Breakthrough in Electromagnetic Physics

Creators of Holographic Beam Forming®

Years ago, Pivotal’s founders recognized that wireless demand for data would outgrow the complex coding, multiplexing and modulation schemes that network operators have deployed thus far. Beamforming was the answer, but existing high cost, size, weight and power-consuming (C-SWaP) solutions were not. That’s why we assembled a team experienced in advanced communications and commercial antenna and RF circuit design, advanced DARPA technology programs, machine learning and, uniquely, active/nonlinear metamaterials. Beyond technology, we also offer the depth and breadth of skills to develop integrated, cloud-based, end-to-end solutions.

Leadership

- Jay McCandless
Chief RF Engineer
As an expert in microwave and mmWave circuit and antenna design, Jay brings several decades of experience in advanced satcom systems as well as architectures for low cost phased array antennas. Jay is arguably one of the most prolific antenna designers alive today. Jay received his BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from UCLA.

- Brian Deutsch
Founder
Prior to launching Pivotal Commware in 2016, Brian helped incubate it and other metamaterial companies as Managing Director of the Metamaterials Commercialization Center for the Invention Science Fund. Between 2000 and 2010 he refocused and sold Aperto Networks as its turnaround CEO and served as Vice President, Products and Wireless Services, at BSQUARE. In the 1990s Brian founded, led and sold American Public Communications (APC), an industry leader in the design and manufacture of innovative public telephony products and services for the Regional Bell Operating Companies, and Wavtrace, a mmWave broadband wireless access equipment developer. Wavtrace was purchased by Harris Corporation (HRS) in 2000. In 1993, Brian was voted as a finalist and runner-up for the Inc. Magazine/Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for his work at APC. Prior to APC, Brian spent six years with Motorola in the Portable Products Division. His experience at Motorola included engineering group leader for cellular, paging and two-way products, staff engineer, and senior field applications engineer for the OEM Microelectronics Unit. Before Motorola, he worked for NASA at Kennedy Space Center in the Launch Processing Systems group. Brian has been awarded twenty U.S. patents and received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering.

- Eric Black
CTO
After receiving his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon in 2010, Eric worked on several DARPA and other defense projects at Boeing Research and Technology. His interests lie in the design, fabrication, and evaluation of metamaterial-enhanced electromagnetic systems.

- Sean Ford
VP of Finance
Sean Ford serves as the VP of Finance for Pivotal Commware, collaborating with the Executive Leadership Team to deliver revenue growth, improve margins, control operating expenses, and manage working capital. Before joining Pivotal in 2017 he worked for Vertiv Corporation, which spun out from Emerson Network Power. In a variety of finance roles, Sean established strong partnerships with senior leadership to power business performance improvements by driving global sales growth, protecting and expanding gross margins, employing technology and processes to maximize efficiency and lower costs, and integrating M&A targets. Sean received a B.A. in Business Administration with an Accounting concentration from the University of Washington and holds his CPA certification.

- Jake Campbell
VP of Operations
Jake Campbell serves as VP of Operations for Pivotal Commware. Mr. Campbell partners with the Executive Leadership Team to provide disciplined New Product Introductions, managed manufacturing solutions, and ongoing corporate process development initiatives. Mr. Campbell honed his expertise by identifying, designing, and executing best-in-class operational solutions for ultra-high-volume consumer devices, medical technology, industrial applications, and mil-aero programs. His previous experience in leadership roles within Contract Manufacturing and Original Equipment Manufacturing companies lends itself well to navigating the unique and often challenging intricacies of the telecommunications industry. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington.

