November 17, 2008 8:07 AM PST

Red Hat's Szulik named entrepreneur of the year

by Matt Asay
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Ernst & Young has named Matthew Szulik, chairman of Red Hat, as its 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year in the Technology category. It's a fitting honor for the man who helped put open source on the enterprise map, and helped Red Hat claim 80 percent of the enterprise Linux market in the process.

Szulik was recognized for turning Red Hat from what some called a questionable idea into a billion-dollar business. "Matthew Szulik follows a proud tradition of pioneering entrepreneurs who overcame skeptics and brought a novel, seemingly improbable business idea to market successfully," said James S. Turley, chairman and CEO, Ernst & Young LLP.

I first competed with Matthew back in 2000 while at Lineo, and later came to know him and deeply respect him. He earned this honor.

Matt Asay brings a decade of in-the-trenches open-source business and legal experience to The Open Road, with an emphasis on emerging open-source business strategies and opportunities. Matt is vice president of business development at Alfresco, a company that develops open-source software for content management. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. You can follow Matt on Twitter @mjasay.
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by shikarishambu November 17, 2008 9:59 AM PST
Matt, For once I completely agree with you.
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by Matt Asay November 17, 2008 10:23 AM PST
You mean you don't think I'm 100% right the rest of the time? I'm really offended. :-) (Actually, you're in the same boat as my wife, kids, friends, co-workers, etc., so in pretty good company.)
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by dragonbite November 17, 2008 11:36 AM PST
He's a deserving recipient.
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by TimBowden November 17, 2008 5:36 PM PST
Well called. A much deserved award that recognises a brilliant stewardship of Red Hat through uncharted territories.

And Matt, it's good you don't worry too much about being wrong ;-) Your blog is still worth reading even when you do call a woopsie (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10096115-16.html#5038611).
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About The Open Road

Matt Asay brings a decade of in-the-trenches open-source business and legal experience to the Open Road, with an emphasis on emerging open-source business strategies and opportunities. Matt is general manager of the Americas division and vice president of business development at Alfresco, a company that develops open-source software for content management. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

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