John Stockton

Chief Operating Officer

John Stockton brings a wealth of experience from the high-tech startup and venture capital worlds, where he has consistently demonstrated his expertise in technology evaluation, financial analysis, and risk assessment. With a strong focus on clean-tech innovations and advanced semiconductor processes, John has played pivotal roles in fund raising, strategic partnerships, and supply chain development. He has served as Chairman, Director, CEO, CTO and Fellow for multiple companies, public and private. John holds a BS in Engineering Science from the University of Texas at Austin and has multiple patents in IC testing, holographic optical memory, and energy controller design. Early in his career, John Worked at Motorola as part of the M68000 microprocessor team, starting out in the design group and later moving to strategic marketing and product planning for multiple product lines. Transitioning to the 8-bit embedded processor group and helped build a large part of that $2B semiconductor operation. Later, at VLSI Technology, Inc. in multiple roles ranging from strategic marketing to Engineering Fellow reporting to the CEO, John was again responsible for technology direction and prioritization across multiple product lines. John co-founded a PC Chip Set business which ultimately became about 50% of the company's total revenues. John organized the funding and spin-off of ARM from its parent company Acorn Computers Ltd. and, with Apple’s investment, which John secured, created what would become ARM Ltd. Subsequently, John Worked with Mayfield Fund as a Venture Partner, helping evaluate companies and later helping companies that were in need of operational experience. John served in interim CEO roles at multiple portfolio companies, as well as CTO roles in others. With ARC International, a UK-based semiconductor intellectual property company, John started out as an Independent Director, became Chairman, and helped the company go public on the London Stock Exchange in September of 2000 (even as the internet bubble was collapsing), raising $250M on a $1B valuation. He later became interim CEO and, managing the pressures of being a public company during that very challenging economic period, was able to successfully reduce the company by 30% in size while holding revenue relatively steady in that rapidly declining market. Working with Mayfield Fund and GSR Ventures, John evaluated prospective investments as well as helping portfolio companies that were in need of operational experience. John served in interim CEO roles at multiple portfolio companies, as well as CTO roles in others. John has served on Board of Directors for multiple portfolio companies. Some notable examples include: Camgian Microsystems (defense related electronic systems), LatticePower (silicon-based LEDs, China), and Chairman for Silicon Hive (semiconductor IP). He assisted in the sale of the latter to Intel and is still serving as Shareholder's Representative on Escrow Account matters. John was also instrumental in standing up and funding AutoTech Ventures, where he later worked as a Venture Partner, helping to evaluate technology investments specifically in the automotive sector. Most recently, John served as Chief Engineer and SVP Research at AEye, Inc. (LiDAR for ADAS and ITS applications), taking that role after serving as both VP of Operations and Technology and VP of Product previously. John now brings his extensive career in company building, investment, and operations to ILLIUM AI Inc.