Bob Frankston

Bob Frankston is a pioneering software engineer best known as the co-creator of VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet. Released in 1979, VisiCalc transformed personal computing from a hobbyist pursuit into an essential business tool and is widely regarded as the application that ignited the PC revolution.

Following VisiCalc, Frankston served as Chief Scientist at Lotus Development Corporation, where he contributed to the evolution of spreadsheet and productivity software. He later worked as a Principal Architect at Microsoft, helping to shape large-scale networking and software systems during a pivotal period in the company’s growth.

Frankston has also been active in telecommunications and digital policy, advocating for open, flexible network architectures and improved public access to digital infrastructure. His thought leadership continues to influence discussions around connectivity, innovation, and the future of distributed computing.