Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) alumnus and former CEO and co-founder of digital video brand advertising company YuMe Jayant Kadambi ’85, M.S. ’86, has been selected as the 2017 William F. Glaser ’53 Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year. Established in 1990, the award brings the world of entrepreneurship and innovation into Rensselaer classrooms by recognizing successful entrepreneurs and role models who share their wisdom and experiences with students.

A serial global entrepreneur, technologist, and business leader, Kadambi co-founded and was the CEO of YuMe (NYSE:YUME) for 12 years. YuMe is a digital video advertising media and software technology company that Kadambi helped lead from inception to its current position as a leading global, publically held company. He is an author and holds several domestic and international patents in the growing fields of video production, semiconductors, and advertising technology. Currently, Kadambi spends his time as an adviser, mentor, board member, and angel investor to entrepreneurs to help them build, grow, and scale their companies.     

Kadambi has more than 20 years of experience in digital media technology, networking, hardware, architecture, and semiconductors. Previously, he worked as a member of the technical staff at AT&T Bell Labs and was vice president of engineering at Netopia. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Rensselaer.

“We are very excited to honor Jayant as the recipient of this year’s William F. Glaser ’53 Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year, a hallmark event made possible due to the generosity of Bill Glaser who continues to enthusiastically promote and foster entrepreneurship in our world,” said Thomas Begley, dean of the Lally School of Management at Rensselaer. “Jayant reflects the commitment and dedication of Rensselaer students and graduates who work diligently to create solutions for a stronger and better world.”  

The Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year program will take place Wednesday, October 11, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on the Rensselaer Troy campus in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies Howard Isermann ’42 Auditorium. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Paul J. ’69 and Kathleen M. Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship and the Lally School of Management at Rensselaer.

“Being a proud Rensselaer alumnus, it is a great honor to be recognized by the university with this award,” said Kadambi. “The specific combination of a technical education and leadership skills imparted during my time spent at Rensselaer set the foundation for being able to build, scale, and operate a worldwide data science-based technology company. I hope others’ time at Rensselaer can inspire them to seek entrepreneurship and company building.”

Each year the William F. Glaser ’53 Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year Award celebrates entrepreneurs whose vision, commitment, and creativity exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit that is part of the past, present, and future of Rensselaer.

At Rensselaer, President Shirley Ann Jackson is guiding a transformation that fulfills the vision of The New Polytechnic, an emerging paradigm for teaching, learning, and research at Rensselaer. The foundation for this vision is the recognition that global challenges and opportunities are so great they cannot be adequately addressed by even the most talented person working alone. Rensselaer serves as a crossroads for collaboration—working with partners across disciplines, sectors, and geographic regions—to address complex global challenges, using the most advanced tools and technologies, many of which are developed at Rensselaer. Research at Rensselaer addresses some of the world’s most pressing technological challenges—from energy security and sustainable development to biotechnology and human health. The New Polytechnic is transformative in the global impact of research, in its innovative pedagogy, and in the lives of students at Rensselaer.

To RSVP for the 2017 William F. Glaser ’53 Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year Award event, visit http://eship.rpi.edu/2017eoy.

For more about the Lally School of Management, visit http://lallyschool.rpi.edu/.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, is America’s first technological research university. For nearly 200 years, Rensselaer has been defining the scientific and technological advances of our world. Rensselaer faculty and alumni represent 85 members of the National Academy of Engineering, 17 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 8 members of the National Academy of Medicine, 8 members of the National Academy of Inventors, and 5 members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, as well as 6 National Medal of Technology winners, 5 National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With 7,000 students and nearly 100,000 living alumni, Rensselaer is addressing the global challenges facing the 21st century—to change lives, to advance society, and to change the world. To learn more, go to www.rpi.edu.

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