Steve Barsh

Current

• Managing Partner at DreamIt Ventures
• Partner at Salzman & Barsh LLC
• Project Faculty at The Wharton School

• Vice President at Stop ALD Foundation
• CEO at MyVacationhome.com LLC

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2 more...

Past

• Camping Out at First Round Capital
• Consultant at Satisfaction Unlimited
• Principal & Co-Owner at Tristar Lighting

• CEO at Barsh Technology Ventures, Inc.
• CEO at iGrandparents.com
• CEO at TTR, Inc.
• Vice President at MCI, Inc.
• CEO at SECA, Inc.
• Projecft Manager and Software Developer at ERIM

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6 more...

Education

• University of Michigan

Recommended

17 people have recommended Steve

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Internet

Websites

• My Website
• My Blog

Steve Barsh’s Summary

Steve Barsh is an accomplished CEO, entrepreneur, and senior executive whose expertise is leading world-class teams and companies to deliver superior results. With over 20 years of experience, Steve has the ability to both determine a winning strategic direction and drive its execution. His life-long passion is working with technology companies where he is able to understand quickly the technical underpinnings and the market strategy necessary to maximize revenue.

As he was graduating from the University of Michigan, Steve founded and led a software and consulting company. He built it into an industry leader and after maintaining a 60% CAGR for 7 years, he sold it to MCI for 8x revenue. Following that, Steve led an Internet company focusing on the baby boomer space -- iGrandparents.com. In less than a year, iGrandparents became the largest and fastest growing website focused exclusively on baby boomers. Steve also led a US publicly traded Israeli-based software anti-piracy company. In 2008, Steve had the fortunate opportunity to camp out with Josh Kopelman, Chris Fralic, Howard Morgan, and Rob Hayes, at their well-regarded early stage venture capital firm, First Round Capital.

Media appearances have included NBC Nightly News, ABC Nightline, CBS News, CNNfn, CNBC, and a multitude of NBC, ABC, and CBS local affiliates. Steve has testified and spoken on multiple occasions before US Senate and FDA subcommittees.

Steve is a Project Faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School where he teaches, coaches, and guides international MBA Global Consulting Practicum teams that focus on developing actionable, US-focused go-to-market plans and expansion strategies for an array of international companies.

Steve graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS in computer science. He is a licensed private pilot with instrument rating. He lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

Steve Barsh’s Specialties:

Building and leading world-class technology organizations including start-ups, building out and executing marketing strategies, venture backed firms, and M&A of ventures.

Steve Barsh’s Experience

• Managing Partner

  DreamIt Ventures

  (Venture Capital & Private Equity industry)

  May 2008 — Present (1 year 7 months)

  Steve is a Managing Partner in DreamIt Ventures, a pre-seed stage venture firm that provides aspiring entrepreneurs with funding, services from leading law and accounting firms, mentoring from seasoned entrepreneurs, access to capital, and a creative, rigorous environment to bring innovative business ideas to market.

• Partner

  Salzman & Barsh LLC

  (Internet industry)

  2008 — Present (1 year )

  Steve offers high-impact consulting, acting CxO, and advisory services to companies in a wide range of markets from startup to well established. Steve loves to roll up his sleeves and help investors and teams build great companies. See http://stevebarsh.com/adv.html for more details.

• Project Faculty

  The Wharton School

  (Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)

  November 2006 — Present (3 years 1 month)

  Steve is a Project Faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School where he teaches, coaches, and guides international MBA Global Consulting Practicum teams that focus on developing actionable, US-focused go-to-market plans and expansion strategies for an array of international companies.

• Vice President

  Stop ALD Foundation

  (Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Biotechnology industry)

  2000 — Present (9 years )

  ALD is a deadly disease that is often not diagnosed in a timely manner that would allow for a chance at successful treatment. As this is a genetic disease, the defect could also be discovered in the prenatal stage. In addition, many children die or become mentally and physically disabled due to complications related to both the course of the disease and the nature of the therapy. Even the best case scenario cannot be described as a cure. Many adults are severely handicapped and can only look forward to a long-term downward spiral with no hope of relief.
  
  The Stop ALD Foundation uses entrepreneurial spirit and techniques to seek out and develop promising therapies to prevent, diagnose, and cure adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). We do this by identifying and filling gaps in the development process and defining and delivering the resources to transform ideas into projects and projects into therapies

• CEO

  MyVacationhome.com LLC

  (Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Real Estate industry)

  1998 — Present (11 years )

  Steve owns and actively manages multiple luxury properties in Park City, Utah (home of the 2002 Winter Olympics).

• Camping Out

  First Round Capital

  (Venture Capital & Private Equity industry)

  2008 — 2009 (1 year )

  Looked at deals, worked on my own ideas, and spent time with a great, extremely talented team of hard-working, extremely experienced tech entrepreneurs and VCs.

• Consultant

  Satisfaction Unlimited

  (Privately Held; Internet industry)

  August 2008 — December 2008 (5 months)

  * Refinement of company and product positioning including alignment of value proposition with target market segments and greatest needs.
  * Primary research with target customers on how Get Satisfaction can add the most value to their organizations.
  * Initial outreach to top target business segments and customers in those segments.
  * Refinement of overall marketing strategy including positioning, differentiation, messaging, PR, branding,
  * Strategic consulting, including business plan & sales strategy development.

