Andy Rubin

Andrew E. Rubin (born March 13, 1963) is an American computer programmer, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist. He founded Danger Inc. in 1999 and left in 2003; Danger was eventually acquired by Microsoft in 2008. Rubin founded Android Inc. in 2003, which was acquired by Google in 2005. He served as a Google vice president for nine years and led Google's efforts in creating and promoting the Android operating system for mobile phones and other devices.

Rubin left Google in 2014. After that, he co-founded and served as CEO of venture capital firm Playground Global from 2015 to 2019. He also helped found Essential Products in 2015, a mobile phone start-up that closed in 2020. In 2019, Rubin was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

Andy Rubin grew up in Chappaqua, New York. He went to Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua from 1977 to 1981. Later, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Utica College in Utica, New York in 1986.

Career

Andy Rubin worked at Apple from 1989 to 1992. His co-workers called him "Android" because he loved robots, and this name later became the name of the Android operating system.

Rubin joined General Magic in 1992, where he helped develop the Motorola Envoy. In 1999, he started Danger, Inc., creating a special mobile phone called the Hiptop, also known as the T-Mobile Sidekick. Rubin left Danger in 2004 to start Android, Inc. When Google bought Android in 2005, Rubin became a leader in developing the Android operating system for smartphones. He worked at Google until 2014, helping create new technology projects.

After leaving Google, Rubin started Playground Global in 2015, a company that helps new technology businesses grow. He also helped start Essential Products, which made smartphones, before leaving in 2020.