TopCoder is a development and design community that hosts online programming contests for developers, analysts and designers.
TopCoder brings the world’s software talent together in a professional global community.
TopCoder is the world’s largest competitive software development community with more than 400,000 developers representing over 200 countries. TopCoder hosts the largest and most comprehensive developer ratings and performance metrics available. The TopCoder Community of over 400,000 members represents business analysts, algorithmists, software developers and creative artists from over 200 countries. The TopCoder Open Innovation Community creates digital assets including applications, analytics, software and creative designs and solutions for a wide-ranging client base through a competitive, rigorous, standards based methodology. Combined with an extremely talented community this groundbreaking methodology results in superior outcomes for clients by allowing a software-as-parts approach to application development. TopCoder makes this large library of software components built through competition available to clients. Utilizing a world-wide member base and this library, TopCoder seeks to lower the cost of software development while increasing both the speed at which applications can be developed and the quality of the ultimate application.
In June 2001, Robert Hughes was named President and Chief Operating Officer of TopCoder, Inc. of Glastonbury, Connecticut. He is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company.
Prior to his role at TopCoder, Hughes served as the Chief Operating Officer of Talln Inc. since 1997. Talln is an Internet professional services firm that creates fully-integrated, technologically advanced solutions for their clients.
During his tenure with Talln, the company was recognized as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America four years in a row by consultancy firm Deloitte & Touche and by Inc. magazine for its outstanding performance. In 2000, CMGI, Inc. acquired a majority ownership of the company.
Ive been in digital advertising for the better part of 10 years involved in all aspects of business from sales to product and operations. I tend to be a problem solver and solutions focused leader currently the Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Product at Motrixi, a mobile demand side platform. Motrixi is my second start up after exiting successfully from my first in 2009.
Peter joined TopCoder in March of 2009 as the Chief Financial Officer. He became a member of the Board of Directors in December of 2008. Prior to TopCoder, Peter held various executive management and board positions including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive Officer and Board member of Talln. While an Executive Officer, he participated in numerous financing and capital transactions including private placements ranging in deal size from $1 million to $30 million. Additionally, he has been involved in several merger and acquisition transactions with deal transaction valuations up to $1 billion.
Peter graduated from Assumption College in 1982. He is a Certified Public Accountant and spent 15 years in public accounting upon graduation from Assumption.
Mike Lydon joined TopCoder in April of 2001 as the Chief Technology Officer. Lydon brought to TopCoder his 10 years of experience designing and managing large-scale distributed web-based and data-warehousing systems.
Prior to joining TopCoder, Lydon worked as Vice President of Technology Services at Talln.
Lydon holds a business degree from the University of Connecticut where his focus was on Information Systems.
George Tsipolitis manages the strategic evolution, build, and integration of the TopCoder Platform which is composed of several key areas such as the community, processes, and technology systems. Day to day activities include managing Enterprise Accounts, Platform Delivery Operations, and Community Operations for TopCoder by using a global virtual outcomes based workforce.
George joined TopCoder in September 2001 as Vice President of Development. As VP of Development, George architected and managed the development of TopCoders patented algorithm competition software in addition to TopCoders patented distributed software development platform.
Prior to joining TopCoder, George was a Senior Project Manager with Talln.
George holds a business degree from the University of Connecticut where his focus was on Information Systems.
Tony Jefts joined TopCoder in 2005 and brings almost 15 years of experience in leadership and delivery of cutting edge technology solutions to high profile corporations. At TopCoder, as Director of Product Development, he spearheads the product and process development efforts that directly support TopCoders unique and innovative platform model. By leveraging TopCoders own platform and global community, Tony has transformed the way TopCoder accomplishes all of its technology and creative needs, and placed that same capability in the hands of its customers.
He is one of the inventors on three separate patents, all focused on various aspects of creating platforms and processes to support scaling global innovation platforms and putting them in the hands of real end users.
Before joining TopCoder, Jefts held the position of Technical Project Manager at Talln where he managed the delivery of high-end enterprise systems for many Fortune 100 companies.
As the Director of Events & Educational Programs at TopCoder, Inc., Ms. Ford is responsible for managing TopCoders community efforts. She is the program manager for TopCoders CS-STEM program, www.NoNameSite.com, which is a website directed to growing a community of U.S. middle school and high school students who are interested in computer science.
She oversees the planning and execution of TopCoder online and onsite events including the TopCoder Open, an annual event in which the best software developers and designers from around the world compete on line and at a live finals in the United States.
In November 2000, Jack Hughes founded TopCoder on the premise that talent and skill are the determinant factors in the quality and utility of software and software has become central to the global economy.
In both his own programming experience and as co-founder and chairman of Talln Inc., a provider of web-enabled business solutions, Jack recognized that while successful projects were driven by superior programming skills, the talent was unqualified and largely unrecognized. TopCoders mission is to create objective ratings that place high value on the programming industrys best and brightest, and build opportunity and community for programmers through ongoing programming tournaments and employer connections.
Under Hughes tenure as chairman at Talln, the company was recognized as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America four years in a row by consultancy firm Deloitte & Touche and by Inc. magazine for its outstanding performance. In 2000, CMGI, Inc.
Ira Heffan has been working with TopCoder since 2001, previously as outside counsel to the company, and now as its General Counsel.
Heffan brings to TopCoder over ten years of experience in working with technology companies on their legal matters, particularly in the areas of intellectual property and community-based models.
Prior to joining TopCoder, he was in the Intellectual Property Transactions and Strategies Group of the law firm Goodwin Procter.
Heffan holds a JD from Stanford Law School, an MS in Computer Science from Boston University, and a BSEE from Union College.
David Tanacea joined TopCoder as president in 2002, bringing more than 20 years of experience to TopCoder Software. As General Manager of TopCoders Enterprise Platforms division, he oversees the technology direction and distribution of TopCoder Softwares application development offerings for Fortune 500 companies.
Prior to joining TopCoder Software, Tanacea spent seven years with Talln and as general manager leading development efforts for marquee Fortune 1000 companies, including Priceline, Ingram Micro, PepBoys, Motts, Bloomingdales, Talbots and Best Buy.
Tanacea was previously vice president of information technology for Zany Brainy, vice president of development for Ann Taylor and director of merchandising systems for WaldenBooks. Tanacea launched his career in the early 1980?s with Eastman Kodak as an application developer.