Expert Spotlight

Name: Mark Melliar-Smith

Title: Mark Melliar-Smith is the founder and president of MSC, a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas. As a venture capitalist, Melliar-Smith provides support to early stage start-up companies whose businesses are directly related to the physical sciences. Currently, MSC is working closely with a small set of companies including Molecular Imprints, Nanocoolers, and InnovaLight.

Before launching MSC, Melliar-Smith worked with Austin Ventures so that he could learn about the venture capital business from folks who are considered industry experts. Starting in 1970 with AT&T Bell Laboratories as a member of the technical research staff and ending with his tenure as chief executive director of International SEMATECH from 1997-2002, Melliar-Smith has a broad range of experience in the fields of technology and business.

In his 25-year career with AT&T, he worked on a wide variety of assignments including fundamental research, electronic, and photonic device development, and manufacturing and business unit management.

In 1970, Melliar-Smith joined AT&T Bell Laboratories as a member of the technical research staff, conducting materials research for advanced silicon integrated circuits with particular emphasis on reduced design rules and increased scales of integration. Named head of the Semiconductor Laser Department in 1982, he managed final development of semiconductor lasers used in optical fiber communications and rapid scale-up of laser production.

Melliar-Smith became the director of Lightwave Device Laboratory in 1983, overseeing the development of all optoelectronic devices used for lightwave communications systems. In 1984 he transferred to AT&T Technology Systems where, as Director of Engineering, he managed the overall development, manufacturing, and factory engineering, including silicon IC manufacturing lines that produced 256K and one-megabit computer memory chips.

Melliar-Smith returned to Bell Laboratories in 1987 as Executive Director of the Electronic and Photonic Devices Division. In 1989 he assumed the position of Vice President, Lightwave Strategic Business Unit (SBU) with AT&T Microelectronics--acting as the Chief Operations Officer of the Lightwave SBU. His responsibility for the unit covered manufacturing, research and development, marketing, strategic planning, and financial results.

In January 1997, Melliar-Smith joined International SEMATECH in 1997 as president and chief operating officer. In November 1997 he was promoted to chief executive officer. International SEMATECH develops technology that helps computer chip manufacturers increase the speed and decrease the expense of their chips. Representing half of the world's semiconductor production, International SEMATECH member companies work together to create technology plans that best suit their needs.

Interviews

Chat as CEO of SEMATECH

Five Question Q&A as CEO of SEMATECH