Catalyst Technologies: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "{{Infobox_Company | company_name = Catalyst Technologies| company_type = Private| foundation = 1981 (ceased operations in 1986)| closed = 1986| location = Sunnyvale, California, USA| key_people = Nolan Bushnell, founder<br />Larry Calof, founder<br />John Anderson, founder| num_employees = 8| industry = Technology incubator| }} '''Catalyst Technologies''' was a venture capital group that was founded in 1981, ma...") |
(fix category and add year links) |
||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
industry = Technology incubator| | industry = Technology incubator| | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Catalyst Technologies''' was a venture capital group that was founded in 1981, making it one of the first technology company incubators. | '''Catalyst Technologies''' was a venture capital group that was founded in [[1981]], making it one of the first technology company incubators. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
After forming [[Atari]] in 1972 and Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza-Time Theatre in 1977, [[Nolan Bushnell]] founded a technology incubator with [[Larry Calof]] and [[John Anderson]]. Catalyst Technologies examined proposals for futuristic concepts and provided money to bring those concepts to fruition. | After forming [[Atari]] in [[1972]] and Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza-Time Theatre in [[1977]], [[Nolan Bushnell]] founded a technology incubator with [[Larry Calof]] and [[John Anderson]]. Catalyst Technologies examined proposals for futuristic concepts and provided money to bring those concepts to fruition. | ||
==Startups funded by Catalyst Technologies== | ==Startups funded by Catalyst Technologies== | ||
===Axlon=== | ===Axlon=== | ||
'''[[Axlon|Axlon Inc.]]''' was founded by Nolan Bushnell and [[John Vurich]] on March 26, 1980. | '''[[Axlon|Axlon Inc.]]''' was founded by Nolan Bushnell and [[John Vurich]] on March 26, [[1980]]. | ||
Axlon contracted [[Ron Milner]] to design a toy bear. The AG Bear, short for Almost Grown Bear, was manufactured by Axlon beginning in 1985. The AG Bear was a teddy bear that responded to a child's voice. | Axlon contracted [[Ron Milner]] to design a toy bear. The AG Bear, short for Almost Grown Bear, was manufactured by Axlon beginning in [[1985]]. The AG Bear was a teddy bear that responded to a child's voice. | ||
In 1985, Axlon and a team that included the project leader, [[Tom Zito]], and [[Apple|Apple Computer]] co-founder [[Steve Wozniak]], began work on a [[VHS]]-based [[video game console]] codenamed NEMO, and later named Control-Vision. [[Hasbro]] agreed to invest $7 million USD in the project in exchange for the video game rights to the technology. Control-Vision was | In 1985, Axlon and a team that included the project leader, [[Tom Zito]], and [[Apple|Apple Computer]] co-founder [[Steve Wozniak]], began work on a [[VHS]]-based [[video game console]] codenamed NEMO, and later named Control-Vision. [[Hasbro]] agreed to invest $7 million USD in the project in exchange for the video game rights to the technology. Control-Vision was canceled shortly before its planned release date in [[1989]]. | ||
Hasbro acquired Axlon in 1986. In | Hasbro acquired Axlon in [[1986]]. In [[1988]], Axlon made a deal with [[Atari|Atari Corporation]] to create [[video game]]s for the [[Atari 2600]]. Axlon closed in [[1990]]. | ||
===ByVideo=== | ===ByVideo=== | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
In 1988, the Florsheim Shoe Company employed the ByVideo system in Florsheim Express Shops for customers to order from an electronic catalog of 1,700 shoe styles. | In 1988, the Florsheim Shoe Company employed the ByVideo system in Florsheim Express Shops for customers to order from an electronic catalog of 1,700 shoe styles. | ||
The company lasted until 1989, but | The company lasted until 1989, but its technology led to the modern touchscreen kiosks that have since become commonplace. | ||
===ACTV=== | ===ACTV=== | ||
'''[[ACTV|ACTV Inc.]]''' was co-founded by [[Michael J. Freeman]] and [[Stanley Weston]] in New York in 1983. The company sold a product, invented by Freeman that was an interactive cable television system that allowed for choosing camera angles or for quizzes. ACTV Inc. registered the technology with the United States patent office on March 21, 1984, and the patent was approved on July 22, 1986. | '''[[ACTV|ACTV Inc.]]''' was co-founded by [[Michael J. Freeman]] and [[Stanley Weston]] in New York in [[1983]]. The company sold a product, invented by Freeman that was an interactive cable television system that allowed for choosing camera angles or for quizzes. ACTV Inc. registered the technology with the United States patent office on March 21, [[1984]], and the patent was approved on July 22, 1986. | ||
ACTV was funded with an investment from Catalyst Technologies for approximately $1.5 million USD and from an investment of an undisclosed amount by Leisure Concepts. Nolan Bushnell sat on the board of directors at ACTV until 1986. The company raised nearly $4 million USD by going public in 1990. Leisure Concepts sold its stake in 1991 at a loss. | ACTV was funded with an investment from Catalyst Technologies for approximately $1.5 million USD and from an investment of an undisclosed amount by Leisure Concepts. Nolan Bushnell sat on the board of directors at ACTV until 1986. The company raised nearly $4 million USD by going public in 1990. Leisure Concepts sold its stake in 1991 at a loss. | ||
| Line 63: | Line 63: | ||
[[Category: Companies and organizations formed in 1981]] | [[Category: Companies and organizations formed in 1981]] | ||
[[Category: Companies and organizations closed in | [[Category: Companies and organizations closed in 1986]] | ||
[[Category: Companies and organizations based in the United States of America]] | [[Category: Companies and organizations based in the United States of America]] | ||
Revision as of 03:26, 16 August 2023
| Catalyst Technologies | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1981 (ceased operations in 1986) |
| Headquarters | Sunnyvale, California, USA |
| Key people | Nolan Bushnell, founder Larry Calof, founder John Anderson, founder |
| Industry | Technology incubator |
| Products | |
| Number of people | 8 |
| Website | |
Catalyst Technologies was a venture capital group that was founded in 1981, making it one of the first technology company incubators.
