Bill Stewart, CEO/CTO
Bill Stewart is a world renowned Software Architect and Visionary, best known as the designer of After Dark, and more recently as the vision behind new products to merge media, social networking and user co-creation.


After Dark was more than the world's #1 selling software utility, it was the Flying Toasters product which transcended the tech world to become a pop culture icon and create a new product genre. With 25 years of proven experience in all areas of the business, Bill inspires trust in all his business relationships, leading teams in the areas of multimedia, web browsers, online gaming and social networking. His understanding of business, marketing, and engineering allow him to communicate effectively with partners, developers, media and the general public. He has repeated success designing award winning world class products as well as designing high profile products for companies such as Microsoft, AOL, Netscape and HP. He is the driving force behind a new startup that will brings a fresh approach to merging multimedia, genealogy and social networking to be more than the sum of the parts.


His results and experience speak to his value on any team. Among highlights, he's designed many award-winning applications, one of which was the world's best-selling software package. He designed two of the world's best Windows utilities, After Dark and Power Drawers. After Dark and it's flying toasters defined the screensaver genre and is one of the most popular utilities ever made and Power Drawers was the 2001 World Class Award winner as Best Utility in the world. Mr. Stewart’s focus is always on the bottom line needs of clients and end-users, cutting through technical, visual & marketing issues to the essentials, how a technical design can not merely achieve certain requirements, but ensuring that products meet business goals and deliver maximum value, translating clear and practical vision into superlative and profitable products.

Background Information
Mr. Stewart's background includes controls engineering, everything from machine-level to the highest level programming systems, graphic and package design, electronics, robotics, team management and presentation skills. Educated in Control Systems Engineering, he won various engineering awards including the 1987 SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) Robot Competition. He has repeatedly shown a unique ability to design new products that are widely accepted, influential and extremely long-lived. Some of his products designed for Windows 2 and 3 are still sold and used to this day (16 years later). His original product designs have all been award-winning and received high critical and popular praise. With varied and deep work experiences, he brings his high bandwidth of technical and people skills to every new project.

Originally from London, Ontario, Bill has worked throughout North America and is currently a resident of Victoria, BC. Mr. Stewart also runs the Dynamic Defense Wing Chun Academy where he teaches Wing Chun Kung Fu when not engaged in more dangerous pursuits like playing and learning with his brilliant and creative daughters, scuba diving and hang gliding.

"Whether making software that affects millions of people or teaching kung fu to individuals face to face, it's all cut from the same cloth. It's about using tools to connect and empower people in a positive way. For example, After Dark was incredibly popular, #1 sales on the planet. It's nice that it was so popular, but the point for me is that it affected millions of users in a positive way, sometimes it was the only thing on their computers they really liked; Windows Magazine called After Dark "The most over-engineered product ever made". I design the best possible products and have been fortunate that my work resonates with so many around the world. My design goal is to shape the ultimate user experience, the best possible product in its class. I design software to be loved, not merely used. That's my design credo. Anything less is a waste of time.

Teaching kung fu is just a more immediate outlet for creatively helping people. No matter how many enjoy my software out in the world, I also like being able to affect people personally and see the results first-hand. I like empowering people and breaking down difficult tasks until they are easy. As Gandhi would say "Be the change you want to see in the world." I'm a great believer in this philosophy.

Excellence is a product of vision, persistence and commitment, more than talent. It can apply to anyone who puts in the time and holds themselves to high standards to achieve excellence. If you're not striving for excellence, you shouldn't be in the game."