In the early 1990s, digital TV technology revolutionized the consumer experience by allowing service providers to transmit significantly more channels using the same bandwidth as analog TV. This led to the emergence of new services like direct broadcast satellite TV and digital cable TV, expanding consumer options from a few to hundreds of channels. The early 2000s saw the advent of IPTV, as Telcos launched television services over their broadband networks to compete with cable operators’ bundled voice, data, and video services. By the late 2000s, the third wave of digital TV technology, OTT, enabled operators to deliver video services to a wide array of devices anytime and anywhere, thanks to advanced streaming technologies and increased broadband access.
For the past 20 years, Minerva has been at the forefront of transforming the television experience. As an IPTV pioneer, Minerva has laid the groundwork for next-generation television. Their acquisition of TOK.tv, which specializes in artificial intelligence and communication technologies, let to the award winning services of Smart Highlights and the AI Companion. Minerva is building on that innovation to create a world of Intelligent Video Entertainment, where AI is at the center of both user experience and system operations management, enhancing the way millions of people entertain and inform themselves. This collaboration with leading operators and broadcasters aims to create a more connected and informed world.
Minerva’s goal is to help consumers find the best content and then enjoy it just the way they like it, on their own or together with the people they love, no matter where they are
Major Milestones
2024
Minerva AI Companion Wins 3 Industry Awards
Minerva’s AI Companion, announced in May, quickly attracted the attention of the judges as an innovative and unique approach to enriching users’ viewing experiences while watching their favorite programs. The AI Companion won the top honors from both Channel Vision and Titan Business Awards and notched Highly Commended from CSI Awards. Other solutions require pausing content to explore additional information, or moving attention to another device. The seamless integration with the 10ft experience was viewed as a game changer.
2021
Minerva Smart Highlights Wins 3 Industry Awards
CSI Awards, VideoTECH Awards from DTV, and Stevie International Business Awards all recognized Smart Highlights as an important and innovative feature to enhance the video experience.
2020
Minerva deploys Watch Together and Smart Highlights
Watch Together enables subscribers to share and enjoy live programming with friends and family, from anywhere and at any time. The addition of Smart Highlights allows users to control how they watch sports. Choose your customized highlight reel based on length of time, player, or type of play.
2019
Minerva acquires TOK.tv
The integration of TOK.tv with the Minerva platform enables the experience of sharing and watching live programming together with family and friends. Also, new smart recording functionality automatically generates personalized highlights of sporting events, providing an efficient and unique viewing experience
2019
Minerva and SES power next-generation OTT services
The joint Minerva and SES solution enables pay-TV operators worldwide to launch robust, flexible and scalable OTT video services quickly and cost-effectively
2018
Minerva launches YourTV Now Cloud platform
The turnkey cloud service includes live, on demand and time shifted video services as well as a full range of applications for both set-top boxes and popular consumer devices
2016
Telecom Argentina deploys Minerva 10
The Minerva 10 platform powers Cablevisión’s Flow, a full suite of next-generation television services. The offering is rapidly embraced by more than 1 million subscribers
2015
First distributed entertainment delivery platform
Minerva releases Minerva 10, a next generation platform architected to enable the delivery of a highly personalized entertainment experiences to millions of subscribers
2013
First multiscreen deployment
Minerva powers first multiscreen deployments with seamless integration between set-top boxes and mobile devices through a single back-office. Minerva receives TV Connect 2013 Industry Award for Best Service Delivery Platform for IPTV and OTT
2012
First OTT deployment
Minerva powers first pay TV deployment over unmanaged broadband networks. Minerva is recognized with Telco TV 2012 Vision Award for Best Innovation in Middleware
2010
First blended Pay-TV and Internet video delivery platform
Minerva introduces the first complete solution for the management and delivery of blended Pay-TV and Internet video services
2008
Powering more than 1 Million devices
More than 1 Million IP-based STBs deliver advanced television services powered by Minerva’s software
2005
First HDTV solution for IPTV
Minerva powers first IPTV deployment with support for HDTV
2004
First IPTV PVR deployment
Minerva deploys first PVR solution for IPTV
2001
First turnkey IPTV system
Minerva deploys first end-to-end IPTV system in the United States
Mauro Bonomi
Chief Executive Officer
Mauro Bonomi is Minerva’s Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding Minerva, Mauro was Vice President of Marketing at C-Cube Microsystems. Bonomi has contributed heavily to the adoption of digital video technology in the consumer and communications markets. Mauro holds Master’s Degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Management from Stanford University and received an Undergraduate Degree with Honors in Electrical Engineering from Pavia University in Italy.
Jean-Georges Fritsch
EVP of Business Development and Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Fritsch joined Minerva Networks shortly after its inception. In his previous position at C-Cube Microsystems, he headed the company’s MPEG decoder product development, and contributed to the development of its core MPEG encoding algorithms. Dr. Fritsch worked as a Staff Scientist at Alcatel Business Systems, focusing on speech recognition, speech compression and digital acoustic echo canceling. Dr. Fritsch holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Signal Processing from the University of Nancy in France.
Mike Davies
Chief Financial Officer
Mike has provided financial stewardship at Silicon Valley companies for over 25 years. Prior to joining Minerva, Davies held executive levels positions with Kumu Networks, Cohere Technologies, Entrisphere (acquired by Ericsson), and California Accessories. He also led the finance function for multiple wireline product divisions at Ericsson. In his spare time, Davies volunteers as the treasurer of the San Francisco Bay Chapter of the National Speleological Society. Davies holds a B.Sc. in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Durham in the UK.
