Brad Keywell Explained

Brad Keywell
Birth Name:Bradley A. Keywell
Alma Mater:University of Michigan (BBA, JD)
Occupation:Founder and executive chairman, Uptake Technologies
Spouse:Kimberly (divorced 2023)
Children:2

Bradley A. Keywell (born October 1969) is an American billionaire entrepreneur. He is the founder and executive chairman of Uptake Technologies, an industrial AI software provider. He is an early investor[1] of Tempus Labs,[2] co-founder of Groupon,[3] Echo Global Logistics, Mediaocean,[4] DRIVIN, and Lightbank. He founded WNDR Museum and Chicago Ideas.[5]

As of March 2024, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$1.1 billion,[6] down from $2.7 billion in December 2021.[7] [8]

Keywell is the recipient of the 2019 EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year award,[9] after receiving the overall USA EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2018.[10]

Early life and education

Bradley A. Keywell grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and attended Cranbrook Schools. He studied at the London School of Economics in 1990, received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1991 from the University of Michigan[11] and a Juris Doctor cum laude in 1993 from the University of Michigan Law School. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the State Bar of Illinois.[12]

Career

Keywell started his first business at age 7, a greeting card company called Key Creations.[13] He started several businesses while an undergrad student at the University of Michigan.[14] [15]

As a freshman, he met Sam Zell and proceeded to spend part of his summers as an intern for Sam Zell's Equity Group Investments. Sam became an important mentor to Keywell for the following 35 years until Zell's passing in 2023.[16] [17] In addition, Keywell was on the board of directors of Sam Zell's Equity Residential for ten years.[18]

In 1999, Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky co-founded Starbelly, an online supply chain management firm, which was acquired in January 2000 by HA-LO (NYSE:HMK) for $240 million.[19]

In February 2005, Keywell co-founded Echo Global Logistics,[20] a technology-enabled provider of transportation and logistics services, which had an IPO on NASDAQ in 2009.[21] Keywell was the founding CEO, then was chairman and lead independent director until 2017.[22] Echo was acquired in 2021 by The Jordan Company for $1.3 billion.[20]

In June 2006, Keywell co-founded MediaBank, a SaaS provider to the advertising and media buying industry, and was the founding CEO and then on the board of directors until the company's sale. In 2012, a merger between MediaBank and Donovan Data Systems (DDS) created Mediaocean, and in 2014, Vista Equity Partners acquired MediaOcean.[23] [24]

In 2007, Keywell co-founded Groupon,[25] the collective buying platform, which Forbes called 'The Fastest Growing Company Ever' in 2010.[26] Groupon had an IPO on NASDAQ in 2011.[27] [28] Keywell was on Groupon's board of directors from its inception through 2017.[29]

In February 2010, Keywell co-founded Lightbank, a technology venture capital and private equity firm, and was a Managing Director through 2018.[30] Lightbank's portfolio includes early-stage investments in Sprout Social (NASDAQ:SPT), Udemy (NASDAQ:UDMY), Coffee Meets Bagel, Benzinga (sold to Beringer Capital), Reverb (sold to Etsy), Fooda, EventUp (sold to Gather), BenchPrep, Zeel, and TastyTrade (sold to IG Group).[31]

In 2013, Keywell co-founded DRIVIN, an automobile data analytics company. In 2016, KAR Auction Services (NYSE:KAR) acquired DRIVIN for $43 million.[32]

In 2014, Keywell co-founded the industrial AI software company Uptake, which is valued at over $2.3 billion.[33] [34] Uptake's applications are featured in the Microsoft Energy Core suite.[35] Uptake was named the Hottest Startup of the Year by Forbes in 2015.[36] Uptake was named a CNBC Disruptor 50 winner for three consecutive years,[37] including the #5 ranked CNBC Disruptor in 2017.[38] Keywell was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2017.[39]

In 2015, Keywell was an early investor in Tempus Labs,[40] [41] an AI-enabled precision medicine company,[42] and was on its Board of Directors from inception until 2019. Tempus was named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 list in 2021,[43] and has raised over $1 billion in capital from investors including Google, Franklin Templeton, and T.Rowe Price.[44]

In September 2018, Keywell founded WNDR Museum, an experiential art museum located in Chicago's West Loop.[45] WNDR has since expanded to include WNDR Museum locations in San Diego, Seattle, and Boston, and has announced plans for further expansion.[46]

In January 2024, Keywell joined the board of directors for TKO Group.

