Eric Hippeau
Encyclopedia
Eric Hippeau is a partner at Lerer Ventures, a prominent New York City based angel fund specializing in financing technology startups. Prior to this, Hippeau was the CEO of the Huffington Post
which he joined in June, 2009, after investing through SoftBank Capital
and taking a Board seat in 2006. The Huffington Post, a leading social news
and opinion site which in four and a half years has become an influential media brand -- "The Internet Newspaper." The site offers coverage of politics, media, business, entertainment, living, style, sustainable “green” living, world news, and comedy, and is a top destination for news, blogs and original content. The Huffington Post
("HuffPost") has 27 million unique users each month and is the most-linked-to blog on the Internet, per Technorati. The site was founded by Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Lerer in 2005. Hippeau joined HuffPost in June 2009.
Prior to joining HuffPost, Hippeau was managing partner at SoftBank Capital
, a New York and Boston-based venture capital fund specializing in early stage investments in technology and digital media. Hippeau joined SoftBank Capital
in 2000 from Ziff-Davis, Inc., where he was Chairman and CEO. Ziff-Davis was the preeminent media company serving the technology industry, publishing leading computer magazines such as PC Magazine
and Computer Shopper
. The company also conducted media trade shows such as Comdex, and offered media and marketing services in high technology. Hippeau joined Ziff-Davis in 1989 as Publisher of PC Magazine
. He became President in 1991 and Chairman and CEO in 1993. In 1995, SoftBank acquired Ziff-Davis, and Hippeau continued in the role of CEO until 2000, when the company was sold.
During his career at Ziff-Davis, Hippeau was early to recognize the growth potential of online media. Under his stewardship, ZDNet
became one of the few successful examples of a strong online business model evolving from traditional magazine content, and he was instrumental in SoftBank’s first investment in Yahoo!
in 1995. Hippeau was also responsible for founding ZDTV, a cable channel dedicated to technology and the Internet, and an early success in integrating television and the Web. He also directed several successful magazines and marketing service launches in the technology and Internet field.
Hippeau was President of SoftBank International Ventures, where he established SoftBank’s international private equity funds and expanded them into Europe, Latin America and Asia. He was also SB Capital’s board representative for its direct investments in industry-leading companies, such as Yahoo!
, Geocities
and CNET
. His experience prior to joining Ziff-Davis includes senior executive positions at International Data Group.
Hippeau serves on the boards of several public and private companies including Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, BuddyMedia, and BuzzFeed
. He is also on the investment committee for the SB Asia Infrastructure Fund. Hippeau graduated from the Lycee Francais de Londres and attended the Sorbonne University in Paris.
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
which he joined in June, 2009, after investing through SoftBank Capital
Softbank Capital
SoftBank Capital is a venture capital group in the United States, focusing on technology and telecom early stage businesses. The firm is established and led by four partners: Ron Fisher, Eric Hippeau, Steve Murray, and Michael Perlis...
and taking a Board seat in 2006. The Huffington Post, a leading social news
Social news
A social news website is a type of website that features user-submitted stories that are ranked based on popularity.-Slashdot:Slashdot, started in 1997, was one of the first social news websites. It focuses mainly on science and technology related news. Users can submit stories, and the editors...
and opinion site which in four and a half years has become an influential media brand -- "The Internet Newspaper." The site offers coverage of politics, media, business, entertainment, living, style, sustainable “green” living, world news, and comedy, and is a top destination for news, blogs and original content. The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
("HuffPost") has 27 million unique users each month and is the most-linked-to blog on the Internet, per Technorati. The site was founded by Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Lerer in 2005. Hippeau joined HuffPost in June 2009.
Prior to joining HuffPost, Hippeau was managing partner at SoftBank Capital
Softbank Capital
SoftBank Capital is a venture capital group in the United States, focusing on technology and telecom early stage businesses. The firm is established and led by four partners: Ron Fisher, Eric Hippeau, Steve Murray, and Michael Perlis...
, a New York and Boston-based venture capital fund specializing in early stage investments in technology and digital media. Hippeau joined SoftBank Capital
Softbank Capital
SoftBank Capital is a venture capital group in the United States, focusing on technology and telecom early stage businesses. The firm is established and led by four partners: Ron Fisher, Eric Hippeau, Steve Murray, and Michael Perlis...
in 2000 from Ziff-Davis, Inc., where he was Chairman and CEO. Ziff-Davis was the preeminent media company serving the technology industry, publishing leading computer magazines such as PC Magazine
PC Magazine
PC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
and Computer Shopper
Computer Shopper
Computer Shopper could refer to the following publications:* Computer Shopper - a home computer magazine published in the United Kingdom* Computer Shopper - a home computer magazine published in the United States...
. The company also conducted media trade shows such as Comdex, and offered media and marketing services in high technology. Hippeau joined Ziff-Davis in 1989 as Publisher of PC Magazine
PC Magazine
PC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
. He became President in 1991 and Chairman and CEO in 1993. In 1995, SoftBank acquired Ziff-Davis, and Hippeau continued in the role of CEO until 2000, when the company was sold.
During his career at Ziff-Davis, Hippeau was early to recognize the growth potential of online media. Under his stewardship, ZDNet
ZDNet
ZDNet is a business technology news website published by CBS Interactive, along with TechRepublic and SmartPlanet. The brand was founded on April 1, 1991 as a general interest technology portal from Ziff Davis and evolved into an enterprise IT-focused online publication owned by CNET...
became one of the few successful examples of a strong online business model evolving from traditional magazine content, and he was instrumental in SoftBank’s first investment in Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
in 1995. Hippeau was also responsible for founding ZDTV, a cable channel dedicated to technology and the Internet, and an early success in integrating television and the Web. He also directed several successful magazines and marketing service launches in the technology and Internet field.
Hippeau was President of SoftBank International Ventures, where he established SoftBank’s international private equity funds and expanded them into Europe, Latin America and Asia. He was also SB Capital’s board representative for its direct investments in industry-leading companies, such as Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
, Geocities
GeoCities
Yahoo! GeoCities is a web hosting service, currently available only in Japan.GeoCities was originally founded by David Bohnett and John Rezner in late 1994 as Beverly Hills Internet . In its original form, site users selected a "city" in which to place their web pages...
and CNET
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
. His experience prior to joining Ziff-Davis includes senior executive positions at International Data Group.
Hippeau serves on the boards of several public and private companies including Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, BuddyMedia, and BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed is a website that combines a technology platform for detecting viral content with an editorial selection process to provide a snapshot of "the viral web in realtime." Cofounded in 2006 by Jonah Peretti , BuzzFeed is located in SoHo, New York.-Homepage content:The BuzzFeed homepage consists...
. He is also on the investment committee for the SB Asia Infrastructure Fund. Hippeau graduated from the Lycee Francais de Londres and attended the Sorbonne University in Paris.