Dave Jackson

Dave Jackson appears in Ron Conway on National Semiconductor, Altos, and Early Angel Investing as the founder of Altos Computer. Former National Semiconductor colleagues recommended Ron Conway to Jackson as a strong sales and marketing hire, which brought Conway into Altos near the company’s beginning.

The episode mostly uses Jackson as part of the Altos operating story. Conway says Jackson focused heavily on Europe while Conway focused on U.S. sales and marketing, letting Altos build a broad distribution network during the microcomputer timing window. Jackson’s large post-IPO paper wealth also helps ground the source’s Equity Compensation Upside theme.

Connections

• Altos Computer - company founded by Jackson.
• Ron Conway - early executive hire.
• Equity Compensation Upside and Startup Timing Windows - concepts surfaced by the Altos case.