Benjamin M. Rosen, a technology pioneer who was instrumental in convincing Wall Street to take personal computers seriously, passed away on August 23, 2026, at the age of 93. Rosen's career spanned from engineering to financial analysis and venture capital, making him a key player in the early days of the tech industry. He was recognized for his ability to see the potential in nascent technologies and mobilize financial resources for their development.
Rosen began his career as an engineer before transitioning to financial analysis. While at Morgan Stanley, he became an ardent advocate for personal computers, notably introducing Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to the firm's president, leading to Morgan Stanley underwriting Apple's initial public offering in 1980. His efforts helped shift Wall Street's perception of personal computers from mere toys to serious business tools.
In 1981, Rosen co-founded Sevin Rosen Funds, a venture capital firm that invested in over 100 technology startups. He is particularly recognized for co-founding Compaq Computer Corporation, where he served as chairman from 1983 until 2000. Under his leadership, Compaq grew to become the world's leading PC maker, even surpassing IBM at its peak. Sevin Rosen also provided initial funding for other influential tech companies, including Electronic Arts and Lotus Development, the creator of the popular Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet program.
Rosen was known for his hands-on approach as chairman of Compaq, even replacing the chief executive twice to align the company with his vision for the evolving tech industry. He retired from Compaq in 2000, two years before its acquisition by Hewlett-Packard. His legacy includes championing the open PC architecture, which fostered competition and made computers more accessible, and being named by Computerworld magazine as one of the 25 people who "changed the world."
Born on March 11, 1933, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Rosen held a BS from Caltech, an MS from Stanford, and an MBA from Columbia University. He was also a significant philanthropist, particularly to Caltech, where he was a chair emeritus of its Board of Trustees. He is survived by his wife, Donna Perret Rosen, and sons, Jeffrey and Eric Rosen.
