In a compelling conversation on the Nano Cap Podcast, Data I/O CEO Bill Wentworth shared his unique journey in the technology and manufacturing sectors, his deep-rooted history with the company, and his forward-looking vision for Data I/O's future. From his early teens programming logic devices to leading strategic transformations at billion-dollar enterprises, Wentworth brings decades of experience, strategic clarity, and industry insight to his role.
Watch the full interview below:
A Career Forged in the Electronics Trenches
Bill’s introduction to the industry began in his father’s electronics distribution company, where he worked summers and cut his teeth on early Data I/O systems. He later founded Source Electronics, scaled it to $60 million in revenue, and sold it to Avnet just before the 2001 downturn. His time at Avnet included growing their programming services to $1.2 billion and leading integration efforts across multiple acquired businesses. These experiences, combined with lessons learned from cycles of boom, bust, and M&A, laid the foundation for his approach at Data I/O.
Why Data I/O, Why Now?
Asked why he joined Data I/O, Wentworth cited the unique opportunity to lead a 50-year-old company into a new era. He was approached by Board Chair Ed Smith and long familiar with the Data I/O ecosystem. Having been one of the company’s largest customers over decades and having even helped launch competitors, his intimate industry knowledge positioned him perfectly to guide the next phase.
Wentworth emphasized that while Data I/O has strong legacy hardware, its software potential and domain diversification remain largely untapped. Under his leadership, the company is moving from a CapEx-only model to one that also includes programming-as-a-service and integration at the test stage—both representing significant new revenue channels.
The AI Imperative
A major theme of the conversation was AI. Wentworth is candid about its transformative potential: internally in product development, marketing, and operations; and externally, in accelerating go-to-market timelines. He views AI not as a threat but as an essential co-developer. He’s actively working to shift employee mindset, urging his software team to embrace AI as a career advantage. “If you can’t articulate how you’re using AI in your job, you won’t be competitive in the market,” he noted.
A Billion-Dollar Market Opportunity
Perhaps the most striking takeaway is Data I/O’s market potential. Wentworth estimates the company currently addresses a $120M market, but with expansion into services and programming at test, that figure exceeds $1B. M&A will play a role, with $85M in pipeline opportunities already identified.
His ambition is bold but clear: make Data I/O a $100M–$200M company by transforming how and where it delivers value across the supply chain. The next-generation technology platform, launching later this year, will support embedded and integrated applications, unlocking further scale.
Looking Ahead
Wentworth concludes with a three-pillar vision: CapEx systems, services, and embedded programming at test. In three to five years, he expects services and test to account for the majority of revenue. As a former customer, competitor, and now CEO, Wentworth sees Data I/O not as a legacy brand, but a next-generation growth story.
Stay tuned for more updates as the company modernizes its tech, expands its platform, and prepares for accelerated growth in the age of AI and edge computing.