Joseph Firmage
American investor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Firmage is an American technology entrepreneur and investor who co-founded internet services company USWeb in 1995.[1][2][3] He rose to prominence during the dot-com boom and was later known for promoting claims about extraterrestrials and antigravity propulsion technology.[4][1]
Joseph Firmage | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joseph Firmage |
| Occupations | Technology entrepreneur, investor |
| Known for | Co-founder of USWeb; promotion of extraterrestrial and antigravity claims |
Career
Early ventures and USWeb
Firmage founded the software company Serius Corp. as a teenager.[2][3] In 1993, Novell acquired Serius for approximately $24 million, making Firmage a vice president at the company.[2][3]
In 1995, he co-founded the digital design company USWeb.[2][3] USWeb went public in 1998 and was valued at approximately $2.5 billion during the dot-com boom.[2][3] In 1998, Forbes named Firmage one of its "Masters of the New Universe".[4][3]
In late 1998, Firmage publicly stated that he had experienced an encounter with an extraterrestrial being and began promoting beliefs about alien visitation and advanced propulsion physics.[2][5] Amid concerns from investors during a merger between USWeb and CKS Group, he stepped down from his leadership role.[2][6]
Later projects and legal issues
After leaving USWeb, Firmage funded and launched several ventures focused on science media and propulsion research, including projects developed with Ann Druyan.[6][1] He later pursued efforts to develop antigravity propulsion technology, claiming that his work had attracted interest from U.S. government agencies.[1][3]
Beginning in the 2010s and early 2020s, investors filed lawsuits alleging that Firmage had raised millions of dollars based on false representations about government contracts and technological breakthroughs.[1][3] A federal civil suit filed in 2023 alleged that he and his associates were responsible for approximately $25 million in investor losses in a Ponzi scheme.[1][7][8][9]
In 2023, Utah authorities charged Firmage with financially exploiting and abusing a vulnerable adult in connection with allegations that he took control of an elderly woman's finances and failed to pay her living expenses.[3][1]
