Stephen Gilfus

Stephen Gilfus is a prominent figure in the education technology industry, best known as one of the founders of Blackboard Inc., a pioneering edtech company.13 Here are some key details about Stephen Gilfus:

Professional Background

Stephen Gilfus is an accomplished entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and investor with a focus on education technology. His career highlights include:

• Co-founder of Blackboard Inc. in 1997, which grew to be used by over 20,000 institutions in more than 70 countries.1
• Held executive positions at Blackboard from 1997 to 2007, including roles in global corporate and product strategy.2
• Founded the Gilfus Education Group, a strategy, research, and advisory firm for education and training institutions.1

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Besides Blackboard, Gilfus has been involved in several other ventures:

• Founder and Chairman of UpsideOver Inc., an outdoor gear retailer aimed at children.4
• Executive Chairman and Primary Investor in Mission Critical Institute for Cybersecurity.2
• Investor and advisor in various education and technology companies.3

Education and Early Career

• Studied at Cornell University's Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management.2
• Founded the Cornell Entrepreneur Organization (CEO) while a student, which later evolved into the Cornell Entrepreneur Network.3

Current Roles

Stephen Gilfus currently serves in multiple capacities:

• Strategic Advisor and Board Member for various organizations.1
• Active angel investor and advisor to several Angel Networks and market-specific funds.3
• Speaker and guest lecturer on topics related to education technology and entrepreneurship.1

Stephen Gilfus is recognized as a visionary in the education technology field, often referred to as "The Father of Modern E-Learning".3 His LinkedIn username is indeed stephen-gilfus-57b8073, as mentioned in the query.