In 1993, Adelson joinedNetcom, one of the first global ISPs, as an Installation Coordinator, and shortly moved-up to Director of Network Operations. At the time of his departure in 1996, Adelson was responsible for network engineering, operations and customer service.[13][16] While at Netcom, In February 1995, Adelson was present and managing network operations during the pursuit and capture of former computer hackerKevin Mitnick byTsutomu Shimomura.[17]
In late 1996, Adelson worked forDigital Equipment Corporation's Network System Laboratory, specifically Albert M. Avery IV, to build and operate thePalo Alto Internet Exchange (PAIX). It was later renamed the Peering and Internet Exchange after the acquisition bySwitch and Data Corporation. Adelson worked alongside Stephen Stuart andPaul Vixie to build a datacenter and services suited for scaling the core of Internet traffic. Adelson's efforts led to the facilities success as anInternet Exchange Point. The datacenter and exchange point remain in operation today inPalo Alto, California.[13][18] PAIX was later acquired by Equinix in Equinix's October, 2009 acquisition of Switch and Data.[19][20]
In June 1998, Adelson and Avery left Digital Equipment Corp and foundedEquinix, Inc. (briefly Quark Communications).[21] Adelson served as Founder and Chief Technology Officer, responsible for the invention, design and construction of Equinix's datacenters and Internet Exchange Points (known by Equinix as Internet Business Exchanges).[22] Adelson led research and development and was responsible for several patents.[23][24][25] Adelson also assisted in the raising of capital including private equity rounds, a high-yield new entrant bond deal, and an initial public offering in August 2000.[26]
Adelson andKevin Rose, along with co-founding team that included Ron Gorodetsky,Dan Huard, Keith Harrison andDavid Prager, foundedRevision3 in April 2005.[27] In addition to co-founding and acting as CEO ofDigg, Adelson remainedCEO andChairman of the Board of Revision3 for two and a half years, raising two rounds of capital.[28][29]Jim Louderback was hired as CEO in June 2007. Adelson remainsChairman of the Board ofRevision3 presently and hosted his own show calledAsk Jay which demystifies the start-up process by providing advice, tips, and answering questions.[30] In May 2012, Revision3 was bought byDiscovery Communications.[31][32]
Adelson andKevin Rose met while Rose was producing an episode ofThe Screen Savers in 2003 and interviewed Adelson then atEquinix. On December 5, 2004 Kevin Rose, Owen Byrne, Ron Gorodetsky and Adelson started Digg with a $6,000 investment from then 27-year-old Rose.[33] Adelson continued to provide business mentorship throughout the company's first few months of operation, taking the position of CEO in February 2005.[33][34] Adelson raised the first venture capital round which closed in September 2005.[35] Adelson recruited the initial management team, set up the offices in San Francisco, and commuted from New York as CEO. Adelson raised two more rounds of capital, leading the company through its peak of over forty million unique visitors a month.[34][36] Adelson left Digg in April, 2010 over disagreements with Rose and the board over the company's direction and leadership.[37][38][39]
In November 2010, Adelson assumed the role of CEO of SimpleGeo, Inc. when co-founder Matt Galligan stepped down.[40] SimpleGeo was a location-aware services company for developers of mobile applications. Adelson had been advising the business, largely stemming from a relationship with the company's founder, Joseph Carl Stump, who served as Lead Architect at Digg, Inc. previously.[16] In October 2011 SimpleGeo was purchased byUrban Airship and Adelson resumed his advising role.[6]
In early 2013, Adelson co-founded Opsmatic with Mikhail Panchenko and Jim Stoneham. On November 13, 2013, Adelson posted an article on GigaOm describing an alternative stock plan known as the Dynamic Stock Pool.[3] Opsmatic launched to the public in 2014 and Adelson stepped back his active role in order to focus on a new pursuit of a venture capital firm, Center Electric.[2] In November 2015 New Relic Acquired Opsmatic.[4][41]
In June 2014, Adelson co-founded Center Electric withAndy Smith. Center Electric is an early-stage technology venture capital firm designed to leverage the growth of theInternet of Things. The company calls itself Center Electric based on the company of the same name founded by Adelson's great-grandfather in Detroit in the 1940s.[2]
Adelson sits on the board of NewAer, Defense.net and Opsmatic.[42] In February 2019, Adelson was appointed to IT service management company Megaport Limited's Board of Directors and named Chair of the company's Innovation Committee.[43] He also advises companies, including Bonusly, Circa,DAV foundation, Founders Den, Ginkgotree, NewsBasis, Katchall, Nuzzel, Ouya, Permanent, Kiip, SOAK, SiiTV, Urban Airship, August, LoveBook, Graphic.ly,[44]Fflick (sold to Google/YouTube in 2011),[45] RoqBot,Plex, and Attachments.me.[46]
^US patent 6,971,029, Avery IV; Albert M. (San Jose, CA), Adelson; Jay Steven (San Francisco, CA), Vogt; Derrald Curtis (San Jose, CA), "Multi-ringed internet co-location facility security system and method", published 2005-11-29, assigned to Equinix, Inc.
^US patent 6,976,269, Avery IV; Albert M. (San Jose, CA), Adelson; Jay Steven (San Francisco, CA), Vogt; Derrald Curtis (San Jose, CA), "Internet co-location facility security system", published 2005-12-13, assigned to Equinix, Inc.
^US patent 7,577,154, Yung; John (Fremont, CA), Adelson; Jay Steven (San Francisco, CA), "System and method for traffic accounting and route customization of network services", published 2009-08-18, assigned to Equinix, Inc.
