Chet Pipkin
Chet Pipkin is the founder and executive chairman of Belkin International, a consumer electronics company specializing in internet connectivity devices. He launched Belkin in 1983 from his Hawthorne home and built it into a global brand before transitioning to executive chairman.
Chet Pipkin's Bio
Chet Pipkin is the founder and executive chairman of Belkin International, a consumer electronics company known for connectivity devices. He started Belkin in 1983 from his parents' home in Hawthorne, California, making computer cables for the new PC market. The first year, sales reached $100,000, with assembly help from his father and friends.
Raised in a working-class California family - neither parent graduated high school - Pipkin attended UCLA but left after two quarters in 1982 to pursue his venture. He spotted the need for reliable cables in local computer shops. He grew the company without outside capital for nearly two decades, finally bringing in Summit Partners in 2002 for less than five percent. Under his leadership, Belkin expanded from that garage into a global business with 1,200+ employees in 21 countries. Today, about 80% of U.S. PC owners and 90% of smartphone or tablet owners use a Belkin product.
Major milestones include moving into a professional workplace and hiring his first employees in 1983; launching the WeMo smart home brand in 2012; acquiring Cisco's Linksys in 2013; selling Belkin to Foxconn for $886 million in 2018 while staying on as executive chairman; and stepping down as CEO in 2021, with Steve Malony taking over. His great-aunt Myra is thought to have inspired Ma Joad in Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, linking the tech entrepreneur to American literary history.
Career Timeline
1982 — Left UCLA to launch Belkin
Pipkin left UCLA after two quarters to focus on building Belkin.
1983 — Founded Belkin International
Started the company in his parents' home in Hawthorne, California, manufacturing computer cables for the emerging PC market.
1996 — Southern California Regional Award (Entrepreneur of the Year)
Recognized as a regional finalist in the Los Angeles Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, highlighting his impact on the tech community.
2002 — Brought in Summit Partners as first investor at Belkin International
Opened equity to outside capital for the first time, with Summit Partners taking a minority stake of less than five percent.
2006 — Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame Inductee
Inducted into Dealerscope Magazine's Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame for significant impact on the industry.
2012 — Launched WeMo smart home brand at Belkin International
Introduced the WeMo line to produce smart home products, expanding Belkin's reach into connected home technology.
2013 — Acquired Cisco's Linksys brand
Purchased Cisco's Home Networking Business Unit, including the Linksys brand, significantly expanding Belkin's market share in networking equipment.
2018 — Sold Belkin to Foxconn Interconnect Technology at Belkin International
Stepped back from majority ownership as Belkin was acquired by Foxconn for $886 million, remaining as executive chairman.
2021 — Stepped down as CEO of Belkin at Belkin International
Transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman, with Steve Malony assuming the chief executive role.
