Season 3 Episode 2: Marvin Weinberger
In this episode of "Onwards! Infonauts" we chat with Marvin Weinberger, one of the founders of Infonautics Corporation. Marvin’s story started well before Infonautics, at another data-centric company called Telebase Systems. Telebase was an online information company, providing customer access to databases around the world using telex machines with 75 baud speed, as Marvin jokes with Sean and Jim. Later, Marvin was featured in Business Week, where they took a picture of Marvin in front of the computer room… giant computers with only 1 Gigabyte of capacity on them.
In the 1990s, technology was very different than it is today. Cloud computing was in its infancy. People had to decide whether to make more powerful PCs or do it in the cloud. Today, it’s clear that the cloud can do everything. And Marvin has been there to influence many of these changes.
Marvin started Infonautics as a project to bring education to children throughout the world. He was fortunate to have been a friend to a successful inventor and businessman, Herman Fialkov. Marvin met Herman’s grandson, Joshua, at a Klezmer concert a few years prior. Later, Marvin and that kid, Joshua Kopelman, were reunited when Marvin mentioned to Herman that he was seeking some help with his new venture.
Marvin gives wonderful insights to the technology scene in the 1980s and 1990s. He reflects on the influence of some significant mentors, like Lloyd Morissett who was one of the founders of Children’s Television Workshop, the creator of “Sesame Street” as well as Howard Morgan and Israel “Mel” Melman. All of the early mentors were important to the start and growth of the business.
Please join us in this episode as we discuss the Good Business Pledge, Stella D’Oro Swiss Fudge cookies, and how to take advice from people who are older and wiser.
Contacts:
Marvin Weinberger can be reached at marvin@innovationfactory.com or on LinkedIn.
Innovation Factory
Jim and Sean can be reached at Onwards! Infonauts.
Sponsors:
JMX Advisors for Interim or Fractional CFO work
Disclaimer:
None of these discussions are to be relied upon as professional advice.
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