SessionM is a Boston, MA-based start-up that is driving mobile ad innovation. Aimed at developers, publishers, and advertisers, SessionM’s platform ignites deeper engagement with mobile content and advertising.
SessionM is funded by Highland Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and is part of the iFund initiative.
An entrepreneur at heart, Scott has over 15 years experience building platforms for online gaming, loyalty, digital advertising and communications. Prior to SessionM, Scott served as Vice President of Product & Technology for MDI, a division of Scientific Games (SGMS). While at Scientific Games, Scott oversaw the development and integration of interactive technologies into MDIs products and services, advised counsel on strategic initiatives related to intellectual property, assisted the lottery, VLT and SciPlay divisions of SGMS with the sale and delivery of interactive products and contributed to the formation of MDI Interactive.
Prior to Scientific Games, Scott was the head of product and technology at GameLogic, the digital games and marketing platform acquired by Scientific Games in 2010. Earlier in his career, Scott served as a senior software engineer at Gamesville.com, the first games for prizes site on the Internet, which was acquired by Lycos for $207M.
Lars is a proven entrepreneur with extensive experience in the mobile and digital media industries. Prior to Co-Founding SessionM, Lars was at Apple, Inc., where he was a member of the executive team of iAd, Apples mobile advertising business unit. While at iAd, Lars worked on a variety of initiatives including running partnerships and alliances in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Before Apple, Lars was Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Business Development at Quattro Wireless, a leading mobile advertising platform that was acquired by Apple in 2009. Prior to Quattro, Lars was Vice President of Business Development at m-Qube, North Americas dominant mobile aggregator that was acquired by VeriSign in 2006. Lars started his career in investment banking and finance on the west coast, working for Montgomery Securities, and later for an affiliate fund of private equity firm Texas Pacific Group.
Gerald is a technologist with extensive and proven experience in bringing leading products to market at highly successful companies. As VP of Engineering, Gerald brings deep experience in mobile, e-commerce, advertising, big-data, analytics and large-scale systems.
Prior to joining SessionM Gerald was at Apple, Inc. where he built and headed iAds analytics, optimization and insights team. Before Apple, Gerald led a product team at Quattro Wireless. Earlier, Gerald was a co-founder of Unbound Commerce an m-commerce company. Gerald was also a member of the m-Qube founding team and executive team, a leading messaging aggregator in North America later acquired by VeriSign. At VeriSign, Gerald headed the Mobile Content Delivery Network product management team.
Prior to m-Qube, Gerald held the positions at Open Market, an e-commerce pioneer and at Bolt, Beranek and Newman. Gerald received his engineering degrees from the Ecole Polytechnique and Telecom ParisTech, France.
Deborah joined SessionM from Google, where she was responsible for business marketing and global insights for the Google+ team. Deborah earlier led research and marketing outreach for Googles B2B, Government and Local Markets direct sales organization in North America.
She also co-led the development and production of the Google first e-book Winning the Zero Moment of Truth, which introduced the powerful marketing concept known as ZMOT and was named among Advertising Ages Top 10 Marketing Books You Should Have Read. She got her start at the PR and branding agency, Ruder Finn where she led award-winning corporate branding and social responsibility initiatives for Fortune 500 companies and leading NGOs.
Deborah graduated Phi Beta Kappa from SUNY Binghamton.
Matt Murphy is a Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; he joined in 1999. His focus areas of investment include mobile applications and communications/computing infrastructure. Matt is either a Director or works closely with the management teams of Autonavi, Dash, Pelago, M2Z, IPUnity, Kodiak Networks, RGB Networks, Stoke, Aerohive Networks, Ocarina, Xsigo, and eASIC. Previously Matt was a board observer at Google (from initial investment to IPO) and director at Peakstream (acquired by Google).
Prior to KPCB, Matt led product management at a semiconductor start-up (Netboost acquired by Intel), worked at Sun Microsystems where he led business development for the Network Systems Group and was a Product Line Manager for networking platforms. He also worked in strategic and technical consulting for a number of years at Booz, Allen, & Hamilton and Accenture. Matt holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Craig leads recruiting activity for the firm and advises Highlands portfolio companies on executive recruiting issues.
Craig has an entrepreneurial leadership background including more than twelve years of recruiting, operational, venture capital, and consulting experience working with startup companies. Craig joined Highland from Korn/Ferry International where he was a Client Partner in Korn/Ferrys Boston office focusing on venture capital and advanced technology. He completed C-level, Board of Director and senior executive placements at companies in the communications and software industries.
Prior to Korn/Ferry, Craig was Vice President, Business Development at a London-based broadband software vendor and Fidelity Ventures portfolio company. Craig joined this company from Fidelity Ventures where he was an Associate focused on investments in the communication infrastructure sector.
Bob is a General Partner at Highland focusing primarily on digital media and the internet and has been with our team since 2001. He currently represents Highland on the boards of Bullhorn, Going, Hangout Industries, NameMedia, Paragon Lake, Quattro Wireless and Turbine and previously served on the board of Fastclick (Acquired by VCLK) until its successful merger with ValueClick (Nasdaq: VCLK), Quigo (acquired by AOL) and Navic (acquired by MSFT).
Bob is the best-selling author of “Speed is Life: Street Smart Lessons from the Front Lines of Business (Currency).”
Background
Prior to joining Highland, Bob served as the Chief Executive Officer of Terra Lycos (TRLY) formed in October 2000 with the $5.5 billion acquisition of Lycos by Terra Networks of Spain.
David is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Weather Channel Companies (TWCC). An experienced executive with a strong record in the media and digital industries.
Amy is responsible for Account Management and Ad Operations at SessionM. Prior to joining SessionM, Amy was at Apple, Inc., via the acquisition of Quattro Wireless. At Apple, Amy managed the iAd Account Management team and was responsible for helping to build relationships with prospective and existing clients, as well as streamlining sales operations.
Amy built the pre and post sales account management teams at Quattro Wireless. She also played a key role in developing ad operation processes to help scale and grow the business. Prior to joining Quattro Wireless, Amy was at Thomson Financial via the acquisition of CCBN.
She held management roles in product operations and account management while at Thomson. She started her career in public relations.
Senior Product Manager, Social at SessionM
Previously, Mark was a founding team member and COO at GameLogic Inc., a digital games and marketing platform company acquired by Scientific Games (SGMS) in 2010. Prior to GameLogic, Mark was also employee #1 and the Vice President, Product & Operations of Gamesville, the Internet games and marketing pioneer acquired by the Lycos Network in 1999. While at Gamesville, Mark was in charge of Product Development and directed marketing and awareness campaigns that established Gamesville as the most popular games site on the Internet.
Mark holds an MBA and an MS in Communication from Boston University, and a BA in Economics from the University of Vermont. He is also a named inventor on more than 80 online gaming and marketing patents and patent applications.
Bill is responsible for advertising sales, mobile commerce, and the growth of SessionMs mobile publisher network. Prior to joining SessionM, Bill was at WildTangent where he managed a global ad sales organization, launched a leading in-game ad platform, and built a network of game publishers and developers reaching over 150 million monthly unique users. Bill has been a pioneer of new advertising models that have fueled award winning campaigns for major global brands like Unilever, P&G, and Levis.
During his 10 year tenure at WildTangent, Bill also served as General Manager of Advertising Platforms as well as Creative Director. Prior to WildTangent, Bill was Director of West Coast Sales at News Corporations News Digital Media (now Fox Interactive Media). He was a charter member of the IAB Games Committee and also serves on the IAB Mobile Committee and the IAB Sales Executive Council.
He is a graduate of Georgetown University and lives in Manhattan with his wife and daughter.