Proto Inc., a pioneer in hologram technology and spatial computing, announced the appointment of Todd Bouman as its new Chief Executive Officer. Bouman, an electronics industry veteran, succeeds founder David Nussbaum, who transitions to the role of Chairman. The leadership shift aims to propel Proto’s global expansion and technological advancements following a record year of growth.
Bouman joins Proto from Sharp/NEC Display Solutions, Americas, where he served as President, CEO, and Chair. During his tenure, he spearheaded a strategic overhaul that solidified the company’s position as a global leader in display solutions, driving significant revenue growth and doubling profits. He also led the integration of Sharp Electronics’ Americas business into the joint venture. At Proto, Bouman will leverage his experience in scaling consumer and commercial tech enterprises to accelerate the company’s market reach and innovation pipeline.
Nussbaum, who founded Proto and previously served as CEO, will focus on long-term strategy, innovation, fundraising, and strategic partnerships. He retains an active role in brand development and thought leadership, including representing Proto at major industry events.
The leadership transition follows a milestone year for Proto, marked by record revenue, the launch of next-generation hologram devices (the full-size Proto Luma and desktop M2), and expanded adoption of its AI tools across finance, healthcare, education, retail, and entertainment sectors. Proto plans to initiate its Series B fundraising round in Q2 2024 to fuel development and global market expansion.
“As the founder, Proto is like a child to me,” said David Nussbaum, Founder and Chairman of Proto Inc. “Entrusting it to someone else wasn’t a decision I took lightly. Todd Bouman is the transformational leader who can take my vision to the next level. His dynamic leadership will help make Proto Hologram technology an essential part of daily life.”
Bouman’s Track Record in Tech Leadership
Bouman brings over two decades of executive experience, including roles at Samsung and HP, where he drove product innovation and market growth. At Samsung, he led initiatives that expanded the company’s footprint in consumer and commercial notebooks, while at HP, he grew the ultralight notebook category into key commercial markets.
“Proto is poised to revolutionize how we interact with digital content,” said Todd Bouman, CEO of Proto Inc. “My experience in scaling transformative technologies will help accelerate Proto’s mission to make holographic innovation accessible globally.”
Recent Momentum and Industry Impact
Proto has secured multiple high-profile partnerships and deployments in recent months, including:
- The first live doctor-patient hologram consultations at UC Berkeley, now expanding across the West Cancer Center network.
- A hologram advertising network launched at 30 Simon Mall locations, scaling to 100 by Q4 2024.
- Collaborations with major brands such as AARP, Accenture, BestBuy, CBS, and Verizon.
The company has also gained recognition at CES, NRF, and AWS re:Invent for innovations like autonomous AI hologram agents.
“We’re bringing people together across space and time—William Shatner called Proto a Time Machine,” said Nussbaum. “With our Series B raise, collaborations, and development roadmap, we’ll keep pushing to make Proto the solution for tomorrow’s needs.”
