# Farsheed Ferdowsi

> Farsheed Ferdowsi is an entrepreneur, investor, and author who founded Access Data and Inova Payroll and led PayMaxx before its 2005 sale to CompuPay. Trained in engineering at Vanderbilt and UC Berkeley, he helped develop internet payroll software and later wrote fiction, a biography of his father, and the business memoir Payroll Pioneer. Following Inova’s acquisition by UKG, he announced a focus on Victor Hope Capital.

- **Role:** Focused on private investment at Victor Hope Capital, LLC; founder and former CEO of Inova Payroll
- **Organizations:** Victor Hope Capital, LLC, Inova Payroll, PayMaxx, Access Data, CompuPay, Nashville Zoo, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, YMCA of Middle Tennessee
- **From:** Tehran, Iran
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Vanderbilt University, Master’s degree in structural engineering, University of California, Berkeley
- **Known for:** Built PayMaxx, which appeared on the Inc. 500 list four consecutive years., Helped develop PowerPayroll, launched in 1999; Smart Business named it Most Valuable Product for 2001., Founded Inova Payroll, which had eight Inc. 5000 appearances by UKG’s December 2025 acquisition announcement.

## Career timeline

- **1973** — Moved from Tehran to the United States to study at Vanderbilt University.
- **1979** — Founded Access Data, a business software development firm.
- **1999** — PayMaxx launched internet payroll service PowerPayroll.
- **2002** — Named Entrepreneur of the Year by Nashville Business Journal.
- **2005** — Sold PayMaxx to CompuPay in July.
- **2007** — Left CompuPay’s executive team and launched Victor Hope Capital.
- **2009** — Published the novel Mushroom in the Sand.
- **2011** — Founded Inova Payroll.
- **2022** — Published Under the Staircase: A Martyr’s Journey.
- **2023** — Became executive chairman as Joe Schweppe became Inova CEO effective July 1.
- **2024** — Announced Payroll Pioneer: Scaling Two Companies to National Prominence.
- **2025** — Presented the opening keynote at the IPPA Spring Summit; UKG announced its agreement to acquire Inova in December.
- **2026** — Publicly announced his departure from active payroll-industry participation and focus on Victor Hope Capital; published essays on growth, leadership, and success.

## Achievements

- Built PayMaxx, which appeared on the Inc. 500 list four consecutive years.
- Helped develop PowerPayroll, launched in 1999; Smart Business named it Most Valuable Product for 2001.
- Founded Inova Payroll, which had eight Inc. 5000 appearances by UKG’s December 2025 acquisition announcement.
- Nashville Business Journal Entrepreneur of the Year, 2002.
- Author of Mushroom in the Sand, Under the Staircase, and Payroll Pioneer.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Published The Physics of Success on September 8.
- **2026-08** — Published The Physics of Leadership on August 4.
- **2026-06** — Published Dancing with Elephants on June 17.
- **2026-05** — Published The Physics of Growth on May 15.
- **2025-12** — UKG announced an agreement to acquire Inova Payroll, with closing then expected in early 2026.

## Links

- Website: https://www.underthestaircasebook.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farsheed-ferdowsi-6785bb10

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/farsheed-ferdowsi
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-24