How I Built This with Guy Raz Roku: Anthony Wood
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Nov 21, 2022 Anthony Wood, the innovative Founder and CEO of Roku, revolutionized television twice, first with the DVR and then with Roku's streaming platform. He shares his journey from struggling with ReplayTV's challenges against TiVo to launching a user-friendly streaming device that transformed TV viewing. Wood discusses the strategic shift of Roku toward partnerships with TV manufacturers and the evolution of their revenue model. He also highlights the underestimated potential of the streaming industry, reflecting on his unique insights and future ambitions.
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Early Motivations
- Anthony Wood, despite revolutionizing TV twice, initially prioritized making money to buy a better modem.
- His family instilled a strong work ethic, but his early ambitions were simple.
Sunrise Success
- In college, Wood started Sunrise, creating and selling sound digitizer software and hardware.
- He distributed his products through a local computer store and later expanded sales, making substantial profits.
College and Silicon Valley
- Wood's focus on his business led to academic probation, prompting him to return to school full-time.
- He met his wife, Susan, when he hired her at Sunrise; she later became the office manager after they moved to Silicon Valley.