Daniel Ross
Chief Executive Officer
With more than 20 years experience as an operational executive building and leading some of the most successful software and services start-ups in New England, Ross brings unrivaled management expertise to this emerging marketplace. Combined with Illume Software’s core strength in mobile technology, Ross’s track record of creating category leaders well prepares the company for market penetration.
Prior to joining Illume Software, Ross was managing partner of Maxis Capital in Boston, a global private equity firm. Ross was also a member of CommonAngels, an organization of successful entrepreneurs in the software, information technology and internet business communities. Over the past decade as CEO, Ross led the turnaround of middle-market software and services companies including Optiant, Manna and DarwinSuzsoft (now Dextrys), which became one of the top three U.S.-based Chinese offshore IT services companies. As senior executive at OpenMarket, Ross played a major role in building the company to become the global market leader in e-commerce and taking it public for the most successful IPO on NASDAQ during 1996. Ross is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at GrandBanks Capital.
Previously, Ross led the financial and operational turnaround of Picturetel, where he doubled profitable revenues to $500 million in less than two years. In his 16 years at Digital Equipment Corporation, Ross held various senior management positions building several units to over $2 billion in profitable revenue. He brings to Illume Software significant start-up experience in the telecom industry and a career history of growing businesses, raising $125 million across five companies.
Dan is also active with inner city high school entrepreneurial programs at the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, where he is a past board member, and serves as an advisor to the MATCH school in Boston. He has lectured at MIT Sloan School, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Babson College on Entrepreneurship speaking on the topic of how to make money while serving the greater good.
Education
Graduated from a 13 month Executive program at INSEAD
B.S. in Finance, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
