Previously Featured Entrepreneurs
Featured Entrepreneurs
Ben du Pont, Co-Founder and President yet2.com
Ben is co-founder and President of yet2.com, a global marketplace for technology. Founded in 1999, yet2.com creates mutually beneficial partnerships between companies leveraging new technology and patents. yet2.com was one the world's first open innovation platforms. About a quarter of the Fortune 500 directly engages yet2.com and most of the Fortune 500 are engaged in deal discussions through yet2.com, ranging from new drug-delivery technologies to new heavy-oil recovery technologies.
yet2.com has offices in Boston, Liverpool, Tokyo, and Wilmington, Delaware. It was jointly funded by Siemens, Bayer, Caterpillar, Honeywell, P&G, DuPont, and NTT Leasing.
Prior to founding yet2.com, Ben spent 14 years with DuPont in a variety of leadership positions in Specialty Chemicals, Fibers, and Automotive business units. Ben has a 1986 BSME from Tufts University and is a director of Morgan Stanley Capital Index NYSE:MXB, Vianix (a speech compression company), Platinum Research, Longwood Gardens, Jefferson Awards (the highest award for public service in the US), and the Tower Hill School. Ben is a licensed pilot, a ham radio operator, and an avid sailor. Ben lives with his wife Laura and their two children in Wilmington, Delaware.
For more information about yet2.com, go to http://www.yet2.com.
David C. Gates, Founder Gates and Company
David began his career with DuPont, spending eight years at the company in a variety of business units and functional roles. He left DuPont to acquire a software company, which he grew and sold in 1998. In 1999, David founded Gates and Company, a management consulting and investment banking firm based in Wilmington.
Gates and Company works with technology-driven, middle-market and Fortune 500 companies. Its management consulting team helps companies objectively assess their core competencies and/or business initiatives, analyze competitive and market dynamics, and develop winning growth strategies. Its investment banking team helps companies implement their growth strategies with financial advisory, alliance formation, and merger and acquisition services. Clients are clustered in the greater Philadelphia regions, but also span a variety of countries, including Austria, Germany, Spain, Israel, India, Brazil, Korea, and Japan. Gates and Company's client list includes companies like Antares Pharma, Ashland/Hercules, DuPont, FineStationery.com, FMC, Greene Tweed, InternetSeer, JADO Technologies, LG Chem, Maxwell Systems, Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (Japan), Optimer Performance Fibers, PennSummit WindTower, Prince Telecom, Qualicon, Rohm and Haas, Software Consulting Group/Soluziona, W.L. Gore, and many others.
David is an occasional guest lecturer at the MBA programs of Temple University, the University of Delaware, and The Wharton School; Chairman of the Technology Forum of Delaware; Advisory Board Member of First State Innovation, Board Director of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, and Board Director of Junior Achievement of Delaware. He is a private pilot, skier, and professional keyboard musician and songwriter.
David earned a BS in Electrical Engineering and a BS in Computer Science from the University of Tulsa, an MS in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University, and an MBA from The Wharton School. He is conversant in German having spent a portion of his undergraduate time at the University of Salzburg, Austria and in a co-op program with Contraves AG in Zurich, Switzerland.
For more information about Gates and Company, go to www.gatesandcompany.com.
Marc A. Olson, Founder and CEO Nayatek, LLC
Marc Olson is the Founder and CEO of Nayatek. Marc possesses significant Senior Management experience in Global Operations, Development Initiatives, and Strategic Market Positioning. Marc has over 10 years of International experience, including EMEA & Asia Pacific, and 20 years of Senior Leadership Experience.
As the former President of Sybari Software in the EMEA markets, he launched the operation with one person in November of 1999 and throughout his tenure grew the organization to include the employ of over 100 professionals across Development, Operations, Sales and Support, in offices which spanned throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He has been active in the computer industry for well over two decades, with experience in security and compliance software & technologies, operations management, and most other vital aspects of business relationships across international corporate cultures. He is a frequent speaker at conferences on security, and technology related topics. Marc has spoken at various network security seminars, industry technology conferences and press conferences.
He is a noted former leader of well respected global organizations such as Sybari, Network Associates, Johnson Controls, and Siemens Business Systems. Throughout his tenure within these major organizations, Marc has served as a pinnacle in the execution of extensive relationships, strategic sales models, and revenue driven plans which have resulted in the reorganization of multi-million dollar client accounts, and revenue producing organizations on a global level.
