Personica's team includes management, technologists, and engineers with expertise in consumer electronics, communications, internet, speech recognition, wireless, software applications, hardware design, digital signal processing, and consumer electronics.
Yogendra Jain, Founder and CEO
Yogendra Jain is an experienced technologist and entrepreneur who has founded three successful companies. Prior to Personica, he founded and is currently Chairman of the Board of ThinkEngine Networks, a venture funded company that has raised over $25M. Prior to ThinkEngine, Yogendra was Founder and CEO of Sonitech that was acquired by RadiSys Corporation, where he served as Vice President and General Manager. Additional experience includes technology leadership roles at Texas Instruments and MIT-Lincoln Labs. Yogendra holds a Masters degree in electrical engineering from Rice University, an MBA from Babson College, and a B.S. from Boston University.
Yogendra Jain is an experienced technologist and entrepreneur who has founded three successful companies. Prior to Personica, he founded and is currently Chairman of the Board of ThinkEngine Networks, a venture funded company that has raised over $25M. Prior to ThinkEngine, Yogendra was Founder and CEO of Sonitech that was acquired by RadiSys Corporation, where he served as Vice President and General Manager. Additional experience includes technology leadership roles at Texas Instruments and MIT-Lincoln Labs. Yogendra holds a Masters degree in electrical engineering from Rice University, an MBA from Babson College, and a B.S. from Boston University.
Edwin Foo , Engineering Manager
Edwin Foo has over 10 years of experience in the design and architecture of embedded systems and mobile devices, particularly those with significant user interface components, Prior to Personica, Edwin's career has spanned the entire gamut of large companies, research labs, startups, and independent consulting, including senior engineering positions at Bose Corporation, SMaL Camera Technologies (acquired by Cypress Semiconductor), and DEC/Compaq's Cambridge Research Laboratory. Edwin holds both BS and Masters degrees in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Edwin Foo has over 10 years of experience in the design and architecture of embedded systems and mobile devices, particularly those with significant user interface components, Prior to Personica, Edwin's career has spanned the entire gamut of large companies, research labs, startups, and independent consulting, including senior engineering positions at Bose Corporation, SMaL Camera Technologies (acquired by Cypress Semiconductor), and DEC/Compaq's Cambridge Research Laboratory. Edwin holds both BS and Masters degrees in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Joseph Genovese, Director of Hardware Engineering
Joe has over 25 years of experience in telecommunications and data communications. He was a co-founder of Primary Rate Incorporated, a developer of ISDN communications equipment that was acquired by Xircom for $52 million. Joe also co-founded Fury Technologies, a developer of SS7 hardware and software solutions for service provider customers. Joe started his career at Prime Computers and Motorola Codex. His small company resume includes positions at several startups including ZTEL and LAN-TEL, both of which developed state-of-the-art digital PBX products. Joe has a BS in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Joe has over 25 years of experience in telecommunications and data communications. He was a co-founder of Primary Rate Incorporated, a developer of ISDN communications equipment that was acquired by Xircom for $52 million. Joe also co-founded Fury Technologies, a developer of SS7 hardware and software solutions for service provider customers. Joe started his career at Prime Computers and Motorola Codex. His small company resume includes positions at several startups including ZTEL and LAN-TEL, both of which developed state-of-the-art digital PBX products. Joe has a BS in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Board of Advisors:
Clifford Nass
Dr. Nass is a Professor and the Director of the Institute for Communication Research at Stanford University. Dr. Nass, considered the world’s leading authority on human-computer interactions, is co-author of Voice Activated, The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television, and New Media Like Real People and Places (Cambridge University Press). He has also written more than 35 publications on technology and statistical methodology. Nass is interested in human-computer interaction, non-parametric statistical methods, and the psychology of technology. He is co-director of the Social Responses to Communication Technology project, an industry-supported research program. His research has been applied to many important hardware and software projects, including Microsoft Office 97, measuring instruments, and the Serengeti voice-based executive assistant. Nass is also a professional magician. Dr. Nass earned a B.A. cum laude in mathematics (1981) and a Ph.D. in sociology (1986), both from Princeton University. Before attending graduate school, Nass researched computer graphics, data structures, and database design for IBM and Intel.