Board of Directors

- Shaygan Kheradpir
Dr. Kheradpir is best known for driving transformational change using technology at Verizon where he was Group CIO, at Barclays Bank as Group COO, at Juniper Networks & Coriant (formerly Tellabs, Siemens Optical, Sycamore) as CEOs and Chairman. Dr. Kheradpir was on the founding Executive Leadership Committee of Verizon helping it to transform from a phone company to a premier telecom worldwide with products such as FiOS and 4G-LTE, interactive multi-media, and world-class customer service and efficiency through automation. At Barclays, he was on the bank’s Global Executive Committee as Group COO and helped set the course for 21st century industrialization in financial services — pioneering industry first FinTech products such as peer-to-peer mobile money, bank digitization and automation, lowering risks, and cost reductions via the company’s TRANSFORM Program. As CEO of Juniper, he focused the company by creating and executing its Integrated Operating Plan (IOP) that ultimately drove EBITDA growth double digits, launching Cloud-Builder and High IQ networking products, automation and machine learning. As Chairman & CEO of Coriant, he integrated and reinvented three predecessor companies of Tellabs, Siemens Optical, and Sycamore, dramatically lowering costs, and creating the industry-first Hyper-scale Carrier Architecture (HCA) products that propelled Coriant to become a leading insurgent telecom equipment company across high-speed packet-optical, cloud interconnect, and 5G. The new disruptive products ultimately drove hundreds of millions of dollars of new revenue. Dr. Kheradpir currently works with high-tech startups and is also a senior advisor and operating executive at Cerberus Capital with special focus on 5G, Industrial Internet, AI, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Semiconductors, and Autonomous Systems. Dr. Kheradpir received his BS, ME, and Ph.D. in electrical & computer engineering from Cornell University in 1982, ’83 and ’87, respectively. He is on the board of MTN Group (260 million subscribers across MEA), Cornell University Engineering Council, the US Department of State’s International Digital Economy & Telecommunications (IDET) Advisory Committee, and served on the Advisory Board of the US National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST). He was inducted into CIO Hall of Fame in 2006, selected as outstanding young engineer by the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 1990, and awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2014.

- Kyle Pickens
Kyle Pickens, CFA, is a partner at Thermo Companies, a private holding company based in Denver, Colorado, where he directs the investment activities in Thermo’s public, venture, and fixed income portfolios. Thermo is an active investor across telecom, energy, real estate and other technology sectors. Mr. Pickens serves on the boards of several Thermo companies including Pivotal Commware (Telecom), ARES North America (Energy Storage), SeQure (Cybersecurity), Entanglement (Technology), Global Telecom (Telecom), and Recon Dynamics (IoT). In an operational capacity, he serves as Vice President of Strategy at Thermo-controlled Globalstar, with the responsibility of driving the company’s growth initiatives, most notably commercialization efforts for its global terrestrial spectrum and technology assets. Mr. Pickens joined Globalstar from Steelhead Partners, a Seattle based Hedge Fund. Mr. Pickens joined Steelhead as an analyst at the end of 2009 and was promoted to Partner of the Navigator funds in 2015. At Steelhead, his responsibilities included coverage of the Telecom, Media, and Technology space. Previously, Mr. Pickens was with New York-based Cadogan Management LLC, where he was a director and an investment committee member. He interned at Cadogan while an undergraduate student, then joined full time as an analyst upon graduating in 2002. Mr. Pickens holds a B.S. in Finance and Information Systems from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife and two daughters.

- Glenn Lurie
Glenn Lurie is the former President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Synchronoss Technologies. Glenn joined the Synchronoss team in November, 2017 with nearly 30 years’ experience in the telecommunications and wireless industries. Prior to joining Synchronoss, Glenn was President and Chief Executive Officer of AT&T’s Mobility and Consumer Operations where he successfully grew the nation’s leading wireless and consumer business. During this time Glenn managed sales and distribution, customer care, operations, home entertainment and video services. Glenn and his team were also responsible for the integration of AT&T’s Direct TV and the company’s digital business. After starting his career in the early days of the wireless industry at McCaw Cellular, Glenn helped usher in the modern smartphone era by leading AT&T’s negotiations with Apple to introduce the first iPhone and iPad. He built three groundbreaking business for AT&T: IoT business – bringing wireless connectivity to tablets, cars and consumer electronics; Digital Life – AT&T’s home automation and security business, and finally the launch of Aio Wireless – now Cricket Wireless, the companies’ industry leading prepaid flanker brand. In 2014, Glenn was named as one of just 10 “MobileGameChangers” by Russell Reynolds Associates for his mobile-first approach to developing innovative services that enhance the way people live. Glenn was named to the Global Telecom Business “Power 100” multiple times, awarded Wireless Week’s Telecom Leadership Award in 2010, and presented the Atlanta Telecom Professional of the Year Award in 2009 from the Atlanta Telecoms Professionals Association. Glenn is active in industry associations and within the community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors Avis Budget Group, Inc., Pivotal Commware, Inc., Teal Communications, Inc., and Blue Link Wireless, Inc., and serves on multiple companies advisory councils.

Investors

Memberships