Mr. Olson also brings significant and quantifiable Senior Management experience in all areas of P&L, Client Relationships, Development, Operations, and Professional Services in Multi Cultural Environments.
Marc possesses more than twenty years of solid and practical Executive Management and Leadership experience across multiple industries and solution bases. He understands the objectives and needs of Top Level Companies and has specialized in implementing innovative strategies, security solutions, and programs to "Go-to-Market" with a well managed and profitable bottom line.
Marc is an achievement oriented, dynamic, and strategic leader with a solid record of accomplishments within high growth entrepreneurial environments. Throughout his successful career he has been recognized with multiple high achiever awards.
For more information about Nayatek, go to www.nayatek.com.
James J. Roszkowski, CEO and President Patria Services Corp.
Patria Services Corp., a Delaware C Corporation headquartered in Wilmington, DE, uniquely combines expertise in trigger marketing solutions with purpose-built technology to exceed our client's key business metrics and a turn-key engagement in highly profitable, responsive life-event consumer segments.
Patria drives its various client-based business objectives such as new sales, account activation and client retention through its SaaS Segmentation Technology and Delivery Platform, which delivers exclusive relevant and timely offers from trusted, national manufacturers, retailers and service providers combined with our client products and services to meet specific consumer spending and behavioral needs in a timely fashion. Patria offers various ‘life changing event’ or trigger marketing solutions to improve our client’s portfolio profitability.
“We are excited to be headquartered here in Wilmington and thrilled by the support the local community has shown us," says Jim Roszkowski. "Through a strong network of organizations like First State Innovation, we were able to raise significant capital to fund our company’s continuing growth. And since many of our existing and prospective clients have their headquarters or some ties here in Wilmington already, this was the natural place for us to be."
For more information about specific Patria solutions and programs, go to www.mypatria.com.
Jeff Fetterman- Chairman and CEO, ParagonRx
Trends and events in healthcare and in the pharmaceutical industry point toward an irreversible shift focused on patient safety and improved benefit versus risk decisions by physicians. Recent legislation gives FDA additional authority to require manufacturers of medications and devices to mitigate product risks. Drug safety is a hot topic in the consumer media; patients are responding to their concerns through direct intervention with their physicians and through non-adherence.
ParagonRx is addressing this profound industry trend by entirely focusing its business, resources, and services on appropriate use of medications and devices. Appropriate use is the right product at the right time with the right administration. ParagonRx deploys a suite of tools to help pharmaceutical manufacturers and marketers create programs that support physicians in making appropriate benefit risk decisions and selections for patients.
Founded in 2001, ParagonRx has provided services for large and small pharmaceutical and device manufacturers in most therapeutic categories. Delaware is an ideal location for ParagonRx, with close proximity to the many pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device manufacturers in the mid-Atlantic area. Delaware provides us a rich supply of business prospects and employee candidates in our own “backyard”.
Mark A. Parsells- Chairman and CEO, Regulatory DataCorp, International
"As the leading provider of Anti-Money Laundering Due Diligence for the world’s largest financial and government institutions, RDC needed to find a convenient location for both Federal Government entities and to the New York City Financial Center clients. Wilmington is ideally located in between these two key centers and is easily accessible by Amtrak’s High Speed Acela Express line. On top of that, Wilmington is also a vibrant financial center in its own right with nearly every major credit card operation located in the City."
"Since RDC’s clients must comply with the US Know Your Customer (KYC) and Patriot Act requirements, there is not a better location in the country with a workforce that is as highly skilled in the area of fraud and anti money laundering prevention."
"In addition, Delaware is a place where things get done – its small size is a HUGE advantage that enables business, large or small, to get things done fast. In fact, when Bain Capital, one of the largest private equity funds in the US with more than $60 Billion under management, came to look at Wilmington as a possible site, the Governor’s Office, The Mayor’s Office, the Delaware Department of Economic Development, First State Innovation, The Committee of 100 as well as many industry and community leaders came out to host their visit, all on very short notice."
"As a result, RDC became the first Bain Capital investment in Delaware. Bain’s partners and principals that attended were so impressed with the level of attention that came together to help promote why Delaware was the right place to locate, they have said they hope to locate other companies here in the future in addition to RDC."
