About Us
There has never been a better time to start a technology company. Costs are decreasing, revenue models are emerging and solidifying, and a whole new generation of digital platforms are emerging: Facebook, Google's Open Social, iPhone, Gphone, even digital set top boxes.
New entrepreneurs, however, face lots of obstacles in making their vision a reality, and many great ideas and great talent never get out of the starting gate.
LaunchBox Digital, an early stage investment firm located in Washington, D.C., is focused on helping entrepreneurs get through those challenging early days by bringing capital, advice, and practical guidance to help early stage businesses succeed. We offer:
- Funding and administrative support to enable founders to focus their energy on developing a great product;
- Mentoring and advice from seasoned technology veterans who have created significant stakeholder value; and
- Access to strategic partners, angels, VCs and the press to take your business to a whole new level
LaunchBox Digital is a place for cutting-edge ideas and cutting-edge talent. It's a way to maximize your chances of success. We've structured LaunchBox Digital so that we win only if you win.
LaunchBox Digital's summer accelerator program, LaunchBox08, will begin on May 19, 2008. LaunchBox08 is a global competition, where successful applicants will receive funding and guidance to take their big ideas from concept to market. The program will include seed funding and a 12 week business building program in D.C. where participants will refine their ideas with the help of world-class mentors and advisors. The program will culminate with pitch days, where each new business will present to angel investors, venture capital firms, strategic partners, bloggers and media on the East and West Coasts. To learn about LaunchBox08, please email us.
LaunchBox Digital is also accepting proposals from early stage businesses today for seed or angel investment, on a selective basis. Submit Executive Summary.
Founders
Julius Genachowski
Julius Genachowski was Chief of Business Operations and a member of Barry Diller's Office of the Chairman at IAC/InterActiveCorp, where over eight years he played a key role in IAC's growth to become a major e-commerce and new media company. He is a co-founder & managing director of Rock Creek Ventures, and a special advisor at General Atlantic. He is a member of the Boards of Directors at The Motley Fool, Website Pros, Beliefnet, and Marc Ecko Enterprises, and is part of the founding group that launched New Resource Bank. Mr. Genachowski was formerly a senior official at the Federal Communications Commission, and also served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter. He received his JD from Harvard Law School and a BA from Columbia College. [Email Julius]
Sean Greene
Sean Greene was the founder and CEO of the Away Travel Network (including Gorp.com, Away.com, OutsideOnline.com), the leading online publisher for specialty and niche travel, which he sold to Orbitz. He is currently a co-founder and managing director of Rock Creek Ventures. Mr. Greene also served as a senior engagement manager at McKinsey & Co, serving clients in the telecom and technology industries. He received an MBA from the Yale School of Management and an AB from Princeton University, and was named a Fulbright Scholar at the National University of Singapore. [Email Sean]
John McKinley
John McKinley was most recently CTO and founder and President of Digital Services for AOL where he developed and launched numerous award-winning wireless and online services businesses. As CTO, he was responsible for all engineering and operations and served as AOL's chief technology strategist. He is an advisor to or member of the Boards of Directors at Powerset, Xoopit, Foundation Capital, and ObectVideo. Previously, Mr. McKinley was Executive Vice President and head of Global Technology and Services for Merrill Lynch where he oversaw the creation of the top rated ML Direct and ML Online services. He also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Information Officer for GE Capital. Mr. McKinley began his career with Ernst & Young, where he was named partner in 1992. He is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. [Email John]
Staff
Matthew Jacobson - Executive Director
Matthew Jacobson is a business strategist, problem solver and deal maker who helps early stage companies define and execute their business plans. Previously, he was a Director at AOL where he helped grow AOL's wireless and digital service businesses. Mr. Jacobson also was an M&A advisor at a number of investment banks including ABN AMRO, WR Hambrecht, Peter J. Solomon Co. and Toronto Dominion Securities. He received an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. [Email Matt ]
Inna Cook - Associate
Inna Cook is a strategic business planner who helps venture capitalists structure their investments and maximize their support of rising entrepreneurs. She is currently working for Raul Fernandez, CEO of ObjectVideo and one of LaunchBox's advisors, as a corporate development manager and portfolio specialist. Previously, she managed the planning and execution of multiple corporate financial and compliance projects at MCI and was the lead financial analyst for expert testimony at a litigation consulting firm. Inna received her MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and her BBA with a concentration in Finance from the College of William and Mary. [Email Inna]
Advisors
Greg Ballard
CEO, glu mobile
Jim Bankoff
Senior Advisor, Providence Equity Partners; Chairman, Qloud; Emmy Award Winner (Live8); Former EVP, Programming & Products, AOL
John Buckley
Former EVP, Corporate Communications, AOL
Mike Cassidy
Founder Xfire, Direct Hit
Dick Costolo
Cofounder & CEO, FeedBurner
Tom Des Jardins
Co-founder and ex-CTO of Lightningcast
Eric Engstrom
Founder and ex-CEO of Wildseed, co-creator of Microsoft DirectX
Scott Ferber
Cofounder, Advertising.com
Raul Fernandez
Founder and ex-CEO of Proxicom, CEO of ObjectVideo
Tom Gardner
Cofounder, The Motley Fool
David Gardner
Cofounder, The Motley Fool
Adam Hanft
Founder and CEO of Hanft Unlimited
Reed Hundt
Former FCC Chairman; Board of Intel, multiple startups
Ted Leonsis
Founder of Redgate Communications Corp, Vice Chairman Emeritus of AOL, Chairman of Revolution Money
Steve Lerner
Founder and Chairman of FGI, Chairman of Capital
Strategies and Managing Partner of Blue Hill Group
Ross Levinsohn
Former President, Fox Interactive
Dany Levy
Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, Daily Candy
Caroline Little
CEO of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive and publisher of WashingtonPost.com
Ted Meisel
Former CEO, Overture
Jon Miller
Former Chairman & CEO, AOL
Haroon Mokhtarzada
Cofounder & CEO, FreeWebs
Rick Morrow
CEO of NexGenVS, former principal of Virginia Cellular, which was sold to Alltel
Paul Palmieri
Founder & CEO, Millennial Media; former Executive Director, Programming & Business Development, Verizon Wireless
Shervin Pishevar
President of Webs.com, co-founder and CEO of Social Gaming Network (SGN), formerly the founder of Ionside Interactive and WebOS
Michael Powell
Former FCC Chairman, Senior Advisor Providence Equity Partners, Cisco Board member
Scott Rafer
Founder and CEO of Lookery, ex-CEO of MyBlogLog, co-founder of
Mashery, and Chairman of Winksite
Chris Schroeder
CEO, the Health Central Network; former CEO, Washington Post-Newsweek Interactive
Cal Simmons
Founder and Chairman Five Star Alliance, Adcision Networks, Blue Cotton Tech Services. Co Author of Every Business Needs an Angel
Dan Simpkins
Founder, Chairman & CEO, Hillcrest Labs