Carbon Robotics
Lead Independent Director, Carbon Robotics
Carbon Robotics is revolutionizing agriculture with AI-guided laser weeding and tractor autonomy so growers can cut inputs, fight labor shortages, and capture agronomic data every pass.
Roles:Technology investor
Don Listwin
Building enduring companies across networking, data, and health while backing founders who pair engineering rigor with human impact.
And now digging into AG TECH AI ROBOTICS.
Featured interview
Caltech Heritage Project Oral History (2025)
Four sessions with Don Listwin on leadership, investing, and building systems for early cancer detection.
Verified
Recognition & portraits
Primary-source links that corroborate Don’s Stanford honors and academic affiliations.
Photo: Financial Times (CC BY 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons
My Story
I have 40+ years in the technology industry. I built a successful tech career at Cisco, and then became the CEO of a public company—OpenWave—that helped power the first generation of the mobile internet. Since then, I created Listwin Ventures which has invested in dozens of other leading technology companies. I founded theCanary Foundation in 2004 to advance early cancer detection. My operating experience includes CEO roles at RapidAI and ZEVX. I currently serve on four boards: 4AG Robotics, Carbon Robotics,Canary Foundation, and BelizeKids.org. I also serve as a Tech Partner at Sequoia Capital and Rally Ventures.
With a focus on developing networking and data center technologies for the Internet, I began my career in 1980 at Develcon in Canada, marketing data switching technology for the mini-computer era. In the mid-1980s, I relocated to Silicon Valley and joined Cisco Systems in 1990. During a 10-year tenure at Cisco, I built the IBM business unit, the Access business unit, and the Service Provider line of business—overseeing business totaling more than $12 billion in annual revenue. In 2000, I became CEO of Openwave, which provided software that helped make the early mobile Internet work.
After 25 years of senior leadership operating experience, I founded the Canary Foundationin 2004 and dedicated myself to philanthropic work in science and technology for the early detection of cancer. TheCanary Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on funding, discovering, and developing tests for early cancer detection. I continue to be deeply involved with other cancer-related organizations. In 2009, I was appointed to the National Cancer Institute’s Board of Scientific Advisors. I am a member of the Stanford Advisory Board for the Canary Center for Cancer Early Detection atStanford and in 2018 I was honored to be awarded the Dean's Medal—the highest honor bestowed by the School of Medicine to individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced the mission ofStanford Medicine. I am also a faculty member in Radiology atStanford Medicine.
From 2018–2021, I served as CEO of RapidAI— the worldwide leader in cerebrovascular imaging analysis, delivering the proven software tools that healthcare professionals around the world use to successfully identify and treat more stroke patients than ever before.
I live part-time in Belize where I scuba dive daily and work on restoring and protecting the barrier reef. In 2010, my wife and I created the non-profit BelizeKids.org to support local community and education initiatives and have created a partnership with Stanford to deliver eye care to the local community.
A native of Canada, I hold a B.E. in Electrical Engineering and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada where I continue to actively support student entrepreneurs.
Recent work
4AG
Autonomous mushroom harvesting robots
4AG builds robots that pick, trim, and pack mushrooms at industrial scale.
TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT · FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES
My Investments
My investments range from seed through sizable stakes in public entities.
I like helping to solve technology and market development problems. As an engineer and entrepreneur, I think just about any problem can be fixed with the right amount of leadership, intellect, and time. I believe in a systematic approach that involves many disciplines collaborating to share information and working together around the world to give an edge. This is how we do groundbreaking work bringing new products to market.
Seed
VIDA lung health
VIDA is a precision lung health company accelerating therapies to patients through AI-powered lung intelligence.
Private
AwareX
AwareX provides a mobile engagement platform that helps carriers deliver personalized billing, support, and account experiences.
Clarius Mobile Health
Clarius Mobile Health empowers every medical professional with accurate, easy to use and affordable imaging tools.
RapidAI
RapidAI builds AI-powered neurovascular imaging software that helps stroke teams triage, diagnose, and treat patients faster.
Zededa
ZEDEDA provides an edge intelligence platform for creating, securing, and operating AI and autonomous workloads across distributed environments.
