Anthony Wood: From the Ground Up

Overview

Anthony Wood is an American entrepreneur and businessman, known for his contributions in the field of streaming technology. He is the founder and CEO of the popular streaming video provider, Roku, and has won several awards for his innovative work in the industry. Wood is recognized as one of the most successful self-made billionaires of all time.

Early Life and Education

Anthony Wood was born in 1966 in Galesville, Maryland. He was raised on a farm by his parents, who were both educators. Wood’s father was a physics and mathematics professor while his mother was a primary school teacher. Wood showed an early interest in technology and computers, which eventually led him to pursue a degree in computer science at the University of Texas.

Career and Achievements

After graduating from college, Anthony Wood worked at a few technology companies before starting his own venture. In 1995, he founded a company called iBand, which created Internet-connected music players. However, the company failed to take off due to technical difficulties and lack of funding.

Wood did not let the failure of iBand deter him and in 2002, he founded Roku, which initially focused on creating hardware for streaming digital media. Roku quickly gained popularity and began producing software for other companies such as Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. In 2017, the company went public and has since continued to expand globally.

Anthony Wood has won numerous awards for his contributions to the technology industry, including an Emmy for his work on the first DVR and a Technology and Engineering Emmy award for his contributions to digital television. He has also been ranked among the wealthiest people in the world by Forbes magazine.

Personal Life

Anthony Wood is married to his wife, Susan, and they have two children. They reside in Los Gatos, California where Wood’s company, Roku, is headquartered. In his free time, Wood enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with his family.

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