What is Dave Schaeffer known for?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

Dave Schaeffer is a prominent American entrepreneur and business executive, most widely known as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cogent Communications. He established the company in 1999 and has since led it to become one of the world's largest and most significant Tier 1 internet service providers. Under his strategic guidance, Cogent has expanded its operations from a U.S.-based network to a massive, multinational infrastructure provider serving markets in Canada, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. Schaeffer’s background is rooted in extensive entrepreneurial success, having founded and operated six other businesses in sectors ranging from commercial real estate to telecommunications prior to Cogent. His leadership in building a facilities-based, non-oversubscribed global network earned him recognition as Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year in Media, Entertainment and Telecommunications in 2019.

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