Profile
Software executive that drove two VC-backed start-ups from zero to
successful exits. Extensive track record providing executive leadership,
product management, marketing, strategy, and operational excellence.
Experience
Global Head of Products, Portfolio Manager & Analyst Segment
Confidential, San Francisco, CA
Thomson Reuters, the financial information provider and world\'s largest
news agency, acquired my start-up, StarMine, which delivered a 6x
return for venture investors Hummer Winblad. After the successful
integration of StarMine\'s products and teams into Thomson Reuters, I
was promoted to lead the next generation product line for the $500
million business serving institutional portfolio managers and buy side
analysts. My accomplishments included:
Strategy. I helped develop the framework for Thomson Reuters to
organize its product line and marketing strategy around the key
constituents of investment management firms, including analysts,
portfolio managers, economists, quantitative researchers, and
performance analysts.
Management. I led a team of 50 people including equity and
fixed income portfolio managers, product managers, interactive
designers, visual designers, product marketers, quantitative
researchers, and operational staff. I created many of these roles
to introduce top domain and design talent to the organization. I
systematically developed the next generation of leaders, helping
launch several successful careers for first time managers.
Product Management. I spearheaded the design and delivery of
innovative equity analytics, valuation tools, charting, equity and
fixed income portfolio analytics, risk analytics, and screening tools
for portfolio managers and analysts. In addition, I revamped the
user experience around traditional investment research.
Product Marketing. I launched internal and external advisory
boards across the U.S., Europe, and Asia to drive the vision for
a vastly improved user experience, with hundreds of interviews
documented. My team also developed internal training, sales
collateral, and the core messaging for the investment management
proposition.
2008-2012
VP of Products, Marketing, Media Relations, and Equity Research
Confidential, San Francisco, CA
StarMine\'s on-line services offer equity analytics and research tools for
professional investors. Recruited by my former venture investor Hummer
Winblad to be StarMine’s first executive hire, I helped bring StarMine
from zero to $40 million in revenue, with more than 600 institutional
investment firms and most of the world\'s largest investment banks as
clients. My responsibilities included:
Product Management. I founded and led the product management
team which delivered more than 40 successful release cycles across
three web-based products.
1999-2008
David Lichtblau (2)
Marketing. I founded and led the marketing and media relations
teams that delivered the corporate brand, customer value
propositions, collateral, lead generation programs, direct marketing,
tradeshows, and partner marketing. I regularly appeared on CNBC
and generated frequent StarMine coverage in The Wall Street
Journal, Forbes, Fortune, the Financial Times, and other top financial
publications in Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia.
Equity Research. I hired and led a team of “quants” that
developed patented mathematical models for stock selection. These
quantitative models predict earnings and earnings surprises, analyze
corporate balance sheets, value companies (intrinsic and relative),
and capture momentum effects.
In addition to my official responsibilities above, I helped develop the
strategic vision for the company and contributed broadly across the
organization. For example, I defined the roles for the sales organization,
hired and trained the first account managers and product specialists prior
to the onboarding of a VP of sales, and developed and led the training
program for employees of all departments.
Director, Data Warehouse Business Development Unit
Confidential, San Francisco, CA
Informix Software, then the world’s second-largest database company,
acquired my start-up, Stanford Technology Group, delivering a 3x return
for venture investors Sequoia Capital and Hummer Winblad. My
accomplishments at Informix included:
Delivered the data warehouse product line. I led product
management and marketing.
Integrated the marketing of the Informix data warehouse
solution. I crafted the positioning for this segment of Informix\'s
business. My responsibilities included public relations, tradeshows,
collateral, and extensive sales training.
1996-1997
Co-founder, Chairman, Head of Products & Marketing
Confidential, San Francisco, CA
Co-founded Stanford Technology Group (STG), a pioneer of relational
On-line Analytical Processing (OLAP) software for data warehouses. I
was responsible for corporate strategy, product strategy, and marketing.
I helped grow the company from inception, raised capital from leading
venture firms Hummer Winblad and Sequoia Capital, and sold the
company to Informix Software. My accomplishments included:
Designed and specified the product line. The product family
included end-user tools, the analytics engine, administrative tools,
and an API.
Closed our first accounts and managed international
distribution. Our first customers funded the initial development of
the products. I signed international distributors and helped launch a
company in the U.K. dedicated to distributing our product line.
1993-1996
David Lichtblau (3)
Led marketing and business development. Launched the
marketing campaigns for each product line, managing media
relations, industry events, marketing communications, advertising,
and partnerships. Successfully positioned the company as the leader
in our newly established niche.
Senior Product Manager, Product Representative
Confidential, Redwood Shores, CA
Hired as an associate product manager, I was quickly promoted to
product manager and senior product manager, leading a team of product
managers and technical writers. I specialized in user interface design and
released Oracle\'s first office automation products for Windows. I then
joined the sales force as a product specialist for database and tools,
helping the Western region achieve record results.
1989-1993
Education
B.S., Electrical Engineering. Phi Beta Kappa.
Recognized as Terman Scholar for graduating at the top of Stanford\'s
engineering department, with a GPA of 4.0+
1985-1989