EXCELLERATE’s team brings extensive knowledge, unique experience, and deep industry relationships to digital companies of all stages
NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES – Proven leaders building, funding, and monetizing digital businesses, Danny Fishman, Lou Kerner and Dave Lavine, have teamed-up to found EXCELLERATE, an advisory firm with the goal of accelerating growth and value of digital companies globally.
“You have to look no further than the various LUMAscapes that demonstrate just how overwhelming and confusing the digital ecosystem has become,” said Danny Fishman, founding partner of EXCELLERATE. “Like a curator, EXCELLERATE’s mission, through a multifaceted lens of sales, marketer, operator, investor, and advisor, is to identify companies of all stages with an innovative technology edge and unique positioning to help them optimize their market penetration.”
“EXCELLERATE is playing an exciting role in discovering new and innovative companies from around the globe,” said Adam Shlachter, chief investment officer of DigitasLBi. “EXCELLERATE’s focus in this area is providing us with a critical view across an increasingly complex marketing landscape.”
Demonstrating EXCELLERATE’s deep experience and history of success, the team’s exits have included Digital Broadcasting Group (DBG), Broadband Enterprises (BBE), iFilm, LiveRamp, Adconion, Yashi, FireEye, Klout, Appia and .tv.
Through a proven, data driven process leveraging a “golden” rolodex, EXCELLERATE works with clients to develop comprehensive strategic plans and then assists in driving the successful execution of those plans.
“Digital media and technology is a noisy space with new entrants each month. A small percentage of these companies are able to gain valuable product feedback and traction due to the layers of inefficiency,” said Reed Berglund CEO of fullbottle. “The EXCELLERATE team’s experience and understanding of the U.S. digital market helps companies identify specific areas to cut through the noise. They combine a unique planning approach and credibility to identify solutions that need to be fast tracked into the market.”
Leveraging its track record, EXCELLERATE is uniquely positioned to identify innovative, digital companies globally, in addition to the U.S.
“Internationally we’re particularly focused, right now, on helping Israeli digital companies as they look to grow their businesses into market leaders in the U.S.,” said Founding Partner Lou Kerner. “Pairing the best of startup nation with EXCELLERATE has already proven to be a powerful combination.”
“EXCELLERATE’s team and business planning, processes and relationships in the digital sphere are unique and unmatched within the industry,” said Jonathan Stefansky, CEO and co-founder of Israel based Viewbix. “The team’s collective experience provides a unique perspective into a digital business’ challenges and opportunities driving growth and delivering measurable results.”
The EXCELLERATE TEAM
Danny Fishman: Served as president of DBG, a full service video production and distribution network. Under Fishman’s leadership, DBG climbed to the #3 ranking on Forbes 2011 List of America’s Most Promising Companies and was acquired by Alloy Digital (now Defy Media). He was also president of BBE, which was acquired by Specific Media; EVP at iFilm, acquired by MTV/Viacom; VP of Vyou.com, a digital rights management technology company; worked at Michael Ovitz’s Artists Management Group; and, most recently, was a partner at Believe Entertainment Group.
Lou Kerner: Serves as managing partner of The Social Internet Fund, which invests in privately held digital companies, including Appia, acquired by Digital Turbine; FireEye, publically-traded on the NASDAQ; LiveFyre; LiveRamp, acquired by Axciom; Meetup; Optimal, acquired by Brand Networks; Palntir; Scrib’d; and Yashi, acquired by Nexstar. Kerner is also Managing Partner of The Israel Syndicate on AngelList, which invests in tech companies founded by Israelis, including Viewbix, IT Central Station, Phrasetech and Segmanta. Previously, he was President of Bolt, a social network that reached 20 million members; CEO of The .tv Corporation, acquired by Verisign; and an equity analyst following media and tech companies at Goldman Sachs.
Dave Lavine: At the forefront of native advertising, he served as chief revenue officer at Hone, a content marketing and native advertising technology company. Lavine also was senior vice president (SVP) at appssavvy, a pioneer in native advertising. Previously, he was SVP at Adconion Media Group, acquired by Amobee. Recognized for his ability to evangelize and build strong and profitable sales teams, Lavine began his career at Advertising.com.
About EXCELLERATE
EXCELLERATE is a team of proven leaders with deep knowledge and experience building and running digital businesses. EXCELERATE works with digital companies of all stages to develop comprehensive strategic and executional business plans to accelerate growth, achieve operational excellence and drive significant shareholder value creation. With a history of successful exits, the EXCELLERATE team uses a proven, process-driven methodology alongside a golden rolodex, to drive growth in a world of disruption. For more information, visit: www.excellerate.global.
