Secretive 5to1.com shows Heckman, Levinsohn as directors |
Connect with TechFlash on our Facebook page for all the latest technology news headlines and commentary, plus information and access to special events, photos from events, promotions and more.
Today On Techflash
Mass High Tech
Secretive 5to1.com shows Heckman, Levinsohn as directors
Some heavy hitters from the worlds of online entertainment and sports are hatching a new Internet venture in Seattle.
Former Rivals.com Chief Executive Jim Heckman, former Fox Interactive Media boss Ross Levinsohn and former IGN Entertainment vice president Mark Stieglitz are involved in a new startup company called 5to1.com, TechFlash has learned.
It is not known what the Internet executives are building, and in an email this afternoon Heckman wouldn't offer any clues. The Seattle entrepreneur -- whose past ventures include Rivals.com, Zazzle and Scout.com -- said the company is trying to operate in "stealth" mode.
Corporate documents filed in Washington state list Heckman as president, and former Fox Interactive Media chief revenue officer Michael Barrett as chairman. The business was incorporated last September in Washington state, with SEC filings showing a corporate address in the University District in Seattle.
According to the SEC filings, 5to1.com has raised $2 million of a $3.2 million equity fundraising. Those documents also list Levinsohn -- now a partner in the $1.5 billion Velocity Interactive Group -- as a director in 5to1.com.
Levinsohn (pictured) and Heckman have quite a history together. As the head honcho at Fox Interactive Media, Levinsohn led the purchase of Heckman's online sports network, Scout.com, in 2005. That deal -- valued at about $60 million -- came just a few weeks after Fox gobbled up MySpace for $580 million.
The sale of Scout.com was validation for Heckman, who became entangled in a University of Washington football recruiting scandal in the early 90s and took the fall when heavily-funded Rivals.com collapsed at the turn of the last decade. After the sale, Levinsohn convinved Heckman to work full-time at Fox Interactive Media's headquarters in California.
The people involved in the new venture have multiple layers of connections, most of which are tied to Levinsohn and Heckman.
Dale Strang, a former executive vice president and general manager of IGN Entertainment's media division, is listed as an executive at 5to1.com in the filing. A leading online gaming site, IGN was purchased by Fox Interactive Media for $650 million three years ago.
The company's Web site is registered to Stieglitz, who previously worked with Heckman and Levinsohn at Fox Interactive Media. (Stieglitz also worked at Zazzle)
On Stieglitz's LinkedIn page, his title is listed as general manager and COO of 5to1.com. Stieglitz describes the company as a "stealth startup" that plans to launch in mid-2009.
Another former Fox Interactive Media veteran whose working on 5to1.com -- John Smelzer -- describes the startup in his LinkedIn profile as an "unique advertising marketplace." And former SecondSpace executive Alok Sinha, who is listed as 5to1.com's CTO, also indicates that the startup is attacking the online advertising space.
Stay tuned as more details emerge about what could be very intriguing new startup.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
TechFlash Team
Recent Sponsor Posts
Who's creating today's energy efficient buildings? Find out at the BetterBricks Awards, Feb. 16
BetterBricks Awards salute the individuals leading the way for high performance commercial buildings with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Join us as we recognize these standout green building professionals.
Award categories include: Advocate; Architect/Designer; Facility Manager/Operator; and Owner/Developer.
Keynote Speaker: Kevin Kampschroer, Director of U.S. GSA's Office of Federal High Performance Buildings. Kevin leads the U.S. General Services Administration's efforts in building sustainability and accelerating industry adoption of sustainable principles across all aspects of a building's life.
Register here by February 10!
If you are interested in buying a table, email Monica Alquist or call her at 206-876-5404.
The Triple Door Presents: The Atomic Bombshells "J'ADORE!: A Burlesque Valentine"
Seattle's reigning Burlesque super-troupe delivers a gorgeous and glittering VALENTINE featuring some of the Bombshells' most exhilarating acts to date. J'Adore! promises to celebrate l'amour with good humor, style, and a healthy dose of dazzle! Bring a friend, a lover, a family member, or a secret crush, and celebrate with the Valentine's Burlesque spectacular that will leave you shouting: "J'ADORE......The Atomic Bombshells!" The incomparable Jasper McCann emcees with high style and charm.
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
The Triple Door Presents: Bob Mould – See A Little Light: An Evening of Reading and Music
"Bob Mould. Those two words are synonymous with integrity. From Husker Du in the last century to right at this moment, Bob is the real deal, writing and playing music for music's sake. He's a great songwriter and performer. I have been a fan of Bob's for thirty years now with no end in sight." -Henry Rollins
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
Why Choose BDO for your SOC (previously SAS 70) Reports?
BDO’s experience in providing attestation services (SAS 70/SSAE 16, AT 101, AT 201, AT 601, etc.) to a broad range of industries, and our team of skilled professionals distinctly qualifies us to serve as your company’s Service Auditor. By leveraging the BDO global network of control specialists, we are poised to provide global services in more than 1,000 offices and across 119 countries. Many organizations find that investing in reports on controls may result in benefits, including:
• Increased client confidence
• Improved competitive advantage
• Minimization of frequent audits
• Streamlined business processes and controls
• Enhanced risk management
For detailed information contact Paul Martini at pmartini@bdo.com.
