internet200807?currentPage=all An Oral History of the Internet] Vanity Fair{{blockquote|I heard about this thing called the Internet. I thought, That sounds kind of interesting. The first thing I did is I actually picked up the phone and dialed 411, and I said, I’d like the number for the Internet, please. And the operator is like, What? I said, Just search any company with the word Internet in the name. Blank. Nothing. I thought, Wow, this is interesting. What is this thing anyway?|Sky Dayton}}

In 1994, Dayton founded EarthLink, an Internet service provider (ISP) that would offer Internet access to the public.{{cite news |last = McGarvey |first = Robert |title = Sky's The Limit: EarthLink's founder tells how he found his fortune on the Net - and how you can, too|work = Entrepreneur Magazine |date = December 31, 1997 |url = http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/14980 }} Kevin O'Donnell, father of a childhood friend, and Reed Slatkin became EarthLink's first financial backers. Other investors followed, including Greg B. Abbott, former AT&T CFO Robert Kavner,{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=510542&ticker=ELNK&previousCapId=29723&previousTitle=Idealab |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140108013754/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=510542&ticker=ELNK&previousCapId=29723&previousTitle=Idealab |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-01-08 |title=EarthLink Holdings Corp |publisher=Businessweek |access-date=January 7, 2013}} Chip Lacy, and eventually larger investors such as George Soros.Margonelli, Lisa (October 1998), "The Sky's the Limit". POV.

EarthLink started in a small office of {{convert|600|sqft|m2}} in Los Angeles, California. By the summer of 1995, EarthLink reached an agreement with UUNET allowing it to provide service nationwide. In 1995, Dayton introduced the first flat-rate service, at a time when AOL was still charging by the hour.{{cite magazine |title=Sky Dayton's Long Road to Internet Nirvana |magazine=WIRED |date=2002-10-01 |url=https://www.wired.com/2002/10/boingo/ |access-date=2024-01-13}} By 1996, the company was growing at a rate of 5–10% a week. Dayton transitioned his title from founding CEO to executive chairman, handing over day-to-day operations of the company to Charles "Garry" Betty. A long-time Mac user, Dayton led the creation of a strategic partnership with Steve Jobs at Apple in 1998 that made EarthLink the default ISP pre-loaded on the iMac.Apple, Inc. press release (August 1998), "[http://www.earthlink.net/about/press/pressrelease.faces?id=250 Apple Selects EarthLink as ISP]". This arrangement led to a $200 million investment by Apple in EarthLink.Menn, Joseph (January 2000). "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-06-fi-51240-story.html Apple Buys $200 Million Stake in EarthLink]". Los Angeles Times. EarthLink became the second largest U.S. Internet service provider, after AOL, with more than four million customers and over $1 billion in annual revenue.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/time-warner-teams-with-earthlink-delays-aol-merger-review/|title=Time Warner teams with EarthLink, delays AOL merger review|website=CNET|access-date=2016-05-30}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2001-03-25/possible-marriage-proposals-are-lifting-earthlink|title=Possible Marriage Proposals Are Lifting Earthlink|newspaper=Bloomberg|access-date=2016-05-30}}

In June 1999, Dayton left day-to-day operations at EarthLink and went on to launch four other companies including Helio and Business.com.{{cite web |last=Mac |first=Ryan |title=Forbes' 'Masters Of The New Universe' 14 Years Later |website=Forbes |date=2012-04-04 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2012/04/04/forbes-masters-of-the-new-universe-14-years-later/ |access-date=2024-01-13}}

