Web Augustine founded HiWire to fill a niche in retained search that is often not addressed well
by larger, more established search firms.
These older, entrenched firms often take too long to complete a search, charge too much
money (in total and up front), and don’t have a feel for the type of people who will be successful
in a dynamic startup environment. Unlike many of the larger firms, we are not locked out from
pursuing great candidates who happen to work at the mid-size to large companies that make
up most of the client base of the traditional, larger firms.
Web Augustine
Partner
by larger, more established search firms.
These older, entrenched firms often take too long to complete a search, charge too much
money (in total and up front), and don’t have a feel for the type of people who will be successful
in a dynamic startup environment. Unlike many of the larger firms, we are not locked out from
pursuing great candidates who happen to work at the mid-size to large companies that make
up most of the client base of the traditional, larger firms.
Web Augustine
Partner
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About Us / Bios
Overview
Over 25 years of Marketing, Sales and consulting success
(all but three years in Silicon Valley)
Been there, done that very early-stage Marketing leadership
positions with several high-profile startups (Sun, MIPS, RSA, VeriSign)
Extensive network of high-tech executives and startup service
providers; executive database built over 10+ years now includes
over 107,000 contacts, 80% at the VP level or higher
Over 25 years of Marketing, Sales and consulting success
(all but three years in Silicon Valley)
Been there, done that very early-stage Marketing leadership
positions with several high-profile startups (Sun, MIPS, RSA, VeriSign)
Extensive network of high-tech executives and startup service
providers; executive database built over 10+ years now includes
over 107,000 contacts, 80% at the VP level or higher
|
More Detailed Bio
Web Augustine is a Silicon Valley veteran with over 25 years of experience in marketing, sales
and consulting. Web has contributed early-stage marketing expertise to several leading-edge,
high-profile startups and spent the vast majority of his entire career working with emerging
companies.
After graduating from Stanford University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Web joined a
startup division of Hewlett-Packard in Vancouver, WA. The 40 employees when he joined in
1980 eventually grew to over 3,000 people. Web was the first Product Manager to work with
what became the wildly successful DeskJet family of inkjet printers.
In September 1983, Web joined Sun Microsystems as employee 152 and only the second
hardware-oriented Product Manager in the company. After being promoted to Product Line
Manager, he had responsibility for the Sun-2 and Sun-3 workstation families in the days when
Sun was in a real dogfight with Apollo Computer. Web was lured away in 1985 to join MIPS
Computer Systems as head of Product Marketing and one of the first 20 employees of this RISC
microprocessor and systems startup. In 1988, Web wanted to gain some sales experience to
complement his seven years of technical Product Marketing. The best path proved to be
rejoining Sun as a Sales Rep in Silicon Valley. He utilized his product knowledge and company
contacts to quickly become one of the top performers. He averaged 120% of quota for three
years, helping the company grow to 13,000 employees.
With a desire to get back to a significantly smaller company, Web joined RSA Data Security in
1992 as one of the first 14 employees. He was quickly promoted to VP of Marketing and Sales
with responsibility for the licensing of RSA’s security software. Web led the very successful
campaign to position RSA’s public key cryptosystem as key enabling technology for a wide
range of security, Internet and e-commerce applications. The technology eventually was
licensed to virtually all the major e-commerce companies, including Netscape, Microsoft, AOL,
IBM, Intel, Apple and Visa, as well as many other industry leaders.
While still leading the sales and marketing efforts at RSA, Web initiated work to establish a
trusted entity for issuing digital certificates to support RSA public keys. He co-wrote the
business plan and led the successful effort to spin off VeriSign as a separate company, raising
a $5.3M Series A round from Visa, Intel, Mitsubishi and Bessemer Venture Partners in May of
1995. Web drove VeriSign’s early product and market vision and strategic relationships as the
founding VP of Marketing and Business Development.
