Ed Colligan has been hailed as an "industry legend," exemplified through his illustrious entrepreneurial career and membership in various boards nationwide. An angel investor, former president and CEO of an early smartphone producer, and current Chief Strategy Officer of a renewable energy investment company, Colligan has left an indelible impact on the Silicon Valley technology ecosystem as we know it. His visionary leadership and groundbreaking contributions have earned him the prestigious Titans Award 2024. Discover more about his remarkable journey and achievements here!

Colligan's professional journey began at the University of Oregon, where he pursued a degree in Political Science. A few years following graduation, he dived head-first into the emerging start-up scene in late 20th-century Silicon Valley, establishing himself as the core team member of five groundbreaking companies. The first, Radius, Inc., was a computer hardware firm in the Macintosh era that specialized in peripherals and accessory equipment. He played an instrumental role in building out the brand, having worked with the company for over 5 years before joining Palm Computing, the original digital assistant company. If you are familiar with the revolutionary Palm Pilot, a handheld PC device before this technology proliferated, Colligan worked directly to develop that technology and product strategy!

From Pioneering Smartphones to Driving Renewable Energy: Ed Colligan's Unmatched Legacy

He spent most of the 1990s as the Vice President of Marketing for Palm before deciding to pursue his own ventures due to disagreements with the company's new owners. He co-founded his first company, Handspring, alongside two former Palm colleagues. Together, they pioneered the Handspring Treo, a groundbreaking device that laid the foundation for future smartphones. With the success of both companies behind him, he made the bold decision to merge Handspring and Palm in 2003 following a series of leadership changes. Reunited under one banner, Colligan wasted no time getting to work. As President and CEO, he led the growth of Palm's smartphone business to over $2 billion annually and oversaw the transformation that resulted in the creation of the WebOS platform and the Palm Pre line of smartphones. His career speaks for itself; highly motivated, driven, and innovative, Colligan truly set the stage for the technological revolution that has defined an entire generation.

Colligan's successful career is far from over. In recent years, he has taken up the mantle of entrepreneurial mentor and investor. He is a board member of Inboard Technology Inc., Numenta, Inc., POPS Worldwide, Levered Learning, and Low Carbon. Not only is he a board member of Low Carbon, but he also is the Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Americas, supporting the building of large-scale renewable energy projects. He has shared his expertise with countless start-ups in our local community, empowering emerging businesses and nurturing the next wave of innovation.

Let us come together to celebrate Colligan's well-deserved recognition at the Titans 2024 Awards, honoring his remarkable contributions to technology, innovation, leadership, and community impact!