Venture
HWVP
HWVP is an early-stage enterprise software firm that backs founders with capital, operating mentorship, and go-to-market support.
Rally Ventures
Rally Ventures I–V invests exclusively in early-stage business technology companies.
Sequoia Capital
Sequoia helps daring founders build legendary companies across consumer, enterprise, and health.
TeleSoft Partners
TeleSoft Partners provides entrepreneurs with capital, knowledge, contacts, and expertise.
Public
Calix
Calix is a leading provider of next generation fiber optic based broadband solutions.
Philanthropic
BelizeKids.org
BelizeKids.org (Founder & Chairman) is a non-profit organization partnering with businesses to support the needs of kids in Belize.
Canary Foundation
Canary Foundation, founded by Don in 2004, focuses solely on early cancer detection.
Exits
Uberflip
Uberflip built a marketing engagement platform for personalized B2B buyer journeys and was acquired by PathFactory in July 2024.
Openwave
Openwave (born from the merger of Software.com and Phone.com) built the essential software stack that powered the first generation of the mobile internet.
GenoLogics
GenoLogics created laboratory information management software (LIMS) for genomics and proteomics labs.
Joyent
Joyent operated one of the earliest public clouds and built the Node.js ecosystem that powers modern web apps.
Isilon Systems
Isilon Systems (acquired by EMC) pioneered scale-out NAS storage tuned for media, genomics, and cloud workloads.
PLUMgrid
PLUMgrid built software-defined networking overlays so enterprises could virtualize complex data center topologies.
Teradici
TERADICI (Q4 2021) multi-cloud access for high-performance devices, sold to HP Inc.
ZEVX
ZEVX developed intelligent EV powertrains and data services for commercial fleets before winding down in 2024.
BIG EVENTS
Creating Awareness and Driving Impact
NetAid
NETAID was an anti-poverty initiative co-founded by the United Nations Development Programme and Cisco Systems with a 1999 concert and simultaneous digital events spanning 40+ countries.
Learn more about NetAid
San Jose Grand Prix
SAN JOSE GRAND PRIX brought Champ Car racing to Silicon Valley, amplifying Canary Foundation’s mission and the importance of early cancer detection.
Learn more about San Jose Grand PrixBIG IDEA
Advancing Early Cancer Detection
Canary Foundation
Founded in 2004 to fund collaborative research and advance tests for early cancer detection.
Learn more about Canary Foundation
Canary Center at Stanford
A world-class research facility focused on minimally invasive diagnostics and imaging strategies for detecting cancers at curable stages.
Learn more about Canary Center at Stanford
Canary Challenge
An annual fully supported bike ride whose proceeds benefited the Stanford Cancer Institute and Canary Center to advance cancer research and supportive care.
Learn more about Canary Challenge
Early Detection of Cancer Conference
A cross-disciplinary conference series investing in early detection research, screening accuracy, and the biology of early-stage cancers.
Learn more about Early Detection of Cancer ConferenceBIG LOVE
Helping Communities in Belize
Belize Vision Clinic
Partnering with BCVI and Stanford Medicine, this clinic provides comprehensive eye care for San Pedro residents through BelizeKids.org.
Learn more about Belize Vision Clinic
San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School
Expanded with new classrooms, electrical upgrades, and refreshed facilities to support 700+ students.
Learn more about San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School
New Horizon SDA Primary School
Added classrooms, shaded palapa space, and infrastructure repairs to serve more than 500 students.
Learn more about New Horizon SDA Primary School
Hol Chan Marine Reserve + SP Tour Guide Association
Created “no-take” zones, installed mooring buoys, and supported sustainable tourism to protect Belize’s reef.
Learn more about Hol Chan Marine Reserve + SP Tour Guide Association
Boca Del Rio Park Playground
Renovated beachfront park with palapas, playground equipment, and sports upgrades for families.
Learn more about Boca Del Rio Park PlaygroundBIG FUN
Creating Delight
Canary Cove
A private resort on Ambergris Caye bringing family, friends, and business teams together in Belize.
Learn more about Canary Cove
Chelsea & Woodside Railroad
A backyard railroad experience complete with Don as train conductor to delight kids of all ages.
Learn more about Chelsea & Woodside Railroad