• Principal & Co-Owner

  Tristar Lighting

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing industry)

  January 2004 — 2007 (3 years )

  Tristar Lighting manufactures and sells energy efficient lighting products for commercial and industrial lighting retrofits. Tristar Lighting’s products are installed throughout the U.S. in top military locations, commercial and industrial buildings, federal & municipal government facilities, universities, K-12 schools, and a wide range of other market verticals.

• CEO

  Barsh Technology Ventures, Inc.

  (Computer Software industry)

  1998 — 2004 (6 years )

  Barsh Technology Ventures, Inc. is a consulting company specializing in assisting executives in high tech ventures. Steve provides highly focused and extremely value-added consulting for companies on go-to-market strategy, marketing, positioning, company growth strategies, business planning, and financial & competitive analysis. Steve also works with CEO's and executive management teams by "executive sparring" with them to help explore and examine every facet of a new strategy, idea, product, Board presentation, investor presentation, and other business-critical issues.

• CEO

  iGrandparents.com

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Internet industry)

  1999 — 2001 (2 years )

  Steve led an Internet company focusing on the baby boomer space -- iGrandparents.com. In less than a year, iGrandparents became the largest and fastest growing website focused exclusively on baby boomers. At iGrandparents Steve raised over $6 million in financing and grew revenue at 25% per quarter while increasing operating expenses only 12% per quarter.

• CEO

  TTR, Inc.

  (Public Company; 11-50 employees; Computer & Network Security industry)

  1998 — 1999 (1 year )

  TTR designs and markets digital anti-piracy products. Steve led the filing of a follow-on SB2 offering resulting in a 10 day SEC no-review approval. He was responsible for focusing the organization’s mission and positioning and driving those components through all facets of the business. At the same time, Steve focused corporate resources on newly identified beachhead markets. Within these beachheads, Steve worked with key strategic prospects and clients in the US and Europe. As well, he re-aligned the staff and organization-wide roles and responsibilities. Finally, he overhauled the sales organization including recruiting a VP Sales, reformulating sales commissions, and implementing reliable forecasting procedures.

• Vice President

  MCI, Inc.

  (Public Company; 51-200 employees; Computer Software industry)

  1996 — 1998 (2 years )

  MCI’s Online Knowledge Group (OKG) developed, sold, and supported industry leading software tools that enabled information technology (IT) organizations to manage and deliver complex software projects more quickly. Steve was asked to lead the OKG after MCI acquired SECA, Steve's first company which was merged into the OKG. During his first full year, he produced the first profitable year in the OKG’s 6-year history by growing revenue while reducing expenses 22%. He led a team of 90 people spanning the US, Canada, Mexico, and the UK. Steve focused the mission and vision of the organization while transforming the OKG into a marketing-focused software company. During his tenure, the OKG conducted new business with clients including AAA, ABN Amro, AT&T, Bank of Russia, CAC (Japan), Canada Post, CSC, Dow Brands, Great West Life, INTESA (Venezuela), Samsung Data Systems, TelMex, and the Treasury Board of Canada.

• CEO

  SECA, Inc.

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)

  1987 — 1996 (9 years )

  Steve started SECA while in his senior year at the University of Michigan. He led the growth of SECA from an IT consulting firm into a dominating player in the process / project management software tools market. Steve led SECA to 8 straight years of increasing revenues and profits with a 60% CAGR. SECA achieved greater than an 8x run-rate multiple (more than 3 times the median average at that time) through the acquisition of SECA by MCI. Steve also was responsible for securing strategic client funding for new product development. Steve presented extensively in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia and briefed industry analysts. SECA clients included Abbott Labs, Bank of Montreal, Chemical Bank, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan, Marsh & McLennan, National Institutes of Health, State Farm Insurance Companies, Thomson Consumer Electronics, US HealthCare, and the US State Department.

• Projecft Manager and Software Developer

  ERIM

  (Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Research industry)

  1984 — 1987 (3 years )

  While attending the University of Michigan, Steve worked at ERIM developing software to analyze and study synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for both aircraft and space-based platforms. At that time, Steve was the youngest ERIM employee to receive a secret level security clearance. As well, he participated in field operations and flight missions.

Steve Barsh’s Education

• University of Michigan

  BS , Computer Science , 1983 — 1987

  Speclized in software engineering and took every available graduate-level course while an undergraduate.

Additional Information

Steve Barsh’s Websites:

• My Website
• My Blog

Steve Barsh’s Interests:

Business: Building great teams, building great companies, tech, venture capital investing, strategy, biotech. Personal: Spending time with my family and kids, traveling, flying (IFR rated pilot), snow skiing, hiking, scuba diving.

Steve Barsh’s Groups:

GCP, Philly Startup Leaders

•    Wharton Technology and Technology VC Network
•    Wharton Entrepreneurs & VCs
•    Philly Startup Leaders
•    Travel 2.0: Interactive Travel Industry Professionals
•    Vacation Rental Professionals
•    GCP
•    Philadelphia Venture Capital

Steve Barsh’s Honors:

Asked to tesitfy multiple times before the US Senate on the topics of stem cell technology and cord blood transplantation.

Steve Barsh’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch