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Jack Herrick

Founder of wikiHow. Angel investor in 100+ companies and 10+ unicorns.

Jack Herrick is a notable entrepreneur best known as the founder and CEO of wikiHow, a collaborative platform designed to provide practical how-to guides on a wide range of topics. Launched in January 2005, wikiHow has grown significantly, attracting over 25 million unique visitors monthly and becoming one of the most popular websites globally.13

Early Career and Ventures

Before founding wikiHow, Herrick was the co-CEO of eHow, which he helped transform into a leading how-to website before it was sold to Demand Media in 2006. His entrepreneurial journey began with BigTray, an e-commerce company he co-founded in 1999, which became the largest online vendor of restaurant supplies.124

Herrick also co-founded Luminescent Technologies in 2002, focusing on semiconductor lithography, where he raised significant venture capital. His diverse background includes experience as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.245

Philosophy and Impact

Herrick's vision for wikiHow is deeply influenced by the open-source model of Wikipedia. He aims to democratize knowledge by providing free access to practical education for everyone globally. Under his leadership, wikiHow has embraced a Creative Commons license, allowing users to share and adapt content freely.34

He emphasizes the importance of community and collaboration in building the platform, stating that "work is best when you are working on a purpose you’d happily work on for free" .4 Herrick's commitment to social good is evident in his refusal to pursue traditional venture capital funding, instead opting to bootstrap the company with a focus on sustainability and community benefit.4

Personal Background

Raised in Palo Alto, California, Herrick attended Stanford University. His unique life experiences include living as a full-time rock climber for two and a half years, which he credits with shaping his entrepreneurial outlook.4

Overall, Jack Herrick's contributions to online education through wikiHow reflect his dedication to making knowledge accessible and empowering people worldwide.

Highlights

Jan 1 · hornsociety.org
Jack Herrick - IHS Online - International Horn Society
May 23 · Business Insider
The Seed 100: the Best Early-Stage Investors of 2023 - Business Insider
The Seed 100: the Best Early-Stage Investors of 2023 - Business Insider
Apr 15 · Mint
Micro-VC fund iSeed closes second fund at $15 million | Mint - Mint
Micro-VC fund iSeed closes second fund at $15 million | Mint - Mint
Mar 21 · stories.ehf.org
EHF Fellow: Jack Herrick of wikiHow - Edmund Hillary Fellowship
Aug 25 · youtube.com
The success mindset of Wikihow's CEO - Jack Herrick - YouTube
The success mindset of Wikihow's CEO - Jack Herrick - YouTube
Jack Herrick - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays
Jack Herrick - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays
Jack Herrick - Semiconductor Engineering
Jan 31 · en.wikinews.org
Jack Herrick, wikiHow founder interviewed by Wikinews
Jack Herrick, wikiHow founder interviewed by Wikinews

Related Questions

What inspired Jack Herrick to create wikiHow?
How did Jack Herrick finance wikiHow from inception?
What was Jack Herrick's role at eHow before founding wikiHow?
How did Jack Herrick's background in music influence his career in technology?
What are some of the challenges Jack Herrick faced while growing wikiHow?
Jack Herrick
Jack Herrick, photo 1
Jack Herrick, photo 2
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Location

Palo Alto, California, United States