Tech vs Media Podcast | CurtCo Media

Tech vs Media

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Richard Wolpert, a 35 year veteran of technology and entertainment (Apple, Disney, RealNetworks, 4x CEO) shares the amazing lessons learned on past, present, and predictions of the future of media and technology, and of how these two categories have and will continue to converge or clash.

Having been on both sides of the technology and media industries for over the last 35 years Richard has learned the good the bad and the ugly. This show shares some of the best thinkers and leaders of entertainment and technology so you too can learn some of the lessons it has taken him 35 years to learn.

Every episode features a C-Level guest from the fields of entertainment and media who will share their personal insights, state of the industries today, and predictions for the future for these rapidly changing fields.

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Hosted by Richard Wolpert

Richard Wolpert is a pioneer in the fields of software development, technology, consumer digital media and entertainment for more than 30 years with extensive experience as a founder, executive, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist.

A successful 4x founder/CEO with three exits to Adobe, Wherehouse Music and RealNetworks, his fourth company, HelloTech, has become the go-to provider for tech support and smart home installation to partners including Walmart, Target, Comcast, SimpliSafe and many others.

A seasoned executive, he has held roles as President of Disney Online (1995-1998) and Chief Strategy Officer for RealNetworks (2002-2007).

Wolpert has been responsible for many “firsts” throughout his career including: conceiving of and teaching the first Macintosh Programming Class at Stanford University in 1985 (CS 193C), the first multi-user address book for the Macintosh (TouchBase), the first kids internet subscription service (Disney’s Daily Blast), the first Tivo-like product for Internet Radio (BitBopTuner), the first legitimate music subscription service for the Internet (MusicNet), and the first legitimate online movie subscription service (Starz! On Demand). He successfully negotiated ground- breaking deals with several of the major media companies whose content became the basis for many of these products.

As an investor, he manages personal investment fund Chance Technologies (1995 to Present), serves as a Venture Partner to Acrew Capital (2021-) served as an advisor to Accel Partners (2006 to 2021), served as a partner at the Yucaipa Companies (1998 to 2000) and is a co-founder of Amplify.LA. He has personally invested in more than 100 companies, a large percentage of which have had successful exits or continue on as successful companies, including: AdECN (acquired by Microsoft), AMG (acquired by Macrovision/Tivo), AndroMedia (acquired by Macromedia/Adobe), AudioMill (acquired by Real Networks), Bridg (acquired by Cardlytics) Data Sage (acquired by Vignette), DropOff, GameSpy (acquired by Fox), GameFly (acquired by Alliance Entertainment), The Immortals, Jukin Media acquired by Trusted Brands Media, Kongregate (acquired by GameStop), Lookout, Mob.ly (acquired by Groupon), ProGuides, Replicated, Retention Science (acquired by Endurance), Scopely, Snap Credit, Scour.net, People Support (successful IPO), Smilebox (acquired by IncrediMail), Sometrics (acquired by American Express), inVia Robotics, Three Rings (acquired by Sega), Universal Audio and Volley.

Wolpert graduated from UCLA in 1985 with a bachelor of science degree in math and computer science. He is a founding board member of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s summer camps for children and sits on the Cedars Sinai Hospital Board of Governors.