History
After forming Atari in 1972 and Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza-Time Theatre in 1977, Nolan Bushnell founded a technology incubator with Larry Calof and John Anderson. Catalyst Technologies examined proposals for futuristic concepts and provided money to bring those concepts to fruition.
Startups funded by Catalyst Technologies
Axlon
Axlon Inc. was founded by Nolan Bushnell and John Vurich on March 26, 1980.
Axlon contracted Ron Milner to design a toy bear. The AG Bear, short for Almost Grown Bear, was manufactured by Axlon beginning in 1985. The AG Bear was a teddy bear that responded to a child's voice.
In 1985, Axlon and a team that included the project leader, Tom Zito, and Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak, began work on a VHS-based video game console codenamed NEMO, and later named Control-Vision. Hasbro agreed to invest $7 million USD in the project in exchange for the video game rights to the technology. Control-Vision was canceled shortly before its planned release date in 1989.
Hasbro acquired Axlon in 1986. In 1988, Axlon made a deal with Atari Corporation to create video games for the Atari 2600. Axlon closed in 1990.
ByVideo
ByVideo was founded on September 4, 1981 by Perry Odak. It developed an electronic shopping system wherein people used a touchscreen to order items from a Laserdisc. The system sent the order via modem to a warehouse, and the warehouse sent the item to the address of the person who ordered the items.
In 1988, the Florsheim Shoe Company employed the ByVideo system in Florsheim Express Shops for customers to order from an electronic catalog of 1,700 shoe styles.
The company lasted until 1989, but its technology led to the modern touchscreen kiosks that have since become commonplace.
ACTV
ACTV Inc. was co-founded by Michael J. Freeman and Stanley Weston in New York in 1983. The company sold a product, invented by Freeman that was an interactive cable television system that allowed for choosing camera angles or for quizzes. ACTV Inc. registered the technology with the United States patent office on March 21, 1984, and the patent was approved on July 22, 1986.
ACTV was funded with an investment from Catalyst Technologies for approximately $1.5 million USD and from an investment of an undisclosed amount by Leisure Concepts. Nolan Bushnell sat on the board of directors at ACTV until 1986. The company raised nearly $4 million USD by going public in 1990. Leisure Concepts sold its stake in 1991 at a loss.
By 1992, the technology was being used by educational and training facilities. On March 17, 1992, the Washington Post Company loaned $1.5 million USD to ACTV in exchange for 15% of its shares and for the right, in effect for a period of five years, to acquire 51% of ACTV’s training and educational business.
Androbot
Androbot was a robotics company that created the personal robot Topo, beginning in 1983.
Cinemavision
Cinemavision was a company that developed a television with four times the resolution of standard television sets of the time.
Cumma
Cumma was an electronics company that created a self-serve kiosk that loaded video games on a reprogrammable cartridge.
Etak
Etak Inc. was founded by Stan Honey, Ken Milnes, and Alan Philips in 1983.
The company was conceptualized in 1983 when Stan Honey was sailing with Nolan Bushnell in a Transpac race. Impressed by his navigational electronics, Bushnell asked Honey if he had any other ideas. Honey suggested an automobile navigation system, which led to the creation of Etak later that year. The name was chosen because etak is a Polynesian term for navigation.
Catalyst Technologies invested $500,000 USD in Etak and the company created the Etak Navigator. The Navigator led to modern GPS navigation systems, as the code in many modern systems is descended from Etak technology.
News Corporation acquired Etak for $25 million USD in 1989. It was then acquired by Sony Corporation in May 1996 and by Tele Atlas in May 2000. After the acquisition, Etak was absorbed into Tele Atlas.
Magnum Microwave
Magnum Microwave was a manufacturer of RF and microwave components.
Vistar productions
Vistar productions was a television show production company.