He formed eCompanies, an incubator and venture capital fund for developing Internet companies, with former Disney Internet chief Jake Winebaum. A privately held company, eCompanies successfully launched LowerMyBills.com, which was purchased by Experian in 2005 for $380 million and JAMDAT Mobile, which went public and was then purchased by Electronic Arts in 2005 for $680 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2005/12/09/jamdat-wireless-erts-in_nh_1209unwired.html |title=Electronic Arts Jams With Jamdat|website=Forbes.com |date=2005-12-12 |access-date=2017-02-17}} Dayton and eCompanies made headlines by buying the Business.com domain name for $7.5 million in 1999,{{cite magazine |title=Jackpot! Business.com Sells for $350 Million |magazine=WIRED |date=2007-07-26 |url=https://www.wired.com/2007/07/jackpot-busines/ |access-date=2024-01-13}} believed to be the highest price ever paid for a domain at the time,{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB943997934427207890|title=ECompanies Pays $7.5 Million For Domain Name 'Business.com'|last=Newswires|first=Peter Loftus Dow Jones|date=1999-11-30|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=2016-05-30}} during the height of the dot com bubble; they later sold the Business.com search portal to RH Donnelly in 2007 for $345 million.{{cite news |last = O’Shea |first = Dan |title = Sky Dayton is smarter than you, richer than you and younger than you. (But he's very sorry about that.) |work = Connected Planet |date = April 1, 2002 |url = http://connectedplanetonline.com/wireless/mag/wireless_sky_dayton_smarter/ |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140108025024/http://connectedplanetonline.com/wireless/mag/wireless_sky_dayton_smarter/ |archive-date = January 8, 2014 |df = mdy-all }}{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/07/26/businesscom-sells-for-350-million/|title=Business.com Sells for $350 Million|website=TechCrunch|access-date=2016-05-29}}

In 2001, Dayton started Boingo Wireless to address what he saw as a fragmentation problem inherent in Wi-Fi networks.{{cite web |url=http://wifinetnews.com/archives/2002/12/day_2_at_80211_planet_conference.html |title=Day 2 at 802.11 Planet Conference |publisher=Wi-Fi Networking News |date=December 4, 2002 |access-date=November 28, 2012 |author=Fleishman, Glenn}}{{Cite news|date=2004-06-21|title=Q&A with Boingo Wireless' Sky Dayton|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2004-06-20/q-and-a-with-boingo-wireless-sky-dayton|access-date=2021-10-30}} Boingo aggregates Wi-Fi hotspots around the globe into a single network, and has grown into one of the largest Wi-Fi operators.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2008/07/boingo-offers-new-mac-compatible-client-for-wifi-network.ars |title=Boingo Offers New Mac-Compatible Client for WiFi Network |publisher=Ars Technica |date=July 3, 2008 |access-date=November 28, 2012 |author=Foresman, Chris}} Boingo filed for its IPO in January 2011,Kim, Ryan (January 14, 2011), "[http://gigaom.com/2011/01/14/while-everyone-watches-groupon-boingo-files-for-ipo/ While Everyone Watches Groupon, Boingo Files for IPO]" GigaOm listing Dayton as owning 15% of the company.[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1169988/000104746911000150/a2201572zs-1.htm Boingo S-1 filing (Jan 14, 2011), SEC] On May 4, 2011, Boingo Wireless went public selling 5,770,000 shares at $13.50, raising $77.9 million. Dayton served as Boingo's chairman until August, 2014.

In 2005, Dayton became CEO of Helio, a mobile phone joint venture of EarthLink and SK Telecom, formed with $220 million in funding from each company.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/earthlink-mobile-venture-renamed-helio/|title=EarthLink mobile venture renamed 'Helio'|website=CNET|access-date=2016-05-29}} At that time, Dayton resigned as chairman of EarthLink but remained a director. In January 2008, he was appointed Chairman of Helio's board of directors for the months leading up to Helio's acquisition by Virgin Mobile USA in June, 2008.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/virgin-mobile-usa-buys-helio-for-39-million/|title=Virgin Mobile USA buys Helio for $39 million|website=CNET|access-date=2016-05-29}}

