Igal Lichtman

Igal Lichtman, also known by the Internet pseudonym "Mrs. Jello",[1] was the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Magic Solutions International, Inc., a company that specialized in help desk and asset management software. Lichtman also was a seed investor in targeted advertising network Quigo, sold to America Online in 2007 for US$340 million.[2]

Biography

Lichtman earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from Technion, the Israeli Institute of Technology. He held various positions as an engineer and a programmer. Lichtman also was an officer in the Israeli Air Force.

Lichtman was a co-founder of a prosperous computer/local area network (LAN) value-added reseller (VAR) business that was ranked in the top 100 LAN VAR's in the U.S. between 1986 and 1988.

Magic Solutions

Lichtman found the company in 1988 with headquarters in Paramus, New Jersey. Magic Solutions International, Inc. (known as "Magic Solutions") specialized in help desk automation and asset management software. The company was an unplanned spin-off from a computer systems integrator, later becoming one of the most successful independent software vendors on the East Coast of the U.S. during the 1990s.

At inception, the company had a single programmer servicing one customer. At its height, Magic Solutions has 300 employees, 6,000 customers, and annual trailing sales over US$50 million. In 1996 and 1997, Magic Solutions was one of the Inc. 500 fastest growing companies in the U.S. In April 1998, it was acquired by Network Associates Inc. (NETA) (McAfee Inc, as of July 2004[3]) for US$110 million.[4]

In 1997, search technology Magic Solutions created was licensed to Microsoft for use in the "TechNet" product.[5]

Post-Magic Solutions

After the sale of Magic Solutions, Lichtman built or funded a number of high-technology startup companies, including iBoogie.com; TrafficMedia, responsible for the "Vortalizer Technology" innovation;[1][6] Quigo.com;[7] and Domainspa.com,[8] built on an early "pay per click" internet advertising business model.

During this period, Lichtman also worked with virtual reality, producing the website Jerusalem.com, where visitors adopted an avatar to navigate a virtual tour of Jerusalem.[1]

Charity work

Lichtman's charity work included serving on the board of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and endowing a wing to the Israel National Museum of Science, Technology, and Space (also known as "MadaTech").

Awards

In 1996, Lichtman was awarded the Ernst & Young New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year Award[9] in the "Software" category, and Magic Solutions ranked No. 238 in the 1996 Inc. 500 after growing more than 1,000 percent over five years.[10][11]

Death

Lichtman died on February 18, 2013, from cancer.[12][13]

References
  1. Ron Jackson (2012). "Fly Like an Igal: Lichtman Innovates Again With Vortalizer Automatic Website Building Technology at TrafficMedia". Domain Name Journal. Internet Edge, Inc. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  2. Erick Schonfeld (7 November 2007). "AOL Buys Quigo (Confirmed)". Tech Crunch. Aol Tech. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  3. Robert McMillan (1 July 2004). "Network Associates changes name back to McAfee". Network World. Network World, Inc. Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  4. internetnews.com Staff (25 March 1998). "Network Associates to Acquire Magic Solutions". Internet News. QuinStreet Inc. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  5. Magic Solutions (1997). "MAGIC SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT". PR Newswire. PR Newswire Association LLC. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  6. "Domain Broker". RobSequin.com. RobSequin.com. 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  7. "A chat with Igal Lichtman (Mrs. Jello)". HybridDomainer.com. HybridDomainer. 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  8. Ron Jackson (8 March 2003). "New Company Promises New Life for Your Tired Old & Inactive Domain Names". Domain Name Journal. Internet Edge, Inc. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  9. Igal Lichtman, Founder Of Magic Solutions, Inc. Awarded Nj Entrepreneur Of The Year For Computer Software - Pr Newswire - Highbeam Research Archived March 31, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  10. "MAGIC SOLUTIONS NAMED ONE OF THE USA'S FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES". PR Newswire. PR Newswire Association LLC. 15 October 1996. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  11. Robert A. Mamis (1 March 1997). "Growth Happens". Inc. Mansueto Ventures LLC. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  12. directnavigation (18 February 2013). "Igal Lichman, Software and Domain Pioneer Passes Away". DirectNavigation.com. Wordpress. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  13. "The Domain Industry Loses a Giant - Legendary Investor/Entrepreneur Igal Lichtman Leaves Us After a Life Exceptionally Well Lived". www.dnjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
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