Dr. Nass is a Professor and the Director of the Institute for Communication Research at Stanford University. Dr. Nass, considered the world’s leading authority on human-computer interactions, is co-author of Voice Activated, The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television, and New Media Like Real People and Places (Cambridge University Press). He has also written more than 35 publications on technology and statistical methodology. Nass is interested in human-computer interaction, non-parametric statistical methods, and the psychology of technology. He is co-director of the Social Responses to Communication Technology project, an industry-supported research program. His research has been applied to many important hardware and software projects, including Microsoft Office 97, measuring instruments, and the Serengeti voice-based executive assistant. Nass is also a professional magician. Dr. Nass earned a B.A. cum laude in mathematics (1981) and a Ph.D. in sociology (1986), both from Princeton University. Before attending graduate school, Nass researched computer graphics, data structures, and database design for IBM and Intel.
Amit Jain
Amit was a co-founder/CEO of Versatile Optical Networks, a Sequoia-funded company. Versatile Optical Networks was acquired by Vitesse Semiconductor for $250 million in the second year of operations. Amit also served as a VP/GM at Vitesse. Prior to joining Versatile, Amit played key technology leadership roles at Terastore and Digitial. Amit has expertise in telecommunications, optical technology, the far-east supply chain, and manufacturing.
Amit was a co-founder/CEO of Versatile Optical Networks, a Sequoia-funded company. Versatile Optical Networks was acquired by Vitesse Semiconductor for $250 million in the second year of operations. Amit also served as a VP/GM at Vitesse. Prior to joining Versatile, Amit played key technology leadership roles at Terastore and Digitial. Amit has expertise in telecommunications, optical technology, the far-east supply chain, and manufacturing.
Stanley Young
Mr. Young is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who over the past 40 years has founded, financed, and directed many successful companies. Mr. Young was consultant to Andyne Computing and Compressent Corporation on their successful IPOs. In early 1997 he successfully directed the purchase of SEEC Inc. Mr. Young was also an early investor and a Director of Parametric Technology, a developer of CAD/CAM software. The company went public and reached a market cap of more than $1 billion.
Mr. Young is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who over the past 40 years has founded, financed, and directed many successful companies. Mr. Young was consultant to Andyne Computing and Compressent Corporation on their successful IPOs. In early 1997 he successfully directed the purchase of SEEC Inc. Mr. Young was also an early investor and a Director of Parametric Technology, a developer of CAD/CAM software. The company went public and reached a market cap of more than $1 billion.
Steve An
Steve is currently serves as a private investor and strategic advisor to many local high tech companies. Steve served as CTO at Sun Technology Internet Incubator, a London-based investment group with a focus on wireless technology and services. Operationally, Steve was the Chief Internet strategist and VP of Engineering at Prodigy International (NASDQ- PRGY). Steve also held technical positions at Cignal Global Communications (acquired by UPC/PriorityOne), Wellfleet Communications (Bay Networks, acquired by Nortel), and BBN. Steve has spent virtually his entire career working on the Internet. He started at BBN at the inception of the Internet in 1984. As a network architect, he worked with many members of the original ARPAnet team.
Steve is currently serves as a private investor and strategic advisor to many local high tech companies. Steve served as CTO at Sun Technology Internet Incubator, a London-based investment group with a focus on wireless technology and services. Operationally, Steve was the Chief Internet strategist and VP of Engineering at Prodigy International (NASDQ- PRGY). Steve also held technical positions at Cignal Global Communications (acquired by UPC/PriorityOne), Wellfleet Communications (Bay Networks, acquired by Nortel), and BBN. Steve has spent virtually his entire career working on the Internet. He started at BBN at the inception of the Internet in 1984. As a network architect, he worked with many members of the original ARPAnet team.