Eric Lefkofsky

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name = Eric Lefkofsky


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birth_date = September, 1969
birth_place = Detroit, Michigan
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education = University of Michigan
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occupation = President, Blue Media LLC
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spouse = Elizabeth
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website = http://lefkofsky.com
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Eric Paul Lefkofsky (born September, 1969) is a U.S.-born serial entrepreneur. He is currently president of Blue Media, LLC, a Chicago-based private equity and consulting firm.

Early life

Lefkofsky grew up in Southfield, Michigan; Lefkofsky’s father, Bill, is a structural engineer, his mother Sandy was a school teacher. He has a brother, Steven, an attorney practicing in Michigan, and a sister, Jodi, also a former school teacher. After graduating from Southfield Lathrop High School in 1987, Lefkofsky attended the University of Michigan and graduated with honors in 1991. He continued on at University of Michigan Law School to receive his Juris Doctor in 1993. [ [http://www.lefkofsky.com/about.html Lefkofsky.com] ]

Entrepreneurial ventures

Lefkofsky began his career selling carpet at the University of Michigan. After law school, in 1993, he and a college friend, Brad Keywell, borrowed money from relatives to buy an apparel company in Madison, Wisconsin named Brandon Apparel. In 1999, Lefkofsky and Keywell created an early Internet company called Starbelly that specialized in promotional products. Starbelly experienced rapid “pre-bubble” Internet growth and was sold to Halo Industries in January, 2000. Eighteen months after the acquisition of Starbelly Halo filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. [ [http://promomagazine.com/news/marketing_halo_files_bankruptcy_2/ Promo magazine] ]

After Starbelly, Lefkofsky, along with a core team of investors and entrepreneurs, founded [http://iwprint.com InnerWorkings] in the fall of 2001. InnerWorkings provided print procurement services for mid-sized companies and achieved solid year-over-year growth. In August, 2006, InnerWorkings had a successful initial public offering in the U.S. stock market (nasdaq: INWK). [ [http://www.ipohome.com/common/ipoprofile.asp?ticker=INWK IPO Home] ] Lefkofsky is on the board of directors of InnerWorkings.

In February 2005, Lefkofsky and Keywell created a freight logistics company called [http://www.echo.com Echo Global Logistics] . Echo attracted series D financing from New Enterprise Associates (NEA), one of the largest technology investors in the country, in June 2006. Echo filed an [http://sec.edgar-online.com/2008/04/30/0001047469-08-005580/Section60.asp S1 document] with the SEC in May 2008, announcing its intention to take the company public with an initial public offering.

In June 2006, Lefkofsky and Keywell founded [http://mbxg.com MediaBank] , a media-buying technology company. MediaBank provides advertising buyers with planning, buying, accounting and analysis software. In June, 2007, MediaBank acquired Datatech [ [http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/958526/mediabank_llc_acquires_datatech_software_corporation/index.html RedOrbit] ] , one of the leading media planning and procurement platforms in the advertising industry. In July, 2007, New Enterprise Associates invested in MediaBank. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_July_23/ai_n19378439 Business Wire] ]

In January, 2007, Lefkofsky and his partners provided funding for [http://thepoint.com ThePoint.com] , an online collective action website founded by Andrew Mason. New Enterprise Associates is currently leading an investment round at ThePoint. [Lefkofsky, E: "Accelerated Disruption", page 15, Easton Studio Press, 2007]

Philanthropy

In 2006, Eric Lefkofsky and his wife, Elizabeth, formed a charitable trust, the [http://lefkofskyfoundation.com Lefkofsky Foundation] , for the “purpose of supporting charitable, scientific, and educational organizations and causes around the world.” The foundation has a focus on children. The foundation has helped fund more than 50 organizations to date. [ [http://www.lefkofskyfoundation.com Lefkofsky Foundation] ]

Community interests

Lefkofsky is on the board of directors at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, the board of directors of The Art Institute of Chicago and a Trustee of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, a Chicago-based performing arts institution. [Lefkofsky, E: "Accelerated Disruption", dust jacket, Easton Studio Press, 2007]

In May 2008, Lefkofsky joined the committee to bring the 2016 Summer Olympics to Chicago, Chicago 2016.

Teaching and writing

Since his success at InnerWorkings, Lefkofsky began a teaching career at business schools in the Chicago area. He previously taught Applied Technology at DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate Business School. He is currently teaching a course in Disruptive Technology & Business models at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

In November, [http://www.eastonsp.com/ Easton Studio Press] published Lefkofsky's [http://accelerateddisruption.com Accelerated Disruption] , a book about how technology affects business.

References

External links

* [http://www.iwprint.com InnerWorkings]
* [http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu Kellogg School of Management]
* [http://www.echo.com Echo Global Logistics]
* [http://www.mbxg.com MediaBank]
* [http://www.lefkofskyfoundation Lefkofsky Foundation]
* [http://www.lefkofsky.com Eric Lefkofsky website]
* [http://www.thepoint.com ThePoint]
* [http://accelerateddisruption.com Accelerated Disruption]