Vela Systems, a developer of mobile software that streamlines field administration for the AEC (Architecture-Engineering-Construction) industry, announced today that CAD visionary Jon Hirschtick has joined Vela’s board of directors.
Hirschtick is best known for having founded SolidWorks in 1993, which he led as CEO through 2001. Today a subsidiary of Dassault Systemes, SolidWorks’ 3D CAD software is now used by more than 500,000 people to design consumer goods, electronics, medical devices and factory machinery. Before founding SolidWorks, Hirschtick co-founded Premise, a CAD company which he later sold to Computervision.
Hirschtick is a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Visiting Committee for the mechanical engineering department, and chairman of the New England region of the American Technion Society. He also serves on the board of directors at Liquid Machines, an enterprise rights management and information security company, and Z Corporation, a three-dimensional printing company. Previously, Hirschtick served on the board of directors at Revit, a construction software company that pioneered the use of building information models (BIM) for design. Autodesk acquired Revit in 2002.
“I see in Vela Systems many of the same elements that helped make SolidWorks and Premise such a success,” Hirschtick said. “Their software saves construction, engineering and architecture companies a great deal of time and money. The team also has the same high level of energy and commitment that I remember from the early days of SolidWorks and Premise. It’s a very exciting company.”
“The counsel we’ve received from our board of directors has been critical to our success,” said Tim Curran, CEO of Vela Systems. “Jon’s experience in building software companies and in successfully selling to the AEC industry will prove invaluable as Vela Systems moves to its next stage of growth.”
About Vela Systems, Inc.:
Vela Systems is The Leader in Mobile Software for the AEC Industry™ The Vela software suite significantly accelerates field processes related to construction, capital projects and capital equipment – reducing cycle times while improving quality assurance and risk management. Industry leading Architects, Engineers, Contractors and Owners agree that Vela Systems helps them Work Faster, Collaborate Easier, and Finish Sooner™.
