Global Social Entrepreneurship

Global Social Entrepreneurship: 

Kamran Elahian is a veteran entrepreneur with over 29 years of experience in the high-tech industry. He is currently Chairman of Global Catalyst Partners, a global venture capital fund for investments in communication product companies, which he co-founded in 1999.

Kamran co-founded ten companies: CAE Systems (’81) a design automation software company; acquired by Tektronix for $75M, Cirrus Logic (’84) a fabless semiconductor company; IPO at $150M valuation, Momenta (’89) a pen-based computer company; failed within 3 years, NeoMagic (’93) a mobile multimedia IC company; IPO at $300M valuation, PlanetWeb (’96) a software company for Internet appliances, Centillium Communications (’97) a communication IC company; IPO at $700M valuation, Actelis Networks (’99) a broadband communications systems company, Informative (’99) a customer feedback solutions software company, Entopia (’99) a knowledge management software company; failed within 6 years, and Greenfield Networks (’01) a communication IC company; acquired by Cisco Systems in 2006.

Kamran also founded Schools Online (’96) a non-profit public charity organization (with the goal to bring the Internet to disadvantaged schools in the world); which merged with Relief International (’03). He also co-founded Global Catalyst Foundation (’00), a private philanthropic foundation.

Kamran is currently the Chairman of Centillium Communications, Planetweb, Actelis Networks, Global Catalyst Foundation and Relief International - Schools Online, and is on the board of Beceem Communications, Ikoa, Melodis and Yoomba.

Kamran received a BS in Computer Science, a BS in Mathematics (at the age of twenty) and a Masters of Engineering degree in Computer Graphics from the University of Utah.

In December 2006, The Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award which recognizes individuals for their exceptional contributions to drive the development, innovation, growth and long-term opportunities for the fabless semiconductor industry was presented to Kamran.