The Internet's First Entrepreneur

It is hard to believe that the internet, world wide web, wi-fi, and social media were not part of our lives in 1990. There were very few so-called internet pioneers who foresaw so much of our present day use of the internet 30 years ago.

Alan Meckler is an internet pioneer. Meckler was the first person to start a venture in the commercial internet space (October, 1990). There was no world wide web. There were few means to connect to the internet back then. Yet Meckler anticipated that the internet would be a "black swan event" and that it would revolutionize all aspects of personal and commercial life. The author uses over 100 vignettes to relate his experiences, first as a library technology publisher working with microfiches and microfilm, and then evolving into CD-ROMs, virtual reality, and then the internet.

The book is a history, but also a very personal memoir of a career entrepreneur and all the difficulties one encounters with raising funds, dealing with cash flow shortages, personnel, and getting people to believe in the next big thing. Meckler also recounts overcoming dyslexia, military experiences, and incredible one-on-one meetings with the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Cuban, Jerry Yang, Sheldon Adelson, and even Robert F. Kennedy. Meckler's memoir is also a must-listen for up-and-coming entrepreneurs as he offers valuable lessons learned in a 50-year career.