Philippe Kahn

About

Best known for developing the world's first camera-doubling mobile phone, this French-born entrepreneur also became famous as the founder of the Starfish Software, Fullpower Technologies, and LightSurf Technologies companies.

Before Fame

After studying mathematics at both the University of Nice (in France) and ETH Zurich University (in Switzerland), he earned a master's degree in music from the Zurich Conservatory.

Trivia

As the owner of the Borland Software Corporation, he made headlines for offering complete benefits to the domestic partners of his company's gay employees.

Family Life

The son of a Holocaust survivor and violinist mother and an engineer father, he was raised in Paris, France. He later married fellow entrepreneur Sonia Lee, with whom he had one child (he had fathered several other children through an earlier marriage).

Associated With

He and mobile phone inventor Martin Cooper both became famous as technological entrepreneurs.