Chris DeWolfe explained

Chris DeWolfe
Birth Place:Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Occupation:CEO of Jam City
Known For:Co-founder of Myspace

Chris DeWolfe (born)[1] is an American technology entrepreneur. He co-founded Myspace in 2003 and was its chief executive officer (CEO) until 2009. DeWolfe has been the CEO of Jam City, a video game developer, since he co-founded it in 2010.

Early life and education

DeWolfe is a native of Portland, Oregon,[2] and went to Lincoln High School.[3] DeWolfe graduated with a B.A. from the University of Washington in 1988,[4] then completed an MBA at the USC Marshall School of Business in 1997. He was honored by the school as Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006.[5]

Career

Myspace

See main article: Myspace. DeWolfe conceived Myspace while taking a course titled "The Impact of Tech on Media and Entertainment" during the final year of his MBA program. In the final project for his class, DeWolfe created "Sitegeist", which had elements of Citysearch and Match.com mixed with instant messaging. DeWolfe got an "A" on his project and used it as inspiration in creating Myspace.[6] He co-founded Myspace in 2003.[7]

DeWolfe was involved with the sale of Myspace to News Corporation in 2005 for, and remained as its chief executive officer (CEO) until March 2009, at which point Myspace was larger than its competitor, Facebook.[8] [9] [10] During DeWolfe's tenure, Myspace grew to attract over 135 million worldwide visitors a month.[11] On April 22, 2009, News Corporation announced that DeWolfe would step down as CEO to become a strategic adviser and serve on the board of Myspace China. Former Facebook executive Owen Van Natta replaced him.[12]

Jam City

See main article: Jam City (company). DeWolfe is a co-founder and the CEO of Jam City, a Los Angeles-based video game developer.[13] The inspiration for Jam City came during DeWolfe’s days at Myspace. In a 2006 trip DeWolfe made to Japan, he met with SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son, where the two discussed gaming and the potential of mobile gaming.[14] The social nature of games and the fast growth of mobile gaming in countries like Japan inspired him to start Jam City.[15] DeWolfe founded Jam City in 2010 with former 20th Century Fox executive Josh Yguado and former Myspace executives Colin Digiaro and Aber Whitcomb when they received backing from Austin Ventures to buy the gaming startup MindJolt.[16] Under DeWolfe's leadership, Jam City has grown to more than 825 employees and nine studios, as of May 2021. Its games, which include , Cookie Jam, Panda Pop, Disney Emoji Blitz, and , have been downloaded 1.3 billion times and Jam City reached a deal to become a public company through a merger with DPCM Capital Inc., with a $1.2 billion valuation.[17]

Accolades

In 2006, DeWolfe was named one of Times 100 most influential people in the world.[18] In 2007, he was chosen by Barbara Walters as one of her 10 most fascinating people[19] and he won the Producers Guild of America's Vanguard Award in 2009.[20]

Other roles

DeWolfe is an investor in the travel site Gogobot.[21] He served on the board of trustees of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art[22] and is on the board of directors for Woven Digital.[23]

Personal life

DeWolfe lives in Los Angeles. He has two children.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Boss – My Route to MySpace . Patricia R. . Olsen . February 21, 2009 . . June 10, 2021 . June 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610190455/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/jobs/22boss.html . live .
  2. News: MySpace cowboys, Chris DeWolfe . . . September 4, 2006 . May 19, 2021 . December 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201203123031/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/09/04/8384727/dewolfe.html . live .
  3. Book: Angwin, Julia . Stealing MySpace: The Battle to Control the Most Popular Website in America . Julia Angwin . Random House . 2009 . 978-1-4000-6694-0 . registration .
  4. News: MySpace Cowboys, Chris DeWolfe . . March 26, 2021 . May 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517144728/https://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/09/04/8384727/dewolfe.html . live .
  5. Web site: USC Marshall » Lloyd Greif Center Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year . 2012 . classic.marshall.usc.edu . June 12, 2013 . July 25, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150725063021/http://classic.marshall.usc.edu/greif/alumni/alumni-entrepreneur-of-the-year.htm . live .
  6. Web site: Kozlowski . Lori . May 15, 2012 . New Life: How Myspace Spawned A Start-Up Ecosystem . . August 25, 2017 . February 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180224075418/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorikozlowski/2012/05/15/how-myspace-spawned-a-startup-ecosystem/ . live .
  7. News: Jam City CEO Chris DeWolfe Talks Mobile Gaming Strategy—And A 2019 IPO . August 9, 2017 . Fast Company . January 24, 2018 . en-US . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141220/https://www.fastcompany.com/40446522/jam-city-ceo-chris-dewolfe-talks-mobile-gaming-strategy-and-a-2019-ipo . live .
  8. Web site: It's Official: MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe Steps Down . Michael . Arrington . techcrunch.com . . April 22, 2009 . November 9, 2011 . October 21, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111021033600/http://techcrunch.com/2009/04/22/confirmed-myspace-ceo-chris-dewolfe-steps-down/ . live .
  9. Web site: Facebook Finally Catches Up To MySpace In The U.S. . Erick . Schonfeld . techcrunch.com . . June 25, 2009 . November 9, 2011 . December 6, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111206181857/http://techcrunch.com/2009/06/15/facebook-finally-catches-up-to-myspace-in-the-us/ . live .
  10. News: News Corp in $580m internet buy . . . July 19, 2005 . November 9, 2011 . June 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190601150710/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4695495.stm . live .
  11. News: FIM makes Strategic acquisition . Georg . Szalai . Hollywoodreporter.com . . February 23, 2007 . November 9, 2011 . November 12, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131112054149/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fim-makes-strategic-acquisition-130743 . live .
  12. Web site: MySpace abandons race with Facebook . Matthew . Garrahan . FT.com . . October 22, 2009 . November 10, 2009 . June 8, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170608152340/https://www.ft.com/content/79054d72-be73-11de-b4ab-00144feab49a . live .
  13. News: A Myspace Founder Builds Again, Buying Game Companies . Evelyn . Rusli . . November 7, 2011 . April 18, 2011 . March 19, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180319085028/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/a-myspace-founder-is-building-again-with-online-games/ . live .
  14. News: Mobile Media Mastermind . Vendt . Whitney . CSQ . Winter 2017 . March 26, 2021 . June 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610190433/https://issuu.com/csuite/docs/2017_q1/58 . live .
  15. News: Former MySpace CEO Makes A Comeback As A Mobile Gaming Hitmaker . Chaykowski . Kathleen . . June 12, 2017 . March 26, 2021 . May 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517144726/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenchaykowski/2017/06/12/former-myspace-ceo-makes-a-comeback-as-a-mobile-gaming-hitmaker/?sh=429e63312776 . live .
  16. News: Former Myspace Mogul Chris DeWolfe Reflects on Mobile Gaming's Future . Shanley . Patrick . . February 13, 2020 . March 10, 2021 . September 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200921132743/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/myspace-mogul-chris-dewolfe-reflects-mobile-gamings-future-1278540 . live .
  17. News: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery publisher Jam City will launch SPAC at $1.2B value, buy Ludia for $175M . Takahashi . Dean . . May 20, 2021 . May 21, 2021 . May 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210520200530/https://venturebeat.com/2021/05/20/harry-potter-game-maker-jam-city-will-launch-spac-at-1-2b-value-and-buy-ludia-for-175m/ . live .
  18. News: Tom Anderson & Chris DeWolfe . time.com . 2013 . June 12, 2013 . Sharin . Foo . June 9, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130609044929/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1975813_1976769_1976775,00.html . dead .
  19. Web site: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2007 . abcnews.go.com . December 6, 2007 . June 12, 2013 . October 5, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131005175235/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=3948323&page=3#.T9pfxhdfG3Y . live .
  20. News: PGA to honor MySpace founders . . December 3, 2008 . March 26, 2021.
  21. News: Gogobot hires SRI scientist to add artificial intelligence to its travel apps . Tweney . Dylan . . April 17, 2012 . March 26, 2021 . May 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517144730/https://venturebeat.com/2012/04/17/gogobot-hires-siri-co-inventor-to-add-intelligence-to-its-travel-apps-exclusive/ . live .
  22. News: Wyatt . Edward . March 6, 2007 . Big Corporate Gift Expected for Los Angeles County Museum of Art . . . October 25, 2013 . November 13, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113101911/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/06/arts/design/06lacm.html?_r=0 . live .
  23. Web site: Former Myspace CEO Joins Woven Digital Board (Exclusive) . The Hollywood Reporter . November 12, 2015 . April 4, 2016 . April 5, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160405155659/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/myspace-ceo-joins-woven-digital-839589 . live .
  24. News: Chris DeWolfe: His Space at the Top . CSQ . April 19, 2019 . March 26, 2021 . May 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517144727/https://csq.com/2019/04/chris-dewolfe-jam-city-his-space-at-the-top/#.YF4blK9Khyx . live .

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