Pavel Baudiš
Pavel Baudiš | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 15, 1960 Prague, Czech Republic |
| Occupation(s) | Software engineer, business leader |
| Known for | Co-founder of Avast |
Pavel Baudiš (born 15 May 1960) is a Czech software engineer and business leader, recognized as the co-founder of Avast alongside Eduard Kučera. He holds the position of the largest individual or non-institutional shareholder in Gen Digital. As of 2024, Baudiš is ranked as the eighth richest individual in the Czech Republic, with an estimated net worth surpassing $2.3 billion according to Forbes.
Biography
Originating from Prague, Baudiš earned his degree in Information Technology from the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague. His early career included a role as a Graphics Specialist at the Mathematical Research Institute.
Following the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Baudiš partnered with Eduard Kučera to launch Alwil, which was subsequently rebranded as Avast Software after its leading product, Avast Antivirus. Confronted with strong competition from Symantec, known for its aggressive pricing tactics, Baudiš and Kučera implemented an innovative strategy by distributing Avast’s software free of charge. This move was instrumental in establishing Avast as the largest antivirus provider globally.
In 2018, Avast achieved a milestone by completing the largest technology initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange, with a valuation of $3.4 billion.