Dayton is a board member of the digital education company Age of Learning,{{cite web |url=http://www.ageoflearning.com/about1.html |title=Age of Learning |work=Leadership |access-date=November 4, 2014}}{{Cite web|title=Curriculum Board, Academic Leadership, Management at Age of Learning|url=http://www.ageoflearning.com/about-us/#leadership|access-date=2021-10-30|website=www.ageoflearning.com}} which raised $150 million in 2016 at a $1 billion valuation,{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/03/age-of-learning-a-quiet-giant-in-education-apps-raised-150m-at-a-1b-valuation-from-iconiq/|title=Age of Learning, a quiet giant in education apps, raised $150M at a $1B valuation from Iconiq|last=Lunden|first=Ingrid|website=TechCrunch|date=May 3, 2016 |access-date=2016-05-29}} and $300 million in July 2021, giving the company a $3 billion valuation.{{Cite web|title=Age of Learning Raises $300 Million to Expand Globally {{!}} Los Angeles Business Journal|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2021/jul/05/age-learning-raises-300m-expand-globally/|access-date=2021-10-30|website=labusinessjournal.com|date=July 4, 2021 }}

He is an investor in and board member of Diffbot,{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/05/31/diffbot-raises-2-million-seed-round-for-web-content-extraction-technology/|title=Diffbot Raises $2 Million Angel Round For Web Content Extraction Technology|last=Perez|first=Sarah|date=May 31, 2012|work=TechCrunch}}{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2012/05/31/investors-back-diffbots-visual-learning-robot-for-web-content/|title=Investors Back Diffbot's 'Visual Learning Robot' for Web Content|last=Chapman|first=Lizette|date=May 31, 2012|work=Wall Street Journal}} a semantic web and structured data startup,{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/11/diffbot-aims-to-build-the-intel-of-data-for-artificial-intelligence/|title=Diffbot Aims To Build The Intel Of Data For Artificial Intelligence|last=Shieber|first=Jonathan|website=TechCrunch|date=February 12, 2016 |access-date=2016-05-30}} and Artsy,{{cite news |last = Kazakina |first = Katya |title = Earthlink's Dayton Joins Artsy, Firm Raises $5 Million |work = BusinessWeek |date = February 25, 2013 |url = http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-02-25/earthlink-s-dayton-joins-artsy-firm-raises-5-million |archive-url = https://archive.today/20140108013743/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-02-25/earthlink-s-dayton-joins-artsy-firm-raises-5-million |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2014-01-08 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/01/arts/design/purchasing-fine-art-is-increasingly-just-a-click-away.html|title=Purchasing Fine Art Is Increasingly Just a Click Away|last=Goel|first=Vindu|date=2015-10-28|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-05-29}} an online art marketplace, which raised a reported $50 million in July, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/18/online-art-marketplace-artsy-raises-50m-plans-to-double-down-on-auctions/|title=Online art marketplace Artsy raises $50M at $275M valuation to double down on auctions – TechCrunch|website=techcrunch.com|date=July 18, 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-25}} Dayton said of the art market and company, "Only very few people who could afford to buy [art] are doing so. Many are held back by high barriers to entry, which Artsy is solving."{{cite news |last = Kolodny |first = Lora |title = New York Startup Artsy Raises $18.5M to Become Pandora for Fine Art |work = The Wall Street Journal |date = April 3, 2014 |url = https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2014/04/03/new-york-startup-artsy-raises-16m-to-become-pandora-for-fine-art/ }}

