Brian Backus
Sr Producer Games @amazon • Sr Producer Games @NBCU-DreamWorks • Director Partnerships @nextdoor • VP BD@farfaria • CEO@Kidlandia • CEO@Ububu • Producer@Disney • HBS MBA, USC MFA, Harvard BA
Sr Producer Games @amazon • Sr Producer Games @NBCU-DreamWorks • Director Partnerships @nextdoor • VP BD@farfaria • CEO@Kidlandia • CEO@Ububu • Producer@Disney • HBS MBA, USC MFA, Harvard BA
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Experience
SENIOR PRODUCER
GAMES & DIGITAL PLATFORMS Led development and production on a range of casual mobile games, with a focus on streaming video and partnerships with 3rd party studios and... more OTTs to deliver premium content for an optimized player experience. * Produced Rotten Tomatoes Trivia, a fast-paced trivia game with ten-second video clips from classic and current movies and TV. Developed with Amber Studio, based in Bucharest, Romania. * Led effort to develop a Video Trivia platform to aggregate affiliated audien
Director, News & Public Agency Partnerships
* Led team managing 2,500+ partnerships, including police & fire departments, city & county governments, emergency agencies, news outlets, and more.
* Achieved... more 187% Q2 and 146% Q3 goals
* Launched local news. Developed program, process, and analytics. Partnered with 50+ news outlets including The Washington Post, ABC, and KQED.
* Added nearly 1,000 public agency partnerships.
* Launched the programs for FEMA, statewide emergency agencies, the Red Cross, and the US Postal Service.
* Achieved... more 187% Q2 and 146% Q3 goals
* Launched local news. Developed program, process, and analytics. Partnered with 50+ news outlets including The Washington Post, ABC, and KQED.
* Added nearly 1,000 public agency partnerships.
* Launched the programs for FEMA, statewide emergency agencies, the Red Cross, and the US Postal Service.
The Nature Conservancy
Consulting Lead, Technology Catalyst Fund (TCF)
Global conservation non-profit with 119 million acres under management in 69 countries. The TCF mission is to identify and support emerging conservation technologies through... more equity investment, loans, and market validation.
Led six-person pro bono team that developed the investing strategy and operating structure for the TCF, a new venture. I was then hired to write the TCF prospectus. The project was sponsored by HBS Community Partners.
Led six-person pro bono team that developed the investing strategy and operating structure for the TCF, a new venture. I was then hired to write the TCF prospectus. The project was sponsored by HBS Community Partners.
FarFaria
Vice President, Business Development
Leading children’s picture ebook mobile subscription service for both the consumer and education markets.
* Sourced and secured sales, distribution, and content partnerships.... more Negotiated outbound and inbound licensing. Identified and developed B2B opportunities, with a 20% lift in short- and long-term revenue.
* Licensed titles to Samsung Kids, Fable, Findaway, and 17zuoye
* Developed book-to-video concept “Storytime TV,” and produced nine episodes for Xiaomi TV in China.
* Sourced and secured sales, distribution, and content partnerships.... more Negotiated outbound and inbound licensing. Identified and developed B2B opportunities, with a 20% lift in short- and long-term revenue.
* Licensed titles to Samsung Kids, Fable, Findaway, and 17zuoye
* Developed book-to-video concept “Storytime TV,” and produced nine episodes for Xiaomi TV in China.
Backus Media
Principal Consultant
Provided strategic consulting to promising technology startup CEOs, serving short-term executive functions in business development, product, and strategy as needed.
*... more Created solutions for crowd-curated décor site, network for interest groups, omni-channel publisher, smart watch for kids, LBE for families, and apps for dating, homework, visual chat, iTV, and media discovery.
*... more Created solutions for crowd-curated décor site, network for interest groups, omni-channel publisher, smart watch for kids, LBE for families, and apps for dating, homework, visual chat, iTV, and media discovery.
Kidlandia
Founder & CEO
Entertainment and merchandise platform for personalized online games, apps, and home décor. Signature designs were fantasy maps that integrated favorite characters with the... more names of children, family, and friends.
* Created, designed, and developed the product line. Led business development, distribution, licensing, and product strategy. Raised $4 million in venture funding.
Secured licenses from Disney, Nickelodeon, Marvel, and Lego, and adapted products to their brands.
* Created, designed, and developed the product line. Led business development, distribution, licensing, and product strategy. Raised $4 million in venture funding.
Secured licenses from Disney, Nickelodeon, Marvel, and Lego, and adapted products to their brands.
Qi Spirits
President & Co-Founder
Producer of artisan liqueurs made with organic teas, citrus, and spices for fine restaurants and retail.
Developed product, brand, and packaging. Built national &... more international distribution. Placed product at BevMo!, The French Laundry, Slanted Door, and hundreds of premium venues. Achieved profitability in 18 months.
“Deliciously smoky and ethereal” – New York Times | “Best Summer Spirit” – Food & Wine Magazine
Developed product, brand, and packaging. Built national &... more international distribution. Placed product at BevMo!, The French Laundry, Slanted Door, and hundreds of premium venues. Achieved profitability in 18 months.
“Deliciously smoky and ethereal” – New York Times | “Best Summer Spirit” – Food & Wine Magazine
Linkscapes (UBUBU)
CEO & Founder
Social software to organize internet content in a visual alternative to folder and text hierarchies.
* Designed and developed the software; raised $10 million in venture... more funding; hired and led 75-member team; grew customer base to 500K MAU.
* Built partnerships with Warner Bros, Marvel, Amazon, eBay, DDB, and 50+ additional companies.
“Hottest New Product” – Jupiter Communications | “The iMac of desktop management” – ZDNet
* Designed and developed the software; raised $10 million in venture... more funding; hired and led 75-member team; grew customer base to 500K MAU.
* Built partnerships with Warner Bros, Marvel, Amazon, eBay, DDB, and 50+ additional companies.
“Hottest New Product” – Jupiter Communications | “The iMac of desktop management” – ZDNet
McKinsey & Co
Summer Associate, Digital Media Practice
Creative Producer, Disney Interactive
