CO-FOUNDER & CTO

Mr. Jardin is a successful serial Entrepreneur. In 1997, Mr. Jardin founded IPivot which was purchased by Intel for $500 Million in 1999. Between 1999 and 2001, he served as CTO of Intel's Network Equipment Division where he ran the Advanced Development Lab. In 2001, he left Intel to found NextGig Inc. that led to the development of the first behavioral based database security device. In 2002, Jardin Lab’s research in Super Computing interconnect technologies led to the creation of a breakthrough in parallel data processing technology that was acquired by Microsoft in 2008, and licensed to Amazon in 2007. In 2010, Mr. Jardin began to realize the neural chemical responses technology can have on the human brain. His research led to the creation of AccendoWave, the first Digital Painkiller that has been utilized on more than 80,000 US hospital patients with an effective rate of 83%. Today, Mr. Jardin innovates in the fields of genetic algorithms, machine learning, human to computer interfaces, digital drugs, parallel computing, agent based simulations, geo spatial modeling, and quantum computing with the mission to use Computer Science for the reduction of human suffering. Mr. Jardin holds a B.S. in Computer Science, has over 27 patents and patent applications, has written several books, and is a professor of Computer Science at California State University San Marcos focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Operating Systems, Programing Languages, Software Development Methodologies, and Swarm Intelligence.

CO- FOUNDER and CEO

Eddie is an award winning designer, creative leader and entrepreneur with a proven track record in entertainment design. Sotto's strength lies both in vision, solutions, and team based execution, skills he honed as Senior Vice President of Concept Design at Disney's Imagineering division, where he ran his own innovation studio and think tank. Coming from Disney, Sotto understands the value of IP and sees the threat AI poses to art and design, hence the Shielded app.. His portfolio at Disney alone contains projects ranging from "E-Ticket" Attractions and retail, restaurants, web and mobile technology, including digital architecture like ABC Times Square Studios and the first trackless dark ride. Quitting Disney in 2000, Sotto exported his skills to reimagine and reinvent brands and places as “experiences.” Working cross-platform, Sotto expanded to innovate in the fields of marketing, AR/VR, and network television. SottoStudios/LA, established in 2004, is an experiential design studio that is frequently tapped to invent or revitalize immersive projects as multi-sensory  “experiences". Their portfolio is quite broad, everything from resorts and attractions to real spacecraft interiors, or innovating a new handheld technology. Virgin Galactic, Aston-Martin, Ferrari, Porsche, Embraer, Dubai Inter, Walt Disney World, Sentosa, Cedar Fair, Blue Origin, Paramount Pictures, NBC/Universal, Irvine Co, Kerzner, and Wynn Resorts are a few of the brands Sotto solved for. Sotto is currently featured in the first 3 episodes of the epic miniseries, “The Imagineering Story” on Disney+.

Chief Legal Officer

John Herman is the Chairman and a founding partner of Herman Jones LLP. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation and licensing, with a particular emphasis on high technology matters. His experience includes securities, patent, antitrust, data breach, whistleblower and class action litigation. John also has significant first chair trial experience, handling numerous cases through verdict in both federal and state courts.

John has worked on many noteworthy cases and successfully achieved favorable results for his clients. His notable cases include a securities fraud settlement of $108 million against Orbital ATK, a settlement of $87.5 million in a securities class action case against Southern Company, and a derivative settlement of $60 million on behalf of Community Health Systems, as well as leading a team of attorneys enforcing the 3Com Ethernet patents by winning two jury trial victories in federal court. John also represented renowned inventor Ed Phillips in the landmark case of Phillips v. AWH Corp. He has represented the pioneers of mesh technology – David Petite, Edwin Brownrigg and SIPCO – in connection with their mesh technology portfolio. John has also worked on numerous class action cases, including acting as lead plaintiffs’ counsel in the Home Depot shareholder derivative action, which achieved landmark corporate governance reforms for investors.

John has been recognized for his legal work by both his peers and legal publications. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Native American Intellectual Property Enterprise Council (“NAIPEC”) and is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. John was also voted by his peers as one of the leading intellectual property litigators in the Southeast. He has been named a Super Lawyer numerous times and was ranked on the “Top 100” Georgia Super Lawyers list. Additionally, he was listed as one of “Georgia’s Most Effective Lawyers” by Legal Trend magazine and was voted by peers as one of Atlanta Magazine’s 2017 Top Lawyers in Georgia. In 2018, John was elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

John graduated first in his class with a Bachelor of Science degree summa cum laude in Biochemistry from Marquette University. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was Editor-in- Chief of the Vanderbilt Journal and chosen as a John Wade Scholar. John has also served as a member of Vanderbilt University’s Law School Board and on the Federal Circuit’s Government Employees’ Pro Bono Committee.