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Michael Chasen

CEO at Class Technologies

Michael Chasen is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Class Technologies Inc., a company focused on enhancing online education through tools integrated with platforms like Zoom. He has a notable background in educational technology, having previously co-founded Blackboard Inc., which became a leading provider of e-learning software used by over 20,000 institutions globally.

Early Life and Education

  • Birthplace: Cheshire, Connecticut.
  • Education:
    • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from American University (1993).
    • MBA from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business (1995).

Career Highlights

  • Blackboard Inc.:

    • Co-founded in 1997, Chasen served as CEO from 1999 to 2012.
    • Under his leadership, Blackboard grew significantly, reaching over $600 million in revenue and employing more than 3,000 people by the time he stepped down.
    • He orchestrated the company's IPO in 2004, which was one of the best-performing IPOs that year.
  • SocialRadar:

    • Founded in 2013, this startup focused on social location technology for smartphones and Google Glass.
  • Class Technologies:

    • Co-founded in 2020 to address the shortcomings of remote learning technologies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Class Technologies enhances Zoom with features that facilitate traditional classroom activities such as attendance tracking, assignment distribution, and real-time student engagement.

Achievements

Chasen's contributions to educational technology have earned him various accolades:

  • Named one of "America's 15 Most Powerful CEOs 40 And Under" by Forbes.
  • Recognized as "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young for Emerging Companies in Washington, D.C.

Michael Chasen continues to influence the educational landscape through his innovative approaches to online learning and technology integration.12

Highlights

Apr 15 · youtube.com
Class Technologies with Michael Chasen | ASU+GSV 2022 - YouTube
Class Technologies with Michael Chasen | ASU+GSV 2022 - YouTube

Related Questions

What inspired Michael Chasen to start Class Technologies?
How did Michael Chasen's experience at Blackboard influence his approach at Class?
What are some unique features of Class that differentiate it from other edtech tools?
How has Class Technologies evolved since its founding in 2020?
What challenges has Michael Chasen faced as CEO of Class Technologies?
Michael Chasen
Michael Chasen, photo 1
Michael Chasen, photo 2
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Experience

CEO at Class Technologies
CEO at PrecisionHawk (2017-2020), President and CEO at SocialRadar (2013-2017), President and CEO at Blackboard (1997-2012), Consultant at KPMG (1996-1997), Managerial Assistant at FBI (1992-1993)

Education

MBA from Georgetown University - The McDonough School of Business (1993-1995), Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science from American University (1990-1994)

Location

Washington, District of Columbia, United States