CHAPTER 7Ray OzzieFounder, Iris Associates,Groove Networks

imageAt the University of Illinois, Ray Ozzie worked on PLATO Notes, one of the earliest collaboration applications. Later he wanted to develop collaboration software of his own, but couldn't find funding. After he led the development of Lotus Symphony, Mitch Kapor and Jonathan Sachs decided to invest in Ozzie's idea, which would become Lotus Notes. Instead of working as an employee, Ozzie founded Iris Associates in 1984 to develop the product for Lotus. It was an unusual form of startup, but it worked.

Lotus Notes was the first widely used collaboration software. The first release shipped ...

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