Michael Chasen

Michael Chasen is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Class Technologies Inc., a company focused on enhancing online education through tools integrated with platforms like Zoom. He has a notable background in educational technology, having previously co-founded Blackboard Inc., which became a leading provider of e-learning software used by over 20,000 institutions globally.

Early Life and Education

• Birthplace: Cheshire, Connecticut.
• Education:
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from American University (1993).
  • MBA from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business (1995).

Career Highlights

• Blackboard Inc.:

  • Co-founded in 1997, Chasen served as CEO from 1999 to 2012.
  • Under his leadership, Blackboard grew significantly, reaching over $600 million in revenue and employing more than 3,000 people by the time he stepped down.
  • He orchestrated the company's IPO in 2004, which was one of the best-performing IPOs that year.

• SocialRadar:

  • Founded in 2013, this startup focused on social location technology for smartphones and Google Glass.

• Class Technologies:

  • Co-founded in 2020 to address the shortcomings of remote learning technologies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Class Technologies enhances Zoom with features that facilitate traditional classroom activities such as attendance tracking, assignment distribution, and real-time student engagement.

Achievements

Chasen's contributions to educational technology have earned him various accolades:

• Named one of "America's 15 Most Powerful CEOs 40 And Under" by Forbes.
• Recognized as "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young for Emerging Companies in Washington, D.C.

Michael Chasen continues to influence the educational landscape through his innovative approaches to online learning and technology integration.12