He is an investor in [http://www.jobyaviation.com Joby Aviation], a NASA LeapTech participant building an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, which raised $100 million{{Cite news|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/joby-aviation-wins-100m-investment-boost-get-flying-car-venture-off-ground/|title=Joby Aviation wins a $100M investment boost to get its flying cars off the ground|date=2018-02-01|work=GeekWire|access-date=2018-03-25|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-01/air-taxi-startup-joby-has-a-working-prototype-and-a-fresh-100m|title=Air-Taxi Startup Has a Working Prototype and a Fresh $100 Million|date=2018-02-01|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2018-03-25|language=en}} from Intel, JetBlue and Toyota in February, 2018 and went public in August, 2021, at a value of $6.6 billion.{{Cite web|last=Bogaisky|first=Jeremy|title=Air Taxi Startup Joby To Go Public In Merger With SPAC From LinkedIn, Zynga Founders That Will Raise $1.6 Billion|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/2021/02/24/joby-spac-linkedin-reid-hoffman/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Forbes|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=2021-10-16|title=How Close Are Flying Cars?|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-16/how-close-are-flying-cars|access-date=2021-10-30}}

Dayton was an early investor in video doorbell company Ring,{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ring-from-shark-tank-to-richard-branson-2015-8|title=This guy turned his failure on 'Shark Tank' into a $28 million investment from Richard Branson|work=Business Insider|access-date=2018-03-25}} which was acquired by Amazon in February, 2017 for $1 billion{{cite news |last1=Dastin |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Roumeliotis |first2=Greg |title=Amazon buys startup Ring in $1 billion deal to run your home security |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ring-m-a-amazon-com/amazon-buys-startup-ring-in-1-billion-deal-to-run-your-home-security-idUSKCN1GB2VG |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=Reuters |date=27 February 2018}}

Dayton is a co-founder of City Storage Systems and CloudKitchens, which in March, 2018 secured a $150 million investment from Uber founder Travis Kalanick, who also joined the company as its CEO,{{Cite news|url=https://www.recode.net/2018/3/20/17145032/travis-kalanick-uber-new-job-ceo-real-estate-startup-city-storage-systems|title=Travis Kalanick is buying a new company that rehabs real estate and will run it as CEO|work=Recode|access-date=2018-03-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/dc5321|title=Briefing: Travis Kalanick Buys a Friend's Startup, Is CEO Again|website=The Information|access-date=2018-03-25}} with plans as of February, 2019, to expand into China.{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/tech/start-ups/article/2184598/former-uber-ceo-travis-kalanick-said-plot-china-comeback-shared|title=Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said to plot China comeback with 'shared kitchen' business|last=Yang|first=Yingzhi|date=1 February 2019|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=5 August 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/01/the-next-big-bet-for-former-uber-ceo-travis-kalanick-may-be-cloud-kitchens-in-china/|title=The next big bet for former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick may be cloud kitchens — in China|last=Loizos|first=Connie|work=TechCrunch|access-date=5 August 2019}} City Storage Systems buys "distressed" properties and converts them into spaces equipped for online retail, specifically food delivery.{{cite web |last=Sherred |first=Kristine |title=Ghost kitchens, where food is made but can't be seen, will replace Lincoln Hardware |website=Tacoma News Tribune |date=2021-04-01 |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article250353041.html |access-date=2024-01-13}}

In January, 2019, Dayton led the Series A investment in micro satellite startup Swarm Technologies, along with PayPal co-founder David Sacks. About the investment, Dayton said, “Swarm’s approach reminds me of the early years at EarthLink—stay super scrappy, serve customers and generate revenue quickly.”{{Cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2019/01/24/exclusive-satellite-startup-swarm-raises-25-million-space-internet/|title=Exclusive: Satellite Startup Swarm Raises $25 Million For Space-Based Internet Plan|website=Fortune|language=en|access-date=2019-04-21}} Swarm was acquired by SpaceX in August, 2021,{{Cite web|title=SpaceX Acquires Swarm Technologies {{!}} Los Angeles Business Journal|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2021/aug/09/spacex-acquires-swarm-technologies/|access-date=2021-10-30|website=labusinessjournal.com|date=August 10, 2021 }} in a transaction described as "a rare deal by Elon Musk’s space company that expands the team — and possibly the technological capabilities — of its growing Starlink internet service."{{Cite web|last=Sheetz|first=Michael|date=2021-08-09|title=SpaceX is buying satellite data start-up Swarm, in a rare acquisition by Elon Musk's space company|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/09/spacex-acquiring-satellite-data-start-up-swarm-technologies.html|access-date=2021-10-30|website=CNBC|language=en}}

