Jackson finds new tech success

Austin Business Journal (link to article)

Austin, TX, Aug. 19, 2005 - Although he's busy running two companies, former SigmaTel Inc. CEO and founder Spence Jackson is more relaxed than ever.

Why is Jackson relaxed? His two latest companies are on the fast track to success, much as SigmaTel was several years ago. Chip design company SigmaTel was founded in 1993 and went public 10 years later.

Jackson's Metanoia Technologies Inc., an Austin company that develops communications chips, is merging with its Taiwanese subsidiary, Metanoia Communications, and is poised to go public in 2007. The merger is set to be completed in about a month.

Jackson's other company, Austin-based Movêro Technology Inc., provides managed wireless services to companies and government agencies. Movêro, which has been profitable for more than a year, is set to double in size by mid-2006.

Metanoia Technologies, based in Austin, was founded in 2000 during a time when most Austin investors were cutting their spending. Despite the fundraising slump, Jackson chose to focus on investors outside this country, mainly in Taiwan, and the company raised $6.5 million.

The Austin office of Metanoia Technologies has eight employees, while Metanoia Communications has 18.

Jackson says he expects Metanoia to begin production of its chips later this year. Metanoia will offer two types of chips:

• Asymmetric digital subscriber loop, or ADSL, a modem technology used for multimedia and high-speed data transmission.
• Very high-speed digital subscriber loop, or VDSL, which provides five times the speed of traditional Internet connections.

"VDSL is a much newer technology, and the Asian market is adopting the technology much faster," says Norm Bogen, director of networking at research firm In-Stat/MDR.

Once the company hits profitability, Jackson says he'll look at taking the company public in Taiwan. As for the United States, Jackson says there's a possibility of taking Metanoia Technologies public, but that would depend on market conditions.

Jackson's other company, Movêro Technology, has enjoyed more acceptance in the U.S. market.

That company has about 40 employees and two locations -- an office at 9101 Burnet Road and a call center along U.S. Highway 290 East. Jackson founded Movêro two years ago with business partner Bruce Friedman, a former managing director of Sprint Corp.'s mobile computing services group.

Unlike Metanoia, Movêro hasn't raised any outside funding. Moreover, Movêro has been profitable for more than a year.

Jackson says Movêro is on track to generate $4 million in revenue this year. The company has government contracts in Florida as well as with other companies throughout the country.

To keep up with its success, the company plans to double its staff of 40, mostly hiring for sales and customer service positions, Jackson says.

"The possibilities for Movêro are endless," Jackson says. "Having gotten where we have has been a very big success."