Istvan Jonyer, Ph.D.
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Dr. Istvan Jonyer is a Ph.D. computer scientist with over 22 years of experience spanning artificial intelligence, networking and telecommunications, cloud infrastructure, and consumer electronics. He has designed 3G wireless systems at Nortel, launched Google TV globally with OEM partners, and founded multiple AI startups. His background includes venture capital investing and extensive technology due diligence in AI, telecom, and cloud platforms.
As a testifying expert witness, Dr. Jonyer has opined in U.S. District Court, ITC, PTAB, arbitration, and state courts on matters involving patent infringement, invalidity, breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, and copyright infringement. He has been retained in cases against and on behalf of leading technology companies including Google, Apple, Netflix, Roku, Nokia, and Cloudflare.
Dr. Jonyer has served as an expert for both plaintiffs and defendants, with increasing emphasis on defense-side engagements for corporate clients. He has provided deposition and trial testimony, and authored expert reports. He is known for his ability to translate complex technologies into clear, accessible explanations for courts, juries, and counsel.
Ph.D.
in Computer Science and Engineering, dissertation in Artificial Intelligence (4.0 GPA)
The University of Texas at Arlington
Dissertation: Context-Free Graph Grammar Induction Using the Minimum Description Length Principle
Aug 2003
M.Sc.
in Computer Science and Engineering (4.0 GPA)
The University of Texas at Arlington
Thesis: Graph-Based Hierarchical Conceptual Clustering
May 2000
B.Sc.
in Computer Science and Engineering with High Honors
The University of Texas at Arlington
Honors Thesis: A Dialogue-Based Interactive System [AI Chatbot]
May 1999
MBA,
focus on Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship
Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business
May 2010
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence: Neural networks, deep learning, network analysis, clustering, supervised learning, reinforcement learning, GANs, generative AI, accelerators.
Networking and Telecommunications: Wireless communication, Mobile, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G, 5G, Ad-hoc Networks, TCP/IP, Routing, Content delivery, CDN.
Smart TV and Streaming: Google TV, Chromecast, Roku, Android, Android TV.
Software Analysis: Computer Architecture, Cloud computing, Web applications, Internet computing
AWARDS and ACHIEVEMENTS
Google: Google TV Hall of Fame
Google: Outstanding Leadership
Google: Operating Committee award
Google: Peer Award
Best Paper Award, second place. Florida International Conference for Artificial Intelligence, 2003.
Best dissertation award: PhD, Computer Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Arlington
Academic Experience
Istvan Jonyer served as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Oklahoma State University from September 2003 to September 2008. He founded the OSU Supercomputing Center, the largest such facility at OSU, supporting interdisciplinary research.
His research focused on machine learning, including graph-based data mining, social network analysis, and genetic programming, with additional work in parallel computing. He published and presented at over 20 international conferences and workshops, earning the Best Paper Award (second place) at the Florida International Conference for Artificial Intelligence in 2003. His work was funded by the National Science Foundation.
Prof. Jonyer taught nine graduate and undergraduate courses, covering topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Theoretical Foundations, and Advanced Algorithms.
His research focused on machine learning, including graph-based data mining, social network analysis, and genetic programming, with additional work in parallel computing. He published and presented at over 20 international conferences and workshops, earning the Best Paper Award (second place) at the Florida International Conference for Artificial Intelligence in 2003. His work was funded by the National Science Foundation.
Prof. Jonyer taught nine graduate and undergraduate courses, covering topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Theoretical Foundations, and Advanced Algorithms.
Operating Experience
Dr. Jonyer has held significant operational roles across technology and startup environments, demonstrating expertise in product strategy, partnerships, and technical leadership.
As Google TV Global Head of Device Partnerships at Google, Dr. Jonyer led the partnership strategy for Google TV, an Android-based Smart TV platform. He developed high-level product strategies with CEOs and VPs of major OEMs like Sony, LG, and Intel, driving two successful product launches. He architected a scalable device launch process, enabling 10+ partners to launch independently with minimal Google support, earning the Outstanding Leadership Award. Jonyer owned the Google TV requirements and remote-control UX, resolved critical third-party software licensing issues, earning the Google TV Hall of Fame Award, and grew his team from 2 to 10 across Mountain View and Seoul.
Dr. Jonyer has held key roles in multiple startups. As Co-Founder and COO of Life Adapt, an NIH-funded health technology startup, he managed commercialization of machine learning research, overseeing product development, engineering, go-to-market strategy, fundraising, and operations part-time. As Founder and CTO of Fantasy Brain, a big data analytics startup in fantasy sports, he led a team of seven to deliver a product in four months, positioned the company as a “Fantasy IQ vendor,” and secured an NFL. As Founder and CEO of KDResearch (2007–2008), a stock option search engine, he developed the key feature set and back-end architecture and formed a key strategic partnership.
Engineering Experience
Dr. Jonyer has extensive engineering experience across telecommunications and startup environments. As a Software Engineer at Nortel Networks, a multinational telecommunications firm, he designed key features for the Sprint Vision 3G mobile Internet packet data switching node (PDSN), implemented the Open Radio Protocol (Open-RP) using C and VxWorks, and optimized streaming performance to achieve a 20% increase in transmission speed. As Founder and CTO of Fantasy Brain, a big data analytics startup in fantasy sports, he invented and implemented the Fantasy IQ algorithms, architected the codebase, and led a team of seven engineers to deliver the product in four months. As Founder and CEO of KDResearch, a stock option search engine, he developed the key feature set and implemented the back-end architecture.
Venture Capital Experience
Dr. Jonyer has extensive venture capital experience in early-stage technology investments. As Managing Director at Sidespin Ventures, he handles deal sourcing, due diligence, and fundraising as an angel investor and general partner of a venture capital syndicate. As Principal at Nexstar Partners, a $100M early-growth fund, he focused on machine learning, AI (deep learning, neural networks, autonomous technologies), smart TV, media delivery, AR/VR, and telecommunications, emphasizing patentable technology differentiation and patent portfolio reviews. As Senior Associate at Pittsburgh Equity Partners, he conducted technical due diligence, developed an investment scorecard for disciplined evaluations, and sourced deals through relationships with CMU and regional VC networks. As a Summer Associate at New Venture Partners, a $750M global early-stage firm, he performed technical diligence on machine learning, video conferencing, and ad-tech opportunities, analyzed patent portfolio impacts, supported portfolio companies with financial projections, mapped the videoconferencing industry’s competitive landscape, sourced deals from academia, research labs, and tech giants, and pivoted portfolio company strategy to secure $3.2M in financing, leading to its acquisition by Comcast.
Expert Witness Experience
Dr. Jonyer has served in over a dozen cases, providing specialized knowledge in technology-related disputes, including breach of contract, intellectual property (patent and copyright), and terms of use disclosures. His expertise spans industries such as telecommunications, smart bed technology, and digital media, with a focus on complex contractual and technical issues. They have prepared detailed expert reports addressing contractual obligations, patent validity, and copyright infringement.
They have provided trial testimony in the U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire, and deposition testimony in multiple cases. Leveraging his ability to distill complex technical concepts into clear, accessible explanations, the expert effectively communicates with judges, jurors, and legal teams. His experience includes both plaintiff and defense engagements across federal and state courts, the USPTO PTAB, and the International Court of Arbitration. References from counsel in prior engagements are available upon request.
About Sidespin Group
Sidespin Group provides software experts for litigation support, technology commercialization, investment due diligence, technology strategy, and general software analysis services in a range of specializations, including in the areas of telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and smartphones.