Tamás Vékony

In the years after graduating as an economist, he participated in national surveys by the Central Statistical Office (KSH). When the economic working communities (gmk) were licensed in 1981, he founded the Integral Technical-Economic Office, then in 1986 Cobra, and in 1987 Cédrus Electronics and Service Cooperative. The company, which was transformed into Cédrus Informatikai Rt. in 1990, quickly became one of the 10 largest domestic computer technology companies.

In 1989, he launched Floppy.Lap, which can be considered an early experiment in digital periodicals, along with thematic versions (Bankár, Íránytű).

He bought Mikrozásztámítógép Magazin, which was about to be closed due to financial difficulties, from the NJSZT. He changed the magazine from a school computer profile to a PC-oriented one and published it under the name Alaplap from mid-1990, with the first magnetic disk supplement in the Hungarian press. He also made Alaplap profitable within two years.

The year after the Floppyland store on Váci Street was handed over, in 1991, he opened the 1,200-square-meter Cédrus Karolina Department Store on Karolina Street. With this pioneering experiment, he offered a wide range of computer equipment and supplies in one place to both domestic companies and individuals embarking on the path of IT development. However, financing difficulties (the 40% loan interest rate) and several other obstacles that proved insurmountable collapsed the company — and him as well.

He was a bold entrepreneur; one of the domestic pioneers of IT education; a talented journalist who also participated in the creative work of the newspaper. He died in 2002, at the age of 52, under tragic circumstances.