Startup Grind San Antonio Hosts Graham Weston (Rackspace Hosting)

Tuesday, 22 October



"Graham Weston is one of the founders of Rackspace and now serves as Chairman of the Board. Graham has been a part of Rackspace from the beginning. Born and raised in the San Antonio area, he saw entrepreneurial opportunities in everything around him. He launched his first business venture as a seventh grader, marketing organic pork in newspaper ads that read "Go Hog Wild!" In high school, he built another business that took photos at livestock shows and sold them to contestants. He attended Texas A&M, where—you guessed it—he launched another business. This one was inspired by his successful appeal of his father's property tax bills, and led him to help other property owners appeal their bills.Graham went into the real estate business, and led his family to buy and develop the Weston Centre in downtown San Antonio. At the same time, he developed a keen interest in the possibilities of the Internet. In 1998, he and a partner provided the original capital for a business idea pitched by three local Trinity University students. They called it "Rackspace.com." Graham joined the enterprise as CEO and remained in that position until 2006, when he became chairman. In 2005, Graham was honored by the City of San Antonio for converting one of his vacant properties into a temporary shelter for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Nicknamed the "Hilton of Shelters," by the Denver Post, it housed more than 2,500 refugees. Graham was named a 2006 "Best Boss" by Fortune Small Business magazine and was recognized as regional Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young," from Rackspace.com.