Fabrizio Capobianco
Chief Innovation Officer
When TOK.tv was acquired by Minerva Networks, Fabrizio became its Chief Innovation Officer. As the CEO of TOK.tv, Capobianco established the company as the largest social network in sports, with over 40M users. In 2002 he founded Funambol, the leading personal cloud provider for mobile operators. In 1994, he founded the first Web Company in Italy, Internet Graffiti. Capobianco has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and is a Knight of the Italian Republic.
Chuck Morris
Vice President of Engineering
Chuck Morris has over 20 years of experience in building engineering teams and developing software and systems products in the networking and video space. Prior to joining Minerva, Morris held VP of Engineering roles at Pie Digital, Omneon, and Venturi Wireless. Morris holds a MS Degree in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts and a BA in Business and Economics from Saint Anselm College.
Andy Crowe
Vice President of Worldwide Field Operations
Prior to joining Minerva in October 2000, Andy Crowe held the position of Principal Architect in Harmonic Inc.’s Digital Systems Division. Crowe has over 25 years of experience in digital video compression and video networking. Crowe holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Dartmouth College.
Randolph Osborne
Senior Vice President of America Sales
Randy Osborne is an industry veteran, with more than 30 years of sales and technology leadership experience. Originally joining Minerva Networks in 1998 as the Vice President of Worldwide Sales, Randy has again rejoined the team at the beginning of 2018. Previously, Osborne held VP positions at TiVo, FutureDial, and Venturi Wireless. A native to the San Francisco Bay Area, Osborne holds a BS in Business Administration & Computer Science from California State University, Sacramento.
Marco Bonomi
Vice President of EMEA Sales
Marco Bonomi has over 10 years of experience in the networking, telecommunications and video industry. Prior to joining Minerva, Marco held product management positions at Global Crossing. Marco holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Telecommunication Engineering from Milan Polytechnic University.
Michael Bransch
Regional Vice President of Sales, North Americas
Michael Bransch has over 20 years of sales experience in the telecommunications and video space. Prior to joining Minerva in 2001, Bransch sold industry leading digital video processing platforms to the government, advertising and education industries. Bransch has a Master’s Degree in Information Technology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Audio and Video Production from Michigan State University.
Peter Newman
Regional Vice President of Asia Pacific Sales
Peter Newman ...
Board of Directors
Mauro Bonomi
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Minerva Networks
Mauro Bonomi is Minerva’s Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding Minerva, Mauro was Vice President of Marketing at C-Cube Microsystems. Bonomi has contributed heavily to the adoption of digital video technology in the consumer and communications markets. Mauro holds Master’s Degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Management from Stanford University and received an Undergraduate Degree with honors in Electrical Engineering from Pavia University in Italy.
Irwin Federman
General Partner, U.S. Venture Partners (Board Observer)
Irwin Federman, who joined USVP as a General Partner in April 1990, was President and CEO of Monolithic Memories, Inc. from 1978 to 1987. MMI was a startling turnaround. Under Irwin’s leadership, the Company grew from virtual bankruptcy to $250 million in revenues during his nine-year tenure as CEO. After becoming a public company, MMI merged with AMD, of which Irwin became Vice Chairman. Irwin was also two-term Chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Association, has served on the Board of Directors of the National Venture Capital Association and served two terms on the Dean’s Advisory Board of Santa Clara University. As CEO at Monolithic Memories, Irwin initiated MMI investments in such highly successful venture capital start-ups as Altera, Cypress Semiconductor and Xilinx. As a professional venture capitalist, Irwin was a founding or lead investor in Blue Martini, Check Point Software Technologies, Centillium Communications, Crescendo Communications, MMC Networks, NeoMagic, Netro, Nuance Communications, QuickLogic, SanDisk, and TelCom Semiconductor. Irwin has been the founding or lead investor in a number of high-potential, high-profile early-stage venture capital investments, including BeVocal, ON24, and Mellanox, among others. He has been the recipient of the Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty Award and the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Community and Justice. In 2004, Irwin was inducted into Junior Achievement’s Silicon Valley Hall of Fame. Irwin received a B.S. in Economics from Brooklyn College and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering Science from Santa Clara University.
Chris Bowick
President, The Bowick Group LLC
Chris Bowick joined the board in December, 2013. Mr. Bowick currently serves as President of The Bowick Group, LLC, where he provides strategic advice to clients in the cable television and telecommunications industry. From 2000 to 2009, Mr. Bowick served as Cox Communications’ Senior Vice President of Engineering & Chief Technical Officer. Prior to his tenure at Cox, Mr. Bowick also served as Group Vice President, Technology & Chief Technical Officer for Jones Intercable, Inc., as well as President of Jones Futurex, a designer and manufacturer of triple DES, PC-based hardware encryption devices. Mr. Bowick has also served as Vice President of Engineering for Scientific Atlanta’s Transmission Systems Business Division, and served on the Board of Directors of ViXS Systems, acquired by Pixelworks. Mr. Bowick holds a BEE from Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from the University of Colorado.
Sebastiano Tevarotto
Managing Partner, SEBATEVA Inc.
Sebastiano Tevarotto has over 25 years of experience in the IT, Telecommunications and Media industries. In most recent years, Tevarotto joined boards of startup companies to help them strengthen operations and accelerate growth in areas such as real time databases, advertising, video processing and mobile services. Previously, he was Vice President and General Manager of the Communications, Media & Entertainment Business at HP. Sebastiano holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Padova, Italy and a Young Managers Program Diploma at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.