Lou Gray
Managing Partner & Angel Investor
Birch Canyon, LLC; Lakewood Ventures, LLC; LMP, LLC; and H+ Inc.; Durham, NC (2016 – present)
These, among other companies, are interests I've taken up in retirement.
Co-founder & CEO
SEC Live, LLC; Chapel Hill, NC; Seattle, WA; London, UK; Sofia & Varna, BG (2012 – 2015)
SEC Live provided a dynamic platform for individual investors to disintermediate and empower public company research.
Co-founder & CEO
DreamBox Learning, Inc. (acquired April 2010); Bellevue, WA (2006 – 2010)
DreamBox Learning (www.dreambox.com) is a consumer software company pioneering adaptive, personalized, data-driven math instruction over the Web. Innovated and led in the creation/execution of the business, product, hiring, marketing, intellectual property, and fundraising strategies that resulted in the company receiving over 20 top consumer awards, and ultimately being acquired. As a result, I was named a “Top 25 Innovator” by Seattle Magazine.
President
UIEvolution, Inc. (acquired March 2004); Bellevue, WA (2002 – 2004)
UIEvolution (www.uievolution.com) is a middleware and applications development company for mobile. Chief business person hired to turn company around (drove strategy, business development, operations, fundraising, corporate development, investor relations, etc.). In less than 18 months, the company went from zero revenue to generating multi-million dollar contracts, and became an industry-leading mobile platform used by Disney and ESPN to deliver flagship data-driven applications. This success led to an acquisition by Square Enix for $58M cash in March 2004, thereby providing significant return for all shareholders.
Entrepreneur in Residence
Ignition Partners; Bellevue, WA (2004 – 2005)
As a result of the UIEvolution acquisition, I was asked to join (www.ignitionpartners.com), a venture capital firm comprised of former senior executives from Microsoft and McCaw. The result of my tenure there was the creation of DreamBox Learning.
Attorney
Davis Polk & Wardwell / Venture Law Group; New York, NY & Kirkland, WA (1998 – 2001)
Represented public and private companies in both capital markets and mergers & acquisitions transactions. Capital markets practice included debt and equity offerings (both company-side and investor-side), negotiating agreements and strategic relationships, corporate governance and formation, employee relations and benefits, and advising officers, investors, and board members. Pro bono activities included mediating cases for the EEOC and Harlem Community Justice Center.
International Development Consultant
WR Grace, Inc.; Washington D.C. (1993 – 1994)
Devised an international business development program to support massive international expansion efforts, including the identification of project financing and investment opportunities with international financial institutions and U.S. agencies.
Director, Mergers & Acquisitions
JettAir Holdings, Inc.; Philadelphia, PA (1988 – 1990)
Managed operations and acquisition work for this leverage buyout firm. Led strategic analysis of companies identified for investment/takeover, and negotiated restructuring opportunities for target companies. JettAir yielded high investment returns (www.nytimes.com/1989/11/21/business/briefs-515389.html).
Education:
Columbia University School of Law
Juris Doctor (1998); New York, NY
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar (each year);
Teaching Fellow (Negotiations);
Summer clerk for the Honorable Carol Los Mansmann — US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Master of Arts, Economics (1993); Syracuse, NY
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Master of Arts, Political Science (emphasis, International Affairs) (1992); Syracuse, NY