Web took a brief fling with a consumer-oriented business in 1996, joining Places to Stay (later
known as WorldRes) as VP of Business Development. He significantly enhanced the business
plan used to raise a $4M Series A round for this Internet hotel reservation network. However,
this experience confirmed Web’s strong passion for working with smaller companies delivering
innovative technology targeted towards sophisticated enterprise and OEM customers.
From 1997 to 2005, Web was CEO and Founder of Strategic Web Ventures, a strategic
marketing consulting firm that also provides interim management coverage and fund raising
assistance to emerging Silicon Valley technology companies. He wrote the business plan and
was Acting VP of Marketing and Business Development for eight months at DigiCash, an early
micropayments pioneer. Web wrote business plans and/or provided consulting services
instrumental to the successful fund raising efforts by BidCom (now Citadon), CrossCommerce
and SageWare. Web has also been an early stage investor and Advisory Board member for
companies such as CyberBills, CompareItAll.com, Proxio and Fireclick.
Web Augustine is a Silicon Valley veteran with over 25 years of experience in marketing, sales
and consulting. Web has contributed early-stage marketing expertise to several leading-edge,
high-profile startups and spent the vast majority of his entire career working with emerging
companies.
After graduating from Stanford University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Web joined a
startup division of Hewlett-Packard in Vancouver, WA. The 40 employees when he joined in
1980 eventually grew to over 3,000 people. Web was the first Product Manager to work with
what became the wildly successful DeskJet family of inkjet printers.
In September 1983, Web joined Sun Microsystems as employee 152 and only the second
hardware-oriented Product Manager in the company. After being promoted to Product Line
Manager, he had responsibility for the Sun-2 and Sun-3 workstation families in the days when
Sun was in a real dogfight with Apollo Computer. Web was lured away in 1985 to join MIPS
Computer Systems as head of Product Marketing and one of the first 20 employees of this RISC
microprocessor and systems startup. In 1988, Web wanted to gain some sales experience to
complement his seven years of technical Product Marketing. The best path proved to be
rejoining Sun as a Sales Rep in Silicon Valley. He utilized his product knowledge and company
contacts to quickly become one of the top performers. He averaged 120% of quota for three
years, helping the company grow to 13,000 employees.
With a desire to get back to a significantly smaller company, Web joined RSA Data Security in
1992 as one of the first 14 employees. He was quickly promoted to VP of Marketing and Sales
with responsibility for the licensing of RSA’s security software. Web led the very successful
campaign to position RSA’s public key cryptosystem as key enabling technology for a wide
range of security, Internet and e-commerce applications. The technology eventually was
licensed to virtually all the major e-commerce companies, including Netscape, Microsoft, AOL,
IBM, Intel, Apple and Visa, as well as many other industry leaders.
While still leading the sales and marketing efforts at RSA, Web initiated work to establish a
trusted entity for issuing digital certificates to support RSA public keys. He co-wrote the
business plan and led the successful effort to spin off VeriSign as a separate company, raising
a $5.3M Series A round from Visa, Intel, Mitsubishi and Bessemer Venture Partners in May of
1995. Web drove VeriSign’s early product and market vision and strategic relationships as the
founding VP of Marketing and Business Development.
Web took a brief fling with a consumer-oriented business in 1996, joining Places to Stay (later
known as WorldRes) as VP of Business Development. He significantly enhanced the business
plan used to raise a $4M Series A round for this Internet hotel reservation network. However,
this experience confirmed Web’s strong passion for working with smaller companies delivering
innovative technology targeted towards sophisticated enterprise and OEM customers.
From 1997 to 2005, Web was CEO and Founder of Strategic Web Ventures, a strategic
marketing consulting firm that also provides interim management coverage and fund raising
assistance to emerging Silicon Valley technology companies. He wrote the business plan and
was Acting VP of Marketing and Business Development for eight months at DigiCash, an early
micropayments pioneer. Web wrote business plans and/or provided consulting services
instrumental to the successful fund raising efforts by BidCom (now Citadon), CrossCommerce
and SageWare. Web has also been an early stage investor and Advisory Board member for
companies such as CyberBills, CompareItAll.com, Proxio and Fireclick.
