Perry La Forge
About Perry La Forge
Perry has worked with high-tech firms for over 35 years, is known for growing companies, building business partnerships and being a driving force behind the expansion of wireless communications. Instrumental in Qualcomm’s launch (starting in 1988) and the introduction of CDMA, 3G/4G LTE digital cellular, he secured initial funding, developed markets, built manufacturer support and led the standardization and evolution of 3G/4G. He developed much of the strategy to expand CDMA worldwide, and drove vendors such as Samsung and LG to enter the wireless marketplace. This work has been chronicled in the book, “The Qualcomm Equation”. In 1993 he founded the CDG which he chaired for 20 years, an association of over 150 wireless operators and manufacturers that introduced pioneering concepts such as mobile GPS, over the air activation, etc. In that role he assisted in the development of wireless markets from China to Africa. He also founded InOvate, a venture fund backed by Sequoia, Charles River Ventures, Cisco and others, inCode Telecom Group (sold to Verisign), co-founded Kodiak Networks (sold to Motorola Solutions) and was a seed investor and advisor/board member in FiberTower (IPO), Danger (sold to Microsoft); Signalsoft (to Openwave), Bitfone (to HP) and WiChorus (to Tellabs). He was also and investor, advisor/board member to FusionOne (sold to Synchronoss) and Transaction Wireless (sold to First Data). Retired in 2001 from PRTM (now PWC’s PRTM Management Consulting) after 18 yrs., he founded and managed its telecom practice. He has a bachelor of Engineering degree (magna cum laude) from Santa Clara University and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.