Fred Smith
CEO, Founder, Board Member | Fred was the founder & CEO of LEAP, an Internet developer and ad agency. He took Leap public in 1996 raising $40 million in capital. Fred developed AA.com for American Airlines, and Wal-Mart travel. Other clients of Fred’s included Microsoft, Nike &, Anheuser Busch. Fred was the founder of IdeaCast, where he raised $30 million for the rapid growth technology company. IdeaCast is a national Satellite Affiliate of ESPN, CNN and CNBC (like Direct TV) targeting health clubs with unique DVR proof TV ads for health clubs.
Keith D. Hoglund
Founder, Board Member | Keith has participated in several venture capital projects funding start-up companies. Prior to BandGrip Inc., Keith was a co-founder and managing Partner of RathunasTrading. Mr. Hoglund was a member of the PHLX Stock Exchange from 1982-1984 the CBOE Exchange 1984-2001 and the CBOT Exchange 1986-2001. He attended Loras College, class of 1981.
Thomas W. Pruter
Founder, Board Member | Previous to his involvement with BandGrip Inc., Tom had early and instrumental involvement in a variety of startup companies across the disciplines of entertainment, new media, and educational, financial and medical technologies. Companies included therein are myFootPath, IdeaCast, K2M, OES, Tru Fragrances, Out The Box Records, FocusTechnology, TradingBlock and BeyondCore. Tom received a BS in Computer Science from Marquette University. Upon graduation, he co-founded NeoTek Software, a developer of educational CAD/CAM software that was later integrated into a national education supplier.