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Bradley Keywell is a Chicago-based entrepreneur and investor currently serving as the Executive Chairman of Uptake Technologies and SkillHero Corp., as well as the Managing Partner of Lightbank. He previously co-founded nine technology companies alongside frequent business partner Eric Lefkofsky, including Groupon, Mediaocean, and Echo Global Logistics, which went public before being acquired for $1.3 billion in 2021. Through his venture capital firm Lightbank, Keywell has backed multiple successful startups, holding early stakes in recognizable technology platforms such as Udemy, Fiverr, and Sprout Social. Additionally, he joined the board of directors at TKO Group Holdings in January 2024 and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His extensive career focuses on scaling early-stage disruptive technology ventures across the industrial artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and consumer internet sectors.
Bradley Keywell stands as a highly influential figure in the venture capital and technology landscape, renowned for his entrepreneurial spirit and strategic investment acumen. As a co-founder and Managing Partner at Lightbank, a prominent Chicago-based venture capital firm, Keywell plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of innovative startups. Lightbank, under his leadership, specializes in providing early-stage capital and strategic guidance to technology companies poised for significant disruption and growth.
Keywell's investment focus at Lightbank is broad yet targeted, primarily centered on groundbreaking technology sectors. He actively seeks out opportunities in areas such as enterprise software, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data analytics, and B2B SaaS solutions. His keen eye for scalable business models and transformative technologies has led Lightbank to invest in numerous companies that have gone on to achieve substantial success. Keywell is particularly drawn to ventures that leverage data to create competitive advantages and solve complex industry problems, reflecting his own experience in building data-driven enterprises.
Before co-founding Lightbank, Bradley Keywell established himself as a serial entrepreneur with a remarkable track record. He is perhaps best known as a co-founder of Groupon, the revolutionary e-commerce marketplace that redefined local commerce. His entrepreneurial journey also includes co-founding other highly successful companies such as InnerWorkings, a global marketing supply chain firm, and MediaBank (now Mediaocean), an advertising technology platform. This deep operational experience in building, scaling, and exiting technology companies provides him with invaluable insights that he brings to his role as an investor and mentor at Lightbank.
Beyond Lightbank, Keywell continues to be a driving force in the tech world. He co-founded Uptake Technologies, an industrial AI software company, and Tempus, a technology company focused on precision medicine through data and analytics. These ventures underscore his commitment to leveraging technology for significant societal and industrial impact. His career trajectory demonstrates a consistent pattern of identifying market gaps, building innovative solutions, and fostering high-growth businesses.
As an investor, Bradley Keywell is not just a source of capital but also a strategic partner. He provides portfolio companies with access to his vast network, operational expertise, and guidance on product development, market strategy, and team building. His approach is hands-on, aiming to empower founders to realize their full potential. Through Lightbank, Keywell continues to champion the next generation of technology leaders, solidifying his legacy as a visionary entrepreneur and a cornerstone of the venture capital community.
Bradley Keywell primarily invests in early-stage technology companies through Lightbank. His investment focus areas include enterprise software, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data analytics, B2B SaaS solutions, and other disruptive technologies that leverage data and offer scalable business models.
Bradley Keywell works as a co-founder and Managing Partner at Lightbank, a Chicago-based venture capital firm. He is also a co-founder of other technology companies such as Uptake Technologies and Tempus.
