Career
Keywell started his first business at age 7, a greeting card company called Key Creations. [13] He started several businesses while an undergrad student at the University of Michigan. [14] [15]
As a freshman, he met Sam Zell and proceeded to spend part of his summers as an intern for Sam Zell's Equity Group Investments. Sam became an important mentor to Keywell for the following 35 years until Zell's passing in 2023. [16] [17] In addition, Keywell was on the board of directors of Sam Zell's Equity Residential for ten years. [18]
In 1999, Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky co-founded Starbelly, an online supply chain management firm, which was acquired in January 2000 by HA-LO (NYSE:HMK) for $240 million. [19]
In February 2005, Keywell co-founded Echo Global Logistics, [20] a technology-enabled provider of transportation and logistics services, which had an IPO on NASDAQ in 2009. [21] Keywell was the founding CEO, then was chairman and lead independent director until 2017. [22] Echo was acquired in 2021 by The Jordan Company for $1.3 billion. [20]
In June 2006, Keywell co-founded MediaBank, a SaaS provider to the advertising and media buying industry, and was the founding CEO and then on the board of directors until the company's sale. In 2012, a merger between MediaBank and Donovan Data Systems (DDS) created Mediaocean, and in 2014, Vista Equity Partners acquired MediaOcean. [23] [24]
In 2007, Keywell co-founded Groupon, [25] the collective buying platform, which Forbes called 'The Fastest Growing Company Ever' in 2010. [26] Groupon had an IPO on NASDAQ in 2011. [27] [28] Keywell was on Groupon's board of directors from its inception through 2017. [29]
In February 2010, Keywell co-founded Lightbank, a technology venture capital and private equity firm, and was a Managing Director through 2018. [30] Lightbank's portfolio includes early-stage investments in Sprout Social (NASDAQ:SPT), Udemy (NASDAQ:UDMY), Coffee Meets Bagel, Benzinga (sold to Beringer Capital), Reverb (sold to Etsy), Fooda, EventUp (sold to Gather), BenchPrep, Zeel, and TastyTrade (sold to IG Group). [31]
In 2013, Keywell co-founded DRIVIN, an automobile data analytics company. In 2016, KAR Auction Services (NYSE:KAR) acquired DRIVIN for $43 million. [32]
In 2014, Keywell co-founded the industrial AI software company Uptake, which is valued at over $2.3 billion. [33] [34] Uptake's applications are featured in the Microsoft Energy Core suite. [35] Uptake was named the Hottest Startup of the Year by Forbes in 2015. [36] Uptake was named a CNBC Disruptor 50 winner for three consecutive years, [37] including the #5 ranked CNBC Disruptor in 2017. [38] Keywell was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2017. [39]
In 2015, Keywell was an early investor in Tempus AI, [40] [41] an AI-enabled precision medicine company, [42] and was on its Board of Directors from inception until 2019. Tempus was named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 list in 2021, [43] and has raised over $1 billion in capital from investors including Google, Franklin Templeton, and T.Rowe Price. [44]
In September 2018, Keywell founded WNDR Museum, an experiential art museum located in Chicago's West Loop. [45] WNDR has since expanded to include WNDR Museum locations in San Diego, Seattle, and Boston, and has announced plans for further expansion. [46]
In January 2024, Keywell joined the board of directors for TKO Group.
Philanthropy
In 2014, Keywell created the Keywell Foundation to support nonprofit and NGO enterprises.
In 2015, Brad Keywell signed The Giving Pledge to donate more than half his wealth to charity. [51]
He is the founder and chairman of Chicago Ideas, an innovation and ideas platform with over 30,000 in-person attendees annually and global reach through its online channels. [52]
He is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Future Founders Foundation, which provides entrepreneurial education to Chicago students.
Keywell was named Chairman of the Illinois Innovation Council by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. [53]
