Gilfus Education Group, Founder Blackboard Inc., CEO Event Innovation Inc;
Washington D.C. Metro Area
- Current
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- Chairman & CEO at Event Innovation Inc.
- General Partner at Gilfus Education Group
- Managing Partner at Gilfus Venture Partners
- Chairman at Upside Over Inc.
- Past
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- Investor at Wedding Wire
- Co-Founder at Blackboard Inc.
- Education
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- Cornell University
- Recommended
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2 people have recommended Stephen - Connections
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500+
connections
- Industry
- Internet
- Websites
Stephen Gilfus’s Summary
Steve is a serial entrepreneur, business leader, and noted software designer and inventor. He has been noted as being instrumental to the development of the eLearning market space and making Blackboard a leading provider of e-Learning software and services, He has presented and keynoted several leading global industry conferences and has lectured on teaching and learning on the Internet and the growing online learning marketplace at hundred’s of academic institutions within the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin America.
His expertise managing fast growth Internet software companies coupled with his entrepreneurial passion has been critical to Blackboard's success and ability to go from start-up to a public company, in 2004 (Nasdaq: BBBB). The company enjoys over $250 million in annual revenues, with ~950 employees and over a $1B market cap with Blackboard's flagship products being used by millions of students across more than 3,600 institutions in 70 countries. In 1998, Gilfus co-founded CourseInfo LLC, which merged to form Blackboard Inc. (at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courseinfo)
He is currently General Partner of Gilfus Ventures llc. (with investments in WeddingWire.com, UpsideOver.com and several other internet start-ups), Chairman of the Board of Upside Over Inc., (an internet specialty retailer), and Chairman and CEO of Event Innovation Inc.
Gilfus holds a B.S degree from Cornell University where he was an academic scholar. He is a member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, Advisory Board Member of Entrepreneurship @ Cornell, and founder of the Cornell Entrepreneur Organization.
Stephen Gilfus’s Specialties:
Visionary Products, Organizational Leadership and Management, Software Design and Development, Corporate Development and Entrepreneurial Start ups, New Business Design, Marketing and Positioning
Stephen Gilfus’s Experience
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Chairman & CEO
Event Innovation Inc.
(Internet industry)
2008 — Present (1 year)
Event Innovation is an innovative new company founded in 2007, by Stephen Gilfus, formerly of Blackboard Inc. and designed to revolutionize and enhance event experiences for attendees and venues alike. The company is a leading provider of software applications and related services to the sports, performing arts and entertainment industries; by connecting entertainment venues to attendees, and enabling new communication capabilities that can enhance event experiences. Event Innovation is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices throughout the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Connect. Communicate. Experience.
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General Partner
Gilfus Education Group
(Management Consulting industry)
September 2007 — Present (1 year 11 months)
The Gilfus Education Group, is a consulting, management company serving clients across the United States and internationally which require insightful and diversified expertise expertise in such areas such areas as clean technologies, education practices, organizational research, business development, educational technologies, student retention, student job placement, and educational marketing and communications.
The Gilfus Education Group provides services to organizations looking for capabilities in various industries including:
• Education: Secondary and Post-Secondary
• Sports and Entertainment: Technologies and Facilities
• Municipal: Transportation Infrastructure
With a focus on:
• Educational Technologies
• New Energy Infrastructure Technologies
• Business Re-Engineering
• Go To Market Strategies. -
Managing Partner
Gilfus Venture Partners
(Venture Capital & Private Equity industry)
January 2007 — Present (2 years 7 months)
Gilfus Venture Partners, LLC (GVP) was created to stimulate and advance the development of Web [business / eBusiness] ventures.
http://www.gilfusventurepartners.com
The company delivers three principle services:
1) Consulting with entrepreneurs who are creating new promising internet ventures.,
2) Investing in and helping raise capital for promising internet ventures,
3) Analyzing the components of internet ventures for potential investors.
GVP is primarily interested in three types of companies
1) Education and eLearning
2) Social networking as a key element
3) Niche / Boutique - [online retail / eRetail] -
Chairman
Upside Over Inc.