"On top of being a great business environment, it is just a great place to live. It is a beautiful state with a broad array of cultural offerings and world class recreational offerings from wonderful state parks to beaches on the Atlantic. There are fabulous school choices and I love what I call the Wilmington “rush minute,” – we don’t have a “rush hour” here like most of the East Coast urban centers. Bottom line, I am never moving from what I think is the best kept secret in the country – living and working in Delaware. You can visit us online at www.RDC.com or come visit us here in person so you can see why Delaware is a great place to be!"
Elizabeth Browning, Founder and CEO Lluminari, Inc.
"When Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Dr. Susan Love and I founded Lluminari, they were both located in California. We decided to make Delaware our corporate headquarters because of the access to New York media markets and the fact that, as a start-up, we thought it would be easier to make things happen in a smaller state. Our first offices were located at the Delaware Technology Park, giving us access to shared services and other entrepreneurs. Plus, we're funded by local angels. Delaware was a great decision."
Lluminari is a health media company that produces original content and programming through a prestigious network of highly regarded health experts who are great communicators. Members of the Lluminari Network include Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Miriam Nelson, Dr. Alice Domar, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Dr. Susan Love, and many others. Among them, they have published over 75 books on health for consumers.
Lluminari made its debut in O, The Oprah Magazine, with a year-long series entitled "Here's to Your Health" that provided readers with baby steps to take towards living a healthier lifestyle. Over the last eight years, the company's health stars have worked with all major media as well as leading corporations on both consumer and employee health initiatives.
Andrew Jefferson President, Fort Hill Company
"Being located in Delaware gives Fort Hill the ability to recruit a well-educated, experienced, and highly motivated workforce -- a key element of our success. Additionally, a cost effective quality of life and easy access to many of our clients made Delaware a great choice for starting and building our organization. FSI is an important initiative to connect people, ideas, and capital which will help continue to grow the entrepreneurial economy in the state and the region."
Fort Hill Company is the industry leader in moving corporate learning from a classroom exercise to a process that produces on the job results. Fort Hill provides the tools, know how and support services to ensure that an organization’s strategic, business, and learning objectives are converted into a competitive advantage.
Over the last five years our web-based Follow-Through Tools® (Friday5s®, Development Engine®, Results Engine®) have been used by more than 50,000 managers in over 48 countries to ensure the follow-through necessary to deliver results that improve performance. Our best selling book, The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning, has received critical acclaim for its ground-breaking approach to corporate learning. Fort Hill works with a wide range of global Fortune 1000 companies in diverse industries to implement follow-through management systems that increase the return on investment of training and development and business initiatives.
Matthew B. Swanson CEO, FineStationery.com, Inc.
"The momentum that FSI is creating will directly benefit entrepreneurs but also create lasting secondary effects for the broader business community by bringing high growth jobs and innovation back into the regional economy."
"With a deep pool of local talent and a quality-of-life that recruiters dream about, Delaware has proven to be an excellent base for building the strong management team we needed."
David Atadan CEO, Trellist Marketing and Technology (formerly Integrated Media Concepts, Inc.)
"I attribute part of Trellist’s success to being located in Delaware. There is a rich pool of talent in this region; complementing a thriving business climate."
"Trellist has developed, over the years, an extremely discerning hiring practice, testing skills, personality, and values. As a result, we continue to attract and retain top level talent - over 40 people as of today."
"Trellist's reputation has grown where we are regularly recognized as one of the area's leading marketing and technology firms. Building our reputation to this point is one of my proudest accomplishments as an entrepreneur."
"I have had the opportunity of working with great entrepreneurs and business people in the EAG. This combined vision, with Ernie's leadership, created FSI, which I feel will be an important part in helping to build our region's economy."
"In business, you always need to find the right balance. If you can surround yourself with a staff that supports this concept, you can build a very powerful team."
Featured Entities
Technology Forum of Delaware
technology: The application of science, especially to industrial or commercial objectives. forum: A gathering place for the purpose of discussion.
The Technology Forum of Delaware is a not-for-profit association which serves the technology markets throughout the Delaware Valley. TechForum DE is dedicated to helping the region's technology business leaders acquire the knowledge, relationships and resources needed to compete and succeed in a global economy.
The goal of TechForum DE is to serve the diverse range of emerging and established technology businesses in the region, from Information Technology to Biotechnology, Alternative Energy and many others. We do this by providing the best and most relevant educational and networking programs on a monthly basis, including both open and exclusive members-only events.
