Boris Jerkunica
Encyclopedia
Boris M. Jerkunica is a native of Croatia
who lives in Atlanta, Georgia
with his wife and young daughter. He has founded or co-founded several companies including Software Builders International, NetZIP and ZivVa/Vocalocity. He is currently the owner and chairman of Atlanta Silverbacks Park, a soccer
facility consisting of a 5,000 seat stadium plus two international size soccer fields and a restaurant. He is also a minority owner of the Carolina RailHawks FC
.
Jerkunica moved with his family to Atlanta in 1975 while he was still in elementary school. He graduated from Emory University
in 1987 with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mathematics
and Computer Science. While at Emory, he received All-American honors and still holds both the all time scoring and assist records for the school. From 1987 to 1992, he worked for IBM
as a software architect.
In 1992, Jerkunica started his first software business, Software Builders, which developed client/server e-commerce
software for companies such as IBM
, Thomas Publishing, etc.
He sold the company in 1997.
In 1996, Jerkunica and Phil Hill co-founded Netzip, Inc. (however, the netzip.com website identified the company name as Software Builders International until 1999). The company developed the NetZIP product that pioneered the download market. Netzip, Inc. was purchased by RealNetworks
in January 2000. NetZIP download technology and its development team was spun out into MusicNet, a joint venture between Real Networks, AOL, Sony, and BMG, whose charter was to distribute music legally over the internet. Boris served as CTO of MusicNet from 2000 to 2001.
In September 2003, Jerkunica and Phil Hill co-founded Zivva (now Vocalocity, Inc.), where Jerkunica served as CEO from 2005 through 2009. ZivVa/Vocalocity helped pioneer the VoIP Hosted PBX market and is one of the leaders in that market today.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
who lives in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
with his wife and young daughter. He has founded or co-founded several companies including Software Builders International, NetZIP and ZivVa/Vocalocity. He is currently the owner and chairman of Atlanta Silverbacks Park, a soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
facility consisting of a 5,000 seat stadium plus two international size soccer fields and a restaurant. He is also a minority owner of the Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
.
Jerkunica moved with his family to Atlanta in 1975 while he was still in elementary school. He graduated from Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in 1987 with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and Computer Science. While at Emory, he received All-American honors and still holds both the all time scoring and assist records for the school. From 1987 to 1992, he worked for IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
as a software architect.
In 1992, Jerkunica started his first software business, Software Builders, which developed client/server e-commerce
Electronic commerce
Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce, eCommerce or e-comm, refers to the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. However, the term may refer to more than just buying and selling products online...
software for companies such as IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Thomas Publishing, etc.
He sold the company in 1997.
In 1996, Jerkunica and Phil Hill co-founded Netzip, Inc. (however, the netzip.com website identified the company name as Software Builders International until 1999). The company developed the NetZIP product that pioneered the download market. Netzip, Inc. was purchased by RealNetworks
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
in January 2000. NetZIP download technology and its development team was spun out into MusicNet, a joint venture between Real Networks, AOL, Sony, and BMG, whose charter was to distribute music legally over the internet. Boris served as CTO of MusicNet from 2000 to 2001.
In September 2003, Jerkunica and Phil Hill co-founded Zivva (now Vocalocity, Inc.), where Jerkunica served as CEO from 2005 through 2009. ZivVa/Vocalocity helped pioneer the VoIP Hosted PBX market and is one of the leaders in that market today.