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Retail industry)
2006 — Present (3 years)
Located at http//www.upsideover.com
This outdoor gear for kids and active family internet retailer is currently experiencing an average of 284% revenue growth, year on year. The company is currently in the middle of its friends and family financing round. To inquire about participation email investor@upsideover.com.
A niche specialty retailer founded in 2006 to cater to an under served market. With a small brick and mortar physical footprint the companies primary focus is the development of it's e-commerce site through multi-channel web marketing, leveraging SEO and developing it's affiliate network. -
Investor
Wedding Wire
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Internet industry)
March 2007 — March 2008 (1 year 1 month)
WeddingWire was created by a team of entrepreneurs, including two founding members of Blackboard Inc., (Tim Chi with Lee Wang) to provide engaged couples with comprehensive vendor search and easy-to-use online planning and community tools.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) acquired 40% of this business on Feb 19th of 2007. -
Co-Founder
Blackboard Inc.
(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; BBBB; E-Learning industry)
1997 — December 2007 (10 years)
Mr. Gilfus co-founded CourseInfo LLC, which merged to form Blackboard Inc. in 1998. As a co-founder he directed the initial original vision, planning, strategy, development and sales and marketing efforts. During his tenure he provided both strategic and tactical leadership, mentoring and direction for many departments. He worked cross-organizationally as a facilitator and change agent. Stephen is a noted designer and inventor and directed the development efforts around Blackboard's core platform. (U.S. Patent No. 6,988,138). He authored numerous articles and white papers and was the primary author of the Educational Technology Framework – sometimes referred to as “the Gilfus Model of educational technology adoption”
- Pittinsky, Matthew & Gilfus, Stephen. (2000) Product Strategy and Vision White paper on (B2) Initiative Washington DC: Blackboard Inc., 2000
- Gilfus, Stephen. (2000) Bb Product Strategy and Development Roadmap Washington DC: Blackboard Inc., 2000
Stephen Gilfus’s Education
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Cornell University
BS , Academic Scholar , 1995 — 1997
I was an academic scholar with a focus in Entrepreneurship and Personal Enterprise and Applied Economics and Management. Every year you will find me in Ithaca at Cornell visiting during the annual Entrepreneur Celebration whereby the university honors individuals that have made major contributions. Winners include Jeff Hawkings of Palm, David Duffield of Peoplesoft, Ken Blanchard of The 5 Minute Manager, Rob Ryan of Ascend Communications and several others. I continue to remain highly connected into the entrepreneurial environment and am thankful for the support they have provided me along the way.
- Activities and Societies:
- CEO Founder (Cornell Entrepreneur Organization),
Additional Information
Stephen Gilfus’s Websites:
Stephen Gilfus’s Interests:
Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Private Equity, Angel Investing, Business Consulting, Organizational Behavior, Educational Technology, E-Learning, LMS, LCMS, CMS, SaaS,
Stephen Gilfus’s Groups:
Society of Industry Leaders - Vista Research (Standard & Poors), Coleman Research Group Executive Forum (CRG), Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), Cornell Club of New York, Cornell Entrepreneur Organization, Entrepreneurship@Cornell Advisory Council
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Cornell University Alumni Network -
On Startups - The Community For Entrepreneurs -
Johnson School, Cornell University -
SportsBiz -
Cloud Computing -
Blackboard Alumni Network -
Sports Industry Network™ -
Cornell University Job Connection -
Angel Capital Association -
Team & Event Marketers™ :: For promoters of the live experience. -
Venture Capital Group -
Event Peeps: For Live Event Industry Professionals -
EDUCAUSE -
Entertainment Ticketing Professionals -
Ivy League Entrepreneurs and Business Owners -
WebCT Alumni Network -
E-Vent Marketing Network -
Ticket Sales Best Practices -
Entrepreneurship@Cornell Advisory Council
Stephen Gilfus’s Honors:
Business Consulting Award (Cornell University), US Patent: US 6,988,138 B1 - Internet-based education support system and methods, Cambridge Who's Who 2007-2008 (VIP Member)
Keynote Speaker: NYSCATE, EDUCAUSE
Stephen Gilfus’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