For more information, visit http://www.techforumde.org
Featured Entities
The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1837 as the Wilmington Board of Trade, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce has a long history as the largest, most influential business organization in the state. The mission of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce is to promote an economic climate that strengthens the competitiveness of Delaware businesses and benefits citizens of the state. The Chamber provides benefits and services for its members; it serves and is recognized as the primary resource on issues affecting companies of all sizes, and it is the leading advocate for business with government in Delaware. Through programs, legislative advocacy, online and printed communications, small-business services and special networking events, the State Chamber is continually providing an enriched environment for businesses and communities to grow. The State Chamber provides unequaled service to the community of Delaware - one day and one business at a time.
For more information, visit http://www.dscc.com
Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships: Delaware Gateway: University of Delaware
The University of Delaware's Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships was established in July of 2008.
The purpose of the Office is to stimulate invention and entrepreneurship and serve as a gateway between the University's knowledge-based assets and industrialopportunities and applications including licensing and contract research.
The Office provides University inventors and entrepreneurs with the capabilities-patenting, legal, marketing, business, technology transfer and licensing- to enable commercialization of the inventive and entrepreneurial output from the University's students, faculty and staff. The Office alsoprovides external interests, including small business start ups, access to the University's knowledge and contributes to economic development in the state and region by establishing partnerships encompassing research, educationand business with other academic, private and public entities. The Office is also collaborating with organizations within the state, including Delaware Technology Park, Delaware Economic Development Office, and First State Innovation, to develop a more entrepreneurial culture.
For more information, visit http://www.udel.edu/oeip/
The Science Center
The University City Science Center was the first, and remains the largest, urban research park in the United States. Established in 1963 and headquartered in Philadelphia, the Science Center provides services that range from incubator space with fully-equipped laboratories and "plug 'n play" offices for entrepreneurs to path-breaking programs designed to demonstrate, nurture, and sustain new technology businesses and bring their benefits to the region and the world.
For more information about the Science Center, please visit the website at www.sciencecenter.org
Select Greater Philadelphia
Select Greater Philadelphia is an economic development marketing organization dedicated to building the economy of the Greater Philadelphia region.It focuses its resources on enhancing the profile and image of the region's business community in order to attract businesses.
Select Greater Philadelphia markets the region nationally and globally in order to establish Greater Philadelphia as a top-tier place to do business. The Greater Philadelphia region encompasses northern Delaware, southern New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania.
Select Greater Philadelphia is a non-profit organization directed by a board of 60 CEO's called the CEO Council for Growth, which is an affiliate of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey and the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce.
Select serves as the central point of contact for companies considering an expansion or location in the Greater Philadelphia region. It works cooperatively with eleven county economic development organizations in Greater Philadelphia. The counties are:
- Delaware: New Castle County
- New Jersey: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem Counties
- Pennsylvania: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties
Select's services are confidential and complimentary. It proactively recruits companies seeking to expand or locate, provides accurate information about the region, connects companies to service providers, facilitates site and incentive analysis and acts as a liaison between company representatives and economic developers in this tri-state area.
For more information, visit www.selectgreaterphiladelphia.com.
The Delaware Small Business Development Center
The Delaware Small Business Development Center helps Delaware entrepreneurs grow and manage their small businesses by providing them access to business information, training, and counseling.
The Delaware Small Business Development Center exists to strengthen Delaware’s economic base by providing quality services, such as, management assistance, education programs, and resources to Delaware’s business community and potential entrepreneurs. Since the day we opened our doors in 1983 our goal has been to provide the best quality assistance to Delaware’s business community. Today our four locations house training facilities, libraries, and a wide variety of resources to help your business grow. Our staff of over twenty business professionals comprises the best that Delaware has to offer. All of our Business Advisors have the combination of academic credentials and practical business experience that give them what it takes to help your business. In addition, each and every one has a rigorous professional development requirement. We can’t help your business unless we keep up on what is going on in today’s ever-changing business environment.
The DSBDC, which operates in partnership with the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technical and Community College can turn to faculty, students, and state-of-the-art business facilities to answer business questions. In addition, the DSBDC can access a national network of over 4000 professional business consultants as well as a National Research Clearinghouse to meet the unique needs of Delaware’s businesses.
The DSBDC is accredited by the Association of Small Business Development Centers. This quality assurance process, patterned after the Malcolm Baldridge Quality Standards, is unique among federally-funded assistance programs.
Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO)
The goal of the ETC is to eliminate entry barriers to market for the entrepreneurs in our State by providing access to: a) intellectual property, b) early stage pre-venture capital and c) low-cost business resources. All we need now are the entrepreneurs.
