Andreas Von Bechtolsheim

Andreas Von Bechtolsheim

Meet Andreas Von Bechtolsheim, an extraordinary pioneer of the computer revolution

A visionary engineer whose creations transformed the digital landscape

Before starting Sun Microsystems with Vinod Khosla and Scott McNealy, Andreas Von Bechtolsheim was a young engineer at Stanford University. He created the SUN workstation, the first commercially successful workstation. He also led the development of the SPARC microprocessor. This innovative microprocessor became the heart of a generation of powerful computers and workstations.

In 1995, Andreas Von Bechtolsheim co-founded Granite Systems, a company that developed high-performance routers. This led to Cisco's acquisition of Granite Systems in 1996, making Andreas Von Bechtolsheim a distinguished fellow and vice president at Cisco. During his tenure at Cisco, he played a key role in the development of the company's networking products.

Today, Andreas Von Bechtolsheim remains an active investor in the technology industry. He is a co-founder and partner at Shasta Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies. He is also a member of the board of directors for several technology companies, including Arista Networks and Nutanix.

Andreas Von Bechtolsheim is a true pioneer of the computer revolution. His innovative work has had a profound impact on the way we live and work today, and he continues to be a driving force in the technology industry.

Personal life and Education

Andreas Von Bechtolsheim was born in 1955 in Landsberg am Lech, Germany. He is the son of a German diplomat. Bechtolsheim studied electrical engineering at the Technical University of Munich in Germany. In 1982, he earned a master's degree in computer science from Stanford University, where he also began his career in computing.

Bechtolsheim is a passionate advocate for education. He has donated millions of dollars to Stanford University, where he is a distinguished fellow and a member of the board of trustees. He has also supported educational initiatives in his native Germany.