Steve Kirsch

Steven Mark Thomas Kirsch invented and owns a patent on an early version of the optical mouse. After bringing multiple successful startup companies through IPO and corporate buy-out, he became a multi-millionaire. In 2007, his personal fortune was estimated at $230 million. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/technology/03kirsch.html Spam’s End? Maybe, if Time Allows] December 3, 2007]

He used part of his fortune to set up a $75M charitable fund and became an philanthropist. On August 11, 2007, Kirsch announced on his personal Web site that he had been diagnosed with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, a rare blood cancer that is usually fatal within five to ten years of diagnosis.

Career

Steven Kirsch founded Mouse Systems Corporation in 1982.After he left the company, he co-founded Frame Technology Corp. in 1986 to market the FrameMaker publishing software.After Frame was acquired by Adobe Systems, he founded a Web portal company, Infoseek Corporation, in 1994.After Infoseek was acquired by Disney, he founded Propel Software Corporation in 1999.As of 2007, he was leading [http://www.abaca.com Abaca Technology Corp.] , which makes a spam filter that is reported to achieve very high levels of accuracy.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.skirsch.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.kirschfoundation.org/ Kirsch Foundation]
* [http://www.abaca.com/ Abaca]
* [http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevekirsch profile] on LinkedIn