David Fox

I've built and sold three successful companies, provided seed funding to more than a dozen startups, and co-founded two non-profit organizations. My entrepreneurial career began with a backyard garden when I was ten. Full-time work started a few years later in our family retail business, equipping local backpackers and international trekkers for their adventures. In 1985 my tech interests lead to the purchase of a 128k Mac and ultimately to the founding of a full-service distribution business (InfoMagic Australia) representing Adobe, Aldus, Supermac and many other innovators in the desktop publishing and multimedia markets. I sold out to partner in '92 to start an electronic software distribution business, but with limited VC interest in Australia I moved to San Francisco in '94 to start an internet company which combined my partner's interest in astrology with my interest in new ways of selling content and expertise. We began selling 'digital products' in '96 and launched an affiliate program in '97. The company (KnowledgeWeb) and web site (Astrology.net) were acquired by iVillage in '99 for $20m. My partner Kelli Fox and I continued running the business through Feb '03 by which time our content was reaching more than ten million people each month, 2.5 million subscribed to our daily personalized newsletter. In '05 I provided the seed funding that established the Biomimicry Institute, an organization furthering the pioneering work of Time Magazine Environmental Hero, Janine Benyus. Specialties: Business startups, scaling and exits. Problem solver. I'm a quick study with practical experience spanning senior management, business development, sales, marketing, and operations.