1-13-09

Media Release

Speaker Gives Tips on ‘Building a Green Business’

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Martin Tobias, a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist in technology and clean energy solutions, will speak at a free public lecture hosted by the Oregon State University College of Business Austin Entrepreneurship Program.

This “Entrepreneurship & Innovation Lecture” will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Construction and Engineering Auditorium in LaSells Stewart Center (875 S.W. 26th Street) in Corvallis.

Tobias has significant experience working in technology companies, has been involved in several entrepreneurial ventures, and has invested in more than two dozen start-ups in the technology and clean technology sectors. The title of Tobias’ talk is “Building a Green Business: Lessons and Opportunities.”

Last September, Tobias started Kashless, Inc., which leverages the Internet, mobile technology, social networks and local partnerships to support reuse and recycling. He serves on the board of Cloudmark, a technology company that provides comprehensive messaging security solutions.

Tobias was CEO, and chairman of the board with Imperium Renewables, which built the largest biodiesel refinery in the world at Gray’s Harbor, Wash., and with Loudeye Technologies, Inc., a pioneer in digital media production, distribution, and applications.

He has more than 10 years of experience as a principal investor and has been a venture partner with Ignition Partners since 2002, working with the company’s infrastructure software and networking team. In 2004, he founded the Northwest Energy Angels, an organization of successful entrepreneurs, retired executives, and other business leaders in the Pacific Northwest who provide investment capital, strategic advice, and mentoring to early-stage companies or companies embarking on major expansion efforts.

Prior to founding Loudeye, Tobias spent six years with Microsoft in various operational management roles and four years with Andersen Consulting (Accenture). He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and computer science from OSU. He holds two technology patents.

Tobias starred in the 1998 motorcycle documentary “Biker Dreams” and is involved in a number of charities through the Martin Tobias Foundation. He blogs at http://deepgreencrystals.com/.