Mitch Kapor

Date of Birth: November 1, 1950

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Biography

Mitchell David Kapor, commonly known as Mitch Kapor, is a renowned American entrepreneur and business magnate. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Kapor is best known for founding Lotus Development Corporation and creating the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet, which was a significant breakthrough in personal computing during the 1980s. A visionary in the technology industry, Kapor’s contributions extend beyond software development; he is also a prominent advocate for digital privacy and open internet standards. Kapor graduated from Yale University with a degree in Linguistics and Psychology. He later attended the MIT Sloan School of Management but did not complete his degree. His career began in the music industry as a disc jockey and later transitioned into technology, where he found his true calling. In 1982, he founded Lotus Development Corporation, and within a year, Lotus 1-2-3 became a leading software application, largely due to its user-friendly interface and powerful capabilities. After selling Lotus to IBM, Kapor continued to influence the tech world through various ventures and philanthropic efforts. He co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), an organization committed to defending civil liberties in the digital world. Kapor also established the Kapor Center for Social Impact, focusing on social justice and diversity in the tech industry.

5 Interesting Facts about Mitch Kapor

1. Mitch Kapor co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) in 1990, an organization known for its work in defending civil liberties in the digital world.

2. He was an early investor in several successful technology companies, including UUNET, RealNetworks, and Linden Lab, the creator of Second Life.

3. Kapor is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the technology sector and established the Kapor Center for Social Impact to further this mission.

4. He served as the first chair of the Mozilla Foundation, which oversees the development of the Firefox web browser.

5. Kapor has a keen interest in urban innovation and co-founded the Kapor Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in socially impactful tech startups.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mitch Kapor

1. “Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant.”

2. “Architecture is politics.”

3. “If you’re going to make the world a better place, you have to start with yourself.”

4. “We are all now connected by the Internet, like neurons in a giant brain.”

5. “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”