Teaching & Writing

Keywell is an adjunct professor at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.[47]

He is the author (with his daughter Chloe) of the book Isabelle Speaks Up: A Story of Possibilities,[48] and of Biz Dev 3.0: Changing Business as We Know It, published by ALM Publishing.[49]

He is the host of a podcast, The Upside, and a participant of the Renaissance Weekend and the TED Conference.[50]

Philanthropy

In 2014, Keywell created the Keywell Foundation to support nonprofit and NGO enterprises.

In 2015, Brad Keywell signed The Giving Pledge to donate more than half his wealth to charity.[51]

He is the founder and chairman of Chicago Ideas, an innovation and ideas platform with over 30,000 in-person attendees annually and global reach through its online channels.[52]

He is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Future Founders Foundation, which provides entrepreneurial education to Chicago students.

Keywell was named Chairman of the Illinois Innovation Council by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.[53]

Awards & Recognition

Keywell was the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019,[54] after being named the EY Overall US Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018.

Keywell was named to the Chicago Innovation Hall of Fame in 2021.[55]

Keywell was featured in a commercial for the CNBC 30th Anniversary Future of Business series in 2020.[56]

Keywell was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2018.[57] [39]

Personal life

Keywell was married to Kimberly "Kim".[58] They have two children. They filed for divorce in December 2021. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: July 31, 2019 . Groupon Made Eric Lefkofsky A Billionaire—His Cancer-Fighting Startup Is Worth Far More . July 11, 2023 . Forbes.
  2. Web site: Tempus AI-enabled precision medicine . July 7, 2023 . Tempus . en-US.
  3. News: Taylor . Charile . US tech veteran named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year for 2019 . Irish Times.
  4. Web site: Miller . Ben . GE and Uptake agree to make nice, settle opposing lawsuits . . August 5, 2019.
  5. Web site: Bradley A. Keywell Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies . July 7, 2023 . zli.umich.edu.
  6. Web site: Forbes profile: Brad Keywell . Forbes . March 2, 2024.
  7. Web site: Bekemeyer . Jake . December 1, 2021 . Billionaires Club . July 7, 2023 . DBusiness Magazine . en-US.
  8. News: Brad Keywell . wallmine . August 18, 2020.
  9. Web site: Brad Keywell, CEO, Uptake Technologies, Inc. . www.ey.com . Ernst & Young.
  10. Web site: April 2, 2019 . Entrepreneur of The Year: Strategic Growth Forum . July 7, 2023 . Bridget Ross . en-US.
  11. Web site: The race to the Internet of things. Lev-Ram. Michal. Fortune. July 18, 2017.
  12. Web site: Bradley A. Keywell Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. zli.umich.edu. en. July 18, 2017.
  13. Web site: Tech Marathoners: Brad Keywell . July 7, 2023 . deal architect.
  14. Web site: How Groupon co-founder got his start in Ann Arbor (and what he thinks about Michigan now) . July 8, 2023 . AnnArbor.com.
  15. Web site: University of Michigan grads, co-founders of Groupon, could become billionaires after IPO . July 8, 2023 . AnnArbor.com.
  16. News: May 23, 2013 . .@bradkeywell: How Sam Zell Became My Startup Mentor . en-US . Wall Street Journal . July 7, 2023 . 0099-9660.
  17. Web site: Sam Zell, My Mentor (and His Two Final Gifts to Me) . July 7, 2023 . www.linkedin.com . en.
  18. Web site: EQR Company Profile & Executives - Equity Residential - Wall Street Journal . July 7, 2023 . www.wsj.com.
  19. Web site: Ha-lo Buys Starbelly.com. Chicago Tribune. January 24, 2000.
  20. Web site: Echo Global Logistics To Be Acquired By The Jordan Company For $1.3B . July 7, 2023 . markets.businessinsider.com . en.
  21. Web site: Adest . Abbi . September 29, 2009 . Echo Global Logistics Expected to Deliver IPO This Week (NASDAQ:ECHO) Seeking Alpha . July 7, 2023 . seekingalpha.com . en.
  22. Web site: June 19, 2015 . Echo Global Logistics Sets Executive Appointments . July 7, 2023 . Transport Topics . en.
  23. News: Rivals Donovan And MediaBank Merge To Form 'MediaOcean,' Will Develop New 'OS' For Madison Avenue. MediaPost News. September 25, 2011. Joe Mandese.
  24. News: Liyakasa . Kelly . Mediaocean Acquired By Private Equity Firm Vista . June 29, 2015 . Ad Exchanger.
  25. Web site: Wakelee-Lynch . Joe . July 6, 2016 . Brad Keywell, Groupon Co-founder . July 7, 2023 . LMU Magazine . en-US.
  26. Web site: Steiner . Christopher . Meet The Fastest Growing Company Ever . July 7, 2023 . Forbes . en.
  27. Web site: Pepitone . Julianne . Groupon spikes 31% in IPO . July 7, 2023 . CNNMoney.
  28. Web site: Pepitone . Julianne . Groupon spikes 31% in IPO . CNN Money . November 4, 2011.
  29. Web site: November 1, 2017 . Groupon co-founder Brad Keywell leaves board amid other director shifts . July 7, 2023 . Chicago Tribune.
  30. Web site: Lightbank - Portfolio. lightbank.com.
  31. Web site: Rao . Leena . December 23, 2012 . Lightbank Aims To Change The VC Game As It Expands Its Investments Beyond Chicago . July 7, 2023 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  32. KAR Acquires DRIVIN to Bolster Data Analytic Capabilities and Strengthen Leading Remarketing Platform . Global Newswire . April 19, 2017 . April 19, 2017.
  33. News: U.S. startup Uptake valued at $2.3 billion in new funding round. Scott. Alwyn. U.S.. May 16, 2018. en-US.
  34. News: Lee . Thomas . AI is Disrupting the Marketplace - . . July 8, 2020.
  35. Web site: Corporation . Microsoft . Microsoft Energy Core Partner - Uptake Technologies Inc. . July 7, 2023 . Microsoft Energy Core . en.
  36. Web site: Mui . Chunka . Thinking Big About The Industrial Internet Of Things . July 7, 2023 . Forbes . en.
  37. Web site: staff . CNBC com . May 15, 2019 . Uptake 2019 Disruptor 50 . July 7, 2023 . www.cnbc.com.
  38. Web site: CNBC . May 16, 2017 . The 2017 CNBC Disruptor 50 list of companies . July 7, 2023 . www.cnbc.com.
  39. Web site: June 13, 2017 . Uptake wins global honor . July 7, 2023 . Crain's Chicago Business . en-US.
  40. Web site: July 11, 2023 . Our History . July 11, 2023 . Tempus . en-US.
  41. Web site: July 11, 2023 . UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION . June 13, 2017 . SEC . en-US.
  42. News: Bertagnoli . Lisa . Life after Groupon: Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell . August 24, 2018 . Chicago Business.
  43. Web site: staff . CNBC com . May 25, 2021 . 16. Tempus . July 7, 2023 . CNBC . en.
  44. Web site: Google, Others Invest $200M in Tempus, Bringing Its Valuation to $8B+ Built In Chicago . July 7, 2023 . www.builtinchicago.org . en.
  45. News: Silver . Kate . Lights, cameras, interaction: Exploring Chicago's Instagrammable Wndr museum . November 14, 2019 . The Washington Post.
  46. Web site: Cutler . Sumaia Wegner & Kelly . December 8, 2022 . Interactive WNDR Museum to open first west coast location in San Diego . July 7, 2023 . The Daily Aztec.
  47. Web site: Teaching the Secrets of Successful Serial Entrepreneurship.
  48. Book: Isabelle Speaks Up: A story of possibilities. - Chloe Keywell, Kimberly Stace, Brad Keywell . November 13, 2009 . BookLikes . 978-1448696819. en.
  49. Book: Biz Dev 3.0 - Brad Keywell . 0970597010 . Keywell . Brad . 2001 . Alm Pub. .
  50. Web site: Brad Keywell's TED Recommendations. www.ted.com.
  51. Web site: Groupon's Keywell promises to give away at least half his wealth. June 2, 2015. Crain's Chicago Business.
  52. Web site: Chicago Ideas. Chicago Ideas. en. May 16, 2018.
  53. Web site: Governor Quinn Announces Creation of Illinois Innovation Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129064128/http://www3.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=1&RecNum=9226. dead. November 29, 2014. State of Illinois. February 16, 2011.
  54. News: Bounds . Andy . AI software founder wins world entrepreneur award . Financial Times.
  55. Web site: Brad Keywell . July 7, 2023 . Chicago Innovation . en-US.
  56. Web site: CNBC 30 The Future of Business Brad Keywell . July 7, 2023 . www.cnbc.com.
  57. Web site: Infosys - World Economic Forum 2020 Brad Keywell . July 7, 2023 . www.infosys.com.
  58. Web site: Guests Arrive At The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) Dinner . Getty Images . April 29, 2012 . March 2, 2024.

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