Early Life and Education
Anthony Wood was born in Manchester, England, and later moved to the United States. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University. During his college years, he demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit by founding AW Software and SunRize Industries, developing software and hardware for the Amiga. This early experience laid the groundwork for his future ventures.
Rise to Success
Wood's career took off with ReplayTV, a digital video recorder. He sold ReplayTV in 2001. In 2002, he founded Roku, Inc.. Roku initially focused on creating high-definition video players and later evolved into a leading streaming platform. Roku's success has been marked by its user-friendly interface and partnerships with major streaming services.
Key Business Strategies
A pivotal moment in Wood's career was his brief tenure at Netflix, where he served as Vice President of Internet TV in 2007. He guided the development of Netflix's streaming player, code-named Project Griffin, which was later spun off into Roku. Roku has strategically focused on advertising as a key revenue stream, betting on its platform's ability to reach a large audience. As of early 2025, Roku had over 90 million streaming households.
Philanthropy
Anthony Wood and his wife, Susan, established the WoodNext Foundation. Their philanthropic efforts focus on various areas, including mental health, homelessness, scientific research, disaster recovery, and economic opportunity. In 2021, they donated $48.2 million to the foundation. The foundation's geographic priority is the southern United States, though it also makes grants nationally and internationally. Wood also contributes to political efforts, primarily supporting Republican Party causes and candidates.
