Rod Turner

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Rod Turner (born 1956) is a British-born technology entrepreneur, investor, and capital markets executive. He is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Manhattan Street Capital, a U.S.-based financial technology company that operates an online platform supporting capital raises under exemptions of The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Regulation A+, Regulation D, and Regulation S. Turner previously held senior executive roles at Ashton-Tate and Symantec Corporation, two publicly traded software companies that completed initial public offerings on the NASDAQ during the 1980s. He has also been active in venture investing, mergers and acquisitions, and startup advisory work since the early personal computing era.

Early life and education

Turner was born in 1956 and raised on a farm in the United Kingdom. In 1972, he joined the Central Electricity Generating Board as an engineering apprentice, undertaking craft training at power stations while studying for professional qualifications. He completed this training in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree with First Class Honours in Energy Technology from Aston University in England, with a focus on electrical and mechanical engineering. He later completed the Executive Institute programme at Stanford University in 1983. Further details of his early life are not widely documented in independent sources.

Career

Ashton-Tate (1982–1984)

In 1982, Turner joined Ashton-Tate, a database software company best known for its dBASE product line, as its approximately twelfth employee. He served as Vice President of U.S. marketing and sales and as General Manager of the International Division. During this period, Ashton-Tate grew annual revenues from approximately $2 million to $150 million and completed an initial public offering on the NASDAQ in 1983, with dBASE establishing itself as the market-leading database product on personal computers by that year.

Microport Software (1984–1990)

In 1984, Turner co-founded Microport Software, Inc., serving as chairman through 1990. The company focused on porting UNIX System V to Intel 286-based microcomputer architectures, contributing to the early enterprise adoption of UNIX on personal computer hardware.

Symantec Corporation (1985–1993)

Turner joined Symantec Corporation in 1985 at the startup stage and served in senior executive roles through 1993. He initially held the position of Executive Vice President for worldwide marketing, sales, and product management. Following a reorganisation of Symantec into autonomous product divisions in 1986, Turner was promoted to Division General Manager with full profit-and-loss accountability in May 1987. Symantec raised three rounds of venture capital during this period, with lead investment from Kleiner Perkins (represented by John Doerr), and completed an initial public offering on the NASDAQ in 1989, growing revenues from zero to approximately $250 million per year.

In 1990, Symantec acquired Peter Norton Computing, maker of Norton Utilities, and Turner served as General Manager for both the merger and the resulting business unit. Under his leadership, Norton AntiVirus was introduced in 1991. Over the following three years, Norton group revenues grew from approximately $20 million per year to $190 million per year, increasing the Norton group's share of total Symantec revenue from approximately 20–25% at the time of the merger to approximately 82% by 1993. Turner additionally led the acquisitions of PCAnywhere and an antivirus technology company into the Norton Group during this period.

Knowledge Adventure (1993–1994)

From 1993 to 1994, Turner served as president and chief executive officer of Knowledge Adventure, an educational software company. During his tenure, monthly revenues grew from approximately $240,000 to $1.5 million. Turner raised $12 million in venture capital financing from Mayfield Fund.

Mobile Automation (1996–2004)

In 1996, Turner founded Mobile Automation, serving as chairman. The company developed software for automated network configuration and management, targeting enterprise and managed service provider markets. The company received angel financing from Peter Norton and venture capital from Greylock Partners. Mobile Automation was subsequently acquired by iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS) in November 2004.

Irvine Ventures (1999–2003)

From 1999 to 2003, Turner served as Managing Partner of Irvine Ventures, a venture capital firm he co-founded with Safi Qureshey. The firm raised $32 million in angel and venture capital and supported the development of six startup companies. Turner's early-stage investments during this time included Ask Jeeves (NASDAQ: ASKJ), Amyris (NASDAQ: AMRS), Bloom Energy, and eASIC.

Artslant (2008–2020)

Turner served as chairman and chief executive officer of Artslant, an online arts platform, beginning in September 2008. During his tenure as CEO through 2010, monthly revenues grew at a compound rate of approximately 12.5% and site page views increased by approximately 700%. He continued as chairman through 2020.

START.ac (2011–2013)

Turner founded START.ac in April 2011 and served as its chief executive officer until June 2013. START.ac was a crowdfunding marketplace designed to connect startups with mentors and advisers.

Advisory roles (2004–present)

From 2004 onward, Turner has served in advisory and board capacities across a range of startup companies, including chairman and co-founder of CirrusLS (a SaaS bank lending platform), strategic adviser to AssistMyCase (a SaaS legal research platform), NetQuarry (a .NET application development platform), and Our Neighborhood Energy (an electricity retailer in Australia, subsequently acquired by CBD Energy Australia). Turner has also been associated with Workshops for Warriors, a non-profit organisation providing vocational training to military veterans.

Manhattan Street Capital (2015–present)

In April 2015, Turner founded Manhattan Street Capital, initially incorporated under the name FundAthena, approximately one month before Regulation A+ became effective under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act). The company operates a web-based platform used by companies seeking to raise growth capital under U.S. securities law exemptions, including Regulation A+, Regulation D, and Regulation S, providing project management and coordination support related to legal compliance, investor communications, and online subscription processes. The platform operates as a fundraising coordinator rather than as a registered broker-dealer.

Turner has been cited in financial and business media as a proponent of Regulation A+ and direct listings as alternatives to traditional IPOs for growth-stage companies. Manhattan Street Capital advised CubCrafters, an aircraft manufacturer, on a Regulation A+ capital raise, which received coverage in aviation industry press as a notable example of equity crowdfunding outside the technology sector.

In 2024, Manhattan Street Capital announced the launch of RodBot, an artificial intelligence–based chatbot trained on educational materials related to securities offerings and capital-raising strategies, designed to provide informational guidance to entrepreneurs.

Publications and media

Turner has written commentary on startup financing, equity crowdfunding, and capital markets regulation, including a 2012 article in VentureBeat arguing that crowdfunding would expand access to entrepreneurial capital beyond the geographic concentration of traditional venture capital. He has been quoted as an industry expert in Global Finance, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report. He has also appeared in podcasts and webinars discussing Regulation A+, the JOBS Act, and fundraising models for growth-stage businesses.

Personal life

Turner resides in San Diego, California. He has two sons. His stated personal interests include boating, automobile racing, and public speaking.

See also

  • Regulation A
  • Equity crowdfunding
  • Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act
  • Ashton-Tate
  • Symantec Corporation
  • Norton AntiVirus
  • iPass
  • Kleiner Perkins
  • Greylock Partners