Jacob Smith

Jacob Smith has a unique background blending classical music and cutting-edge technology. Trained as a classical bassoonist, performing professionally with orchestras like the Philadelphia Orchestra, he transitioned into internet marketing and co-founded Packet, a bare metal cloud platform that was later acquired by Equinix. about+2

He is an experienced entrepreneur and investor, having co-founded Packet Host and Humans of the Internet (HOTI). Through HOTI, he focuses on seed-stage investments in founders working on internet infrastructure, open source, and SaaS, demonstrating a commitment to fostering innovation in the tech ecosystem. hoti+1

Jacob has significant expertise in Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy, honed during his time as CMO at Packet and subsequently as Digital Services GTM Leader and VP, Bare Metal Strategy & Marketing at Equinix. He advocates for an integrated GTM approach, emphasizing customer focus and breaking down organizational silos. constellaryhq+1

He is a dedicated board member, contributing his strategic insights to various organizations, including Ori, Groundworks Collaborative, Center on Rural Innovation, and the Marlboro School of Music. His leadership experience extends to chairing the board of PhillyCarShare during its transition to a for-profit entity. groundworksvt+2

Jacob is deeply involved in the open source and edge computing communities. He co-created the State of the Edge report, a key thought leadership initiative now under the Linux Foundation's LF Edge, where he serves as co-chair. stateoftheedge+1