Dayton is a jet-rated pilot and has taken a personal and a business interest in improving pilot training and aviation safety.{{cite web |title=Sky Dayton Blog |url=http://www.skydayton.com/skydayton/2013/11/18/emergency-maneuver-training |access-date=January 6, 2013 |work=Emergency Maneuver Training}}{{Cite web |last=Melnick) |first=Former Writer (Kyle |date=2023-04-04 |title=VR Full-Motion Helicopter Flight Simulators Have Arrived |url=https://vrscout.com/news/vr-full-motion-helicopter-flight-simulators-have-arrived/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=VRScout |language=en-US}} In December 2022, Dayton invested in Loft Dynamics. The Swiss startup creates virtual reality simulation technology for pilots, and raised $20 million in funding from venture capital firms including Sky Dayton, Craft Ventures, which Dayton runs with David Sacks, Bill Lee, and Jeff Fluhr,{{cite web |last=Loizos |first=Connie |title=David Sacks's Craft Ventures just closed its second fund with $500 million |website=TechCrunch |date=2019-10-15 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/15/david-sackss-craft-ventures-just-closed-its-second-fund-with-500-million/ |access-date=2024-01-13}} and Up Ventures.{{cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |title=Loft Dynamics raises $20M to tackle pilot shortage with VR training |website=TechCrunch |date=2022-12-05 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/05/loft-dynamics-raises-20m-to-tackle-pilot-shortage-with-vr-training/ |access-date=2023-07-28}} In a March 2023 interview with Fox Business, Dayton pointed to the ever-increasing demand for more pilots and noted, “...we’re not going to solve it with traditional technology” and that he believed new VR simulators could provide “...training that is equivalent to flying in the actual aircraft...[at] a tenth to a twentieth the cost.”{{Cite web |last=Genovese |first=Daniella |date=2023-03-21 |title=Delta launches pilot program to train next generation of aviators |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/delta-launches-pilot-program-train-next-generation-aviators |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}

In Walter Isaacon’s biography Elon Musk, Dayton is referred to as a “fellow libertarian”.{{Cite book |last=Isaacson |first=Walter |title=Elon Musk |date=12 September 2023 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=978-1982181284 |location=United States |publication-date=12 September 2023 |pages=529 |language=English}} Dayton has listed authors Henry Hazlitt, Frederic Bastiat, and Ayn Rand as significant influences, stating, “It never occurred to me to go to the government for a solution. It seems barbaric. A medieval solution to a Net-age problem.”{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/1999/0614/6312050a.html|title=Libertarian.net|author=Seth Lubove|work=Forbes.com|date=14 June 1999|access-date=26 December 2013}}

In 2011, he co-hosted an event to support then Deputy Mayor and Independent candidate Austin Beutner in the 2013 Los Angeles mayoral election.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-mayor-race-who-hollywood-262378 |title=L.A. Mayor Race: Who in Hollywood Is Supporting Whom|author=Tina Daunt|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=21 November 2011|access-date=7 January 2013}}

He was chosen as Entrepreneur of the Year in 1999 by the Lloyd Greif Center at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business.{{Cite web|url=https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/2244194|title=Holdings: A very special day with Sky Dayton |website=www.library.yorku.ca|access-date=2016-05-29}} In 1999, Dayton was named to the MIT Technology Review TR100, a list of the top 100 innovators in the world under the age of 35,{{cite web|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?TRID=519 |title=1999 Young Innovators Under 35: Sky Dayton, 32 |publisher=Technology Review |year=1999 |access-date=October 19, 2012}} and in 2010 was a recipient of the Dream Keeper award from the I Have a Dream Foundation.Life Magazine: Sky Dayton, Jennifer Garner, Dave Winfield -- I Have a Dream Foundation Gospel Brunch, House of Blues [http://www.life.com/image/96936370] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

In 2007, Dayton served on the advisory board of the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.{{cite web|url=http://www.harvardleadership.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=326&Itemid=183|title=Warren Bennis Leadership Circle|publisher=Harvard Kennedy School|work=Center for Public Leadership|access-date=October 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108025240/http://www.harvardleadership.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=326&Itemid=183|archive-date=January 8, 2014|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web|url=http://www2.technologyreview.com/emtech/07/speakers.aspx|title=Emerging Technologies Conference at MIT: Speakers|website=www2.technologyreview.com|access-date=2016-05-29}}

Dayton is an avid surfer and poker player.{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Jason |date=2013-01-03 |title=This Sky Has No Limit |url=https://csq.com/2013/01/jason-dean-sky-no-limit/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=CSQ {{!}} C-Suite Quarterly |language=en}}{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-biggest-poker-players-in-silicon-valley-2014-11 |title=The 10 Biggest Poker Players in Silicon Valley |work=Business Insider |access-date=December 1, 2014}}

Dayton is married to novelist Arwen Elys Dayton. They have three children and live in the Pacific Northwest.Dayton, Sky. Bio on personal website."Interview: Boingo Wireless Chairman Sky Dayton". (June 1, 2010). Los Angeles Daily News.

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Refbegin}}

• Rose, Frank (March 2006), "Sky Dayton Gets Mobile". Wired Magazine, pp. 154–162.
• Young, Shawn (October 26, 2005), "EarthLink, SK Telecom Dial In to Data Venture". The Wall Street Journal, p. B4.
• "EarthLink Inc.: Wireless Joint Venture Is Signed With South Korea's SK Telecom". (January 27, 2005). The Wall Street Journal, p. D6.
• Ankeny, Jason (March 2005), "Sky Dayton's Newest Next Big Thing (Again)". Wireless Review, pp. 45–50.
• "Surfing Book of Records: Most Enterprising Surfer". (October 2004). Surfing Magazine, p. 66.
• Dayton, Sky (May 2003). "Education in the Internet Age". Imprimis, pp. 1–5.
• Dayton, Sky (March 25, 2002). "When Capital Corrupts". Forbes ASAP.
• Helio: About Helio: Meet our leaders: Sky Dayton's Bio. Retrieved May 9, 2006
• McGarvey, Robert J. (January 1998), "Sky's The Limit". Entrepreneur.com.
• I Have a Dream Foundation Dream Keeper Award Recipient (February 2010). [http://www.life.com/image/96936360] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610202021/http://www.life.com/image/96936360 |date=June 10, 2011 }}
• [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/EarthLink-Inc-Company-History.html EarthLink, Inc. company profile], fundinguniverse.com
• Warren Bennis Leadership Circle, Center for Public Leadership, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University[http://www.centerforpublicleadership.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=695:announcing-the-2011-top-american-leaders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520222628/http://www.centerforpublicleadership.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=695:announcing-the-2011-top-american-leaders |date=May 20, 2015 }}
• Sky Dayton, Jennifer Garner, Dave Winfield—I Have a Dream Foundation Gospel Brunch, House of Blues[http://www.filmmagic.com/photos/Sky-Dayton-Jennifer-Garner-and-Dave-Winfield-arrive-to-the-12th-Annual/96935064]

{{Refend}}

• [http://www.skydayton.com Sky Dayton's website]
• {{twitter|skydayton}}

• [https://www.forbes.com/asap/2002/0325/019.html When Capital Corrupts], Forbes (2002)
• [http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2003&month=05 Education in the Internet Age] Speech at Hillsdale College (2003) published in Imprimis

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dayton, Sky}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:Harvard Kennedy School people

Category:American computer businesspeople

Category:American libertarians

Category:American Scientologists