# Matthew Dornquast

> Matthew Durand Dornquast (1966-2022) was the software engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Code42 with Brian Bispala and Mitch Coopet in 2001 and led it during the creation and growth of CrashPlan. His career also included technology leadership at Fallon, advising Frontend Masters founder Marc Grabanski, and support for Minnesota’s technology community.

- **Role:** Software engineer, entrepreneur, technology executive, advisor and early-stage investor
- **Organizations:** Code42, CrashPlan, Fallon, Control Data, Microworks, Frontend Masters
- **Education:** Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota
- **Known for:** Co-founded Code42 and led it during the creation of CrashPlan., Led Code42 through its $52.5 million first venture round in 2012., Recognized as a 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, as reported by Twin Cities Business.

## Career timeline

- **1980s** — Began his technology career while still at Roosevelt High School; early work included Microworks and Control Data.
- **By 1997** — Served as chief technology officer at Fallon.
- **2001** — Co-founded Code42 with Brian Bispala and Mitch Coopet as an IT consultancy.
- **2007** — Code42 launched CrashPlan.
- **2008** — An enterprise version of CrashPlan followed.
- **2011** — Met Marc Grabanski at a Minneapolis Bootstrapper’s Breakfast and later became an advisor to his business.
- **2012** — Code42 raised its first venture round: $52.5 million from Accel Partners and Split Rock Partners.
- **2015** — Stepped down as CEO; Mitch Coopet served as interim CEO before Joe Payne’s appointment in July.
- **2016** — The Code42 Foundation was established; its founding equity pledge included a collective 1% contribution from the three co-founders.
- **2018** — Published practical guides on espresso-machine repair and broadband performance.
- **2022** — Died February 4, aged 55.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Code42 and led it during the creation of CrashPlan.
- Led Code42 through its $52.5 million first venture round in 2012.
- Recognized as a 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, as reported by Twin Cities Business.
- Advised Marc Grabanski, who credited his counsel with helping redirect him toward Frontend Masters.
- Joined his co-founders in donating a collective 1% of company equity to establish the Code42 Foundation.

## Latest updates

- **—** — Legacy update: the Code42 Foundation announced Deep Thought grants of $200,000 to Unidos MN and $42,000 each to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and Tubman; no publication month was stated.
- **2024-07** — Legacy update: Mimecast acquired Code42; the foundation states pledged stock became liquid and financed its fund.
- **2022-08** — Posthumous company update: Mill Point Capital acquired CrashPlan from Code42 as an independent backup and recovery company.
- **2022-02** — Dornquast died on February 4, aged 55.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dornquast/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/dornquast

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/matthew-dornquast
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21