Back in the year 2000 I joined a company with the codename Project Mayo. It quickly changed names to DivXNetworks Inc., and then eventually simply DivX Inc. DivX was/is all about technology disruption and riding the wave of Internet technologies. DivX played an important part in the revolution of video entertainment over the Internet. Joining DivX was a pivotable moment in my work history to be sure. It was an intense ride that went through so many different eras, phases, and situations you can almost call it working for 10 different companies.
In fact DivX has been through several different corporate eras. From private to public. From acquisition to divestiture. Since founding DivX changed its name and corporate ownership 7 times. It was public 4 separate times. Depending on the corporate entity it ranged from 30 people to 1200 people. The historical record is stranger than fiction. I guess everyone wanted to say they had a piece of that hot Internet video technology. It made for an exciting, and often tumultuous ride at times. I was around through almost all of it. I did take leave of DivX more than once. One leave was a planned sabbatical to travel. Two others were I just could not stay given the prevailing corporate climate at the time.
My last leave, a “Jaunt” in the Bay Area, is now over. Jaunt Inc. unfortunately ran out of money before it could support the rather large staff and operations. I am glad the for the experience at Jaunt, and I would like to think I made a positive difference while I was there. I thought I might be in the Bay Area of a while, it is certainly a hub of technology activity. I certainly looked in San Diego, since I had been rooted there for so long, yet not as many opportunities.
In an interesting twist of fate. I am back in San Diego at DivX as the CTO. DivX has changed a lot, and is now a private company again. And some things have not changed. Since the very start of DivX there were core brand values. Circa 2010 timeframe they finally got written down: Access, Fidelity, Transformation, and Enjoyment. Staying true to those values has enabled DivX to survive, even in the most challenges times. Those brand values continue to resonate with me. The great news is I am working on a new product that embodies all of them. The disruption wave continues with the help of an old friend. Thanks DivX, I am excited for the future.