Welcome to the IT Pro Panel Profile, where we talk to the CIOs, experts and IT leaders that make up the IT Pro Panel, and discover their top tech, pet peeves and IT inspirations.
The TV licensing market is a lucrative but complex one, so any company that can reduce some of that complexity is sure to be welcomed with open arms. That's the mission of TRX, a startup that offers a digital marketplace for TV studios to easily sell their content to broadcasters.
As TRX CTO, Dan Jacobs is the man responsible for developing and maintaining that platform, a challenge that involves balancing the technical intricacies of a complex tech stack with the practical needs of the business.
Luckily, Jacobs has a wealth of experience to fall back on. A serial CTO, he has held executive positions at Virgin.com and Retail Marketing International, among others, with a firm passion for technology and development.
Dan Jacobs
CTO - TRX
Describe your role in 20 words or fewer.
I am CTO of TRX.tv, responsible for product and software development, and maintenance for the business.
What was your first computer?
My first computer was a Commodore 64; it was a gift from my parents for my 12th birthday. I wanted it to play games - which I did, a lot - but also loved to see how it worked. I'd take it apart physically and learned BASIC by buying magazines that would print code which I then typed out and stored on tape!
What do you like most about working in IT?
My motivation for working in IT is to create great products. I love innovating, coming up with solutions to problems. There's a big piece of work which is making sure there really is a problem to solve or demand to fill, and that's part of the process of modern software development.
If you could magically get rid of one piece of technology forever, what would it be, and why?
Cables. Why do we still have cables in a wireless world? Even power can be delivered without cables!
What future tech innovations are you most excited about?
Eco-tech. I'm looking forward to making technology more eco-friendly, including lowering the impact of personal devices.
Who’s your biggest inspiration in the world of tech?
I like Elon Musk because he's not afraid to tackle any problem, whether it's space travel or electric vehicles.
If you're a senior IT decision-maker and you'd like to apply to be part of the IT Pro Panel, please email panel@itpro.co.uk
