Kevin Hartz Explained

Kevin Hartz should not be confused with Kevin Hart.

Kevin Hartz is an American businessman in the technology industry. He is the co-founder of Xoom, and was the CEO from 2001 to 2005.

Biography

Hartz was born in Berkeley, California, and raised in Orinda, California. He attended Miramonte High School in Orinda.[1] He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science in history from Stanford University, as well as a Master of Arts degree in British history from University College, Oxford.[2]

Career

Hartz began his career at Silicon Graphics (SGI) as the product manager for the virtual reality browser, Cosmo Player. Hartz was a co-founder of ConnectGroup, a start-up providing high-speed internet access to the hotel industry.[3] Five months after incorporating the company, it was acquired by LodgeNet.[4]

In 2001, Hartz co-founded Xoom, an international money remittance business, along with Alan Braverman. He served first as CEO until 2005, and then on the Board of Directors through its 2012 IPO[5] and subsequent acquisition by PayPal in 2015. The company had a total equity value of $1.1 billion at that time.[6]

In 2006, Hartz founded Eventbrite, the global self-service ticketing platform, along with Julia Hartz and Renaud Visage.[7]

Hartz joined Founders Fund in September 2016 and served as a partner. He later announced his exit from the company in June 2018.[8] He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Eventbrite (Chairman) and Lookout.

Personal life

Hartz lives in San Francisco with his wife, Julia Hartz, and they have two daughters.

Notes and References

  1. News: Bloomberg . 2022-10-15 . Bloomberg.com.
  2. https://www.britishcouncil.org/education-uk-awards/inspirational-alumni/kevin-hartz Kevin Hartz | British Council
  3. Web site: Kevin Hartz, Founder & CEO of Eventbrite . .
  4. Web site: LodgeNet Acquires Connect Group, Delivers High-Speed Laptop Connectivity . LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation . . 2014-03-03.
  5. Web site: Xoom Corporation . . 2013-02-01.
  6. Web site: PayPal Acquires Xoom for Stake in Digital Money Transfers . . 2015-07-01.
  7. Web site: Ohikuare . Judith . 28 June 2012 . Bad Times Have Treated Us Well at Eventbrite . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220927200330/https://www.inc.com/magazine/201207/judith-ohikuare/julia-hartz-eventbrite-how-i-did-it.html . 27 September 2022 . 19 August 2023 . Inc.com.
  8. News: Kevin Hartz Is Stepping Down as Partner at Founders Fund. Fortune. 2018-09-18. en.