Citrix Systems: Architectural Designer And Virtualization Pioneer Ed Lacobucci’s Dream Company

A multinational software company well-known as Citrix Systems enabled the best service in cloud computing, networking, and SaaS. Also, it offers services like desktop virtualization, networking, and many more. Ed Lacobucci is known as the virtualization pioneer set up the firm back in 1989. Today, 40000+ clients all over the world use Citrix System’s solutions. However, almost 99 percent of clients of the fortune 100, and 98 percent of fortune 500. Let’s see how the company acquired huge success in the IT world.

The Backstory

In 1989, Ed lacobucci a former developer at IBM set up Critix with USD 3 Million investment. Previously, the company headquartered in Texas. However, later on, he shifted the company to Coral Springs in Florida. Only five IBM teammates of Ed joined the company initially. As a matter of fact, earlier it recognized as Citrus. But it renamed Citrix after another firm with the same name as Citrus claimed trademark rights. In the starting days of the company, Roger Roberts served as CEO. After that, Ed Iacobucci took the position and served until he diminished.

Citrix Boomed as an Industrial leader

Basically, the company started production with a remote access product for Microsoft OS. Citrix Multiuser an OS/2 extension was its the first product. Since then Microsoft had a partnership with Citrix System. Soon, the company started building purpose-built devices and remarked the beginning as an industrial leader in thin client technology.

Thereafter, the firm acquired Sequoia Corporation as well as ExpertCity in 2001 and 2003 respectively. In fact, in a short period, it acquired several other companies. These acquisitions benefit the firm to expand the services further. Growth continues further and the result into a multi-user operating system launch called WinFrame. It is based on Microsoft’s Windows NT and it was the first thin client for Windows. 

Also read: Story of Lee Byung-Chul- Founder of Samsung

Ed Iacobucci- Citrix’s Founder

He was born in Argentina on 26 September 1953. However, Ed went to Georgia Tech to study systems engineering. In 1979, he started his career at IBM. At the start, he worked in architecture and design-related posts where most of the work is involved with PC OS/2. In short duration, Ed became CTO of a networking job there. Very few know that Ed shares a great contribution to IBM’s development systems’ Network Architecture. Also, he was highly involved in the NetView net management technology. 

The journey to start Citrix

Ed worked with IBM for a long time. After serving almost ten years at the same firm, he also got a job offer from Microsoft. Yes, in 1989, Ed had the chance to become a chief technical officer at Microsoft’s networking group. But as per his belief that every person has own belief about the future, Ed also had some different ideas. So, he left the job as well as refused a job proposal and plunged into entrepreneurship to start Citrix.  

Initially, it was a little bit difficult to start the actual working of the company. It took almost two years two create its first product. After that, under Ed Lacobucci’s guidance, the company never looked back. In 1997, Microsoft-Citrix signed a joint agreement related to multi-user capabilities in Microsoft’s Windows NT server. 

Awards and Recognition

He received the Ernst & Young “International Entrepreneur of the Year” award in 1998. Also, Ed served as a technology judge at the state and national level for the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year Awards”.

Later Life

Ed Iacobucci had a great contribution to building the strong foundation of Citrix. Apart from that, he assisted in the DayJet Corporation’s establishment in 2002. DayJet was known for on-demand optimization technology to make jet travel affordable and accessible. Unfortunately, in 2008, the company had folded due to some reasons. Thereafter, Ed also helped in the VirtualWorks foundation in 2009. But due to the degrading health situation, he had to resign his position at VirtualWorks.

Iacobucci died on 21 June 2013 due to cancer at his home in Florida.