Mcor CEO Dr Conor McCormack with Mcor's new chairman John Ryan and Mcor's CTO Fintan McCormack - photo credit - Chris Ryan - www.viewsoftheworld.com
The co-founder of Macrovision (now Rovi) Tipperary native John Ryan, has been appointed chairman of Mcor Technologies, the manufacturer of the only paper 3D printer in the world, the Matrix 300.
Ryan’s Silicon Valley-based company Rovi of which he was CEO until 2001 and until recent years had been chairman, is behind the secure distribution technologies for electronically delivered creative works including film, music, text, images, software and video games.
Ryan, a former RTE technician, moved to Silicon Valley in 1974. Macrovision was formed in 1983 after Ryan invented a technology that has become the worldwide standard for copy protection of video programmes and this technology features in nearly every DVD player and set-top box around the world.
Rovi’s customers include most major movie studios, record labels, software firms and the majority of Fortune 500 companies. In December, Macrovision agreed to buy Gemstar-TV Guide in a cash-and-stock deal worth about $2.8bn.
Ryan retired as chairman of Macrovision in 2008 and is now a managing partner in the Wilde Angels Investment Fund which has recently made a $1 million investment in Mcor.
Ryan holds over 70 US patents and is an investor/advisor/board member in several Silicon Valley start-ups.
Mcor, founded in 2005 by brothers Dr. Conor MacCormack and Fintan MacCormack, has developed a printer that produces 3-Dimensional objects using A4 reams of paper, at a cost of up to 60 times less than competitors’ products. In addition it is a truly eco-friendly product, its only waste being re-cyclable paper, while competitors’ products generate toxic by-products.
Mcor was a finalist in the Irish Technology Leadership Group’s (ITLG) Company of the Year awards in April and recently secured a $1 million investment from the Wilde Angels, the angel investment fund headed up by technology entrepreneur John Hartnett.
Mcor about to launch in the US
Dr. Conor MacCormack, Mcor CEO, sees Ryan’s involvement as a significant step forward for the company. He will be a real asset to the company as Mcor continues to grow and expand its business.
Ryan said: “Mcor has developed a truly world-class product, which is a great tribute to Irish entrepreneurship and the technical skills and perseverance of the Mcor team. I am delighted to be working with Mcor and I’m really excited about the product and the possibilities it offers. I look forward to helping Conor and his team build a valuable enterprise around it.”
Dr. MacCormack explains, “The ITLG is an ideal investment partner for Mcor and already has brought a lot to the table; this investment gives Mcor the stable base it needs to continue to innovate while also being able to fulfil the growing Matrix order book”.
Mcor’s expansion plans involve moving to a bigger premises within the next six weeks, “With a growing staff we need a bigger facility and a proper demo site for the increasing number of visitors we get from around the world. And now with this investment and team secured, Mcor will finally be able capitalise on the opportunities the US market can offer”, said Dr. MacCormack.
Mcor also has an office in the Irish Innovation Center in downtown San Jose, one that will double as a demo site in the coming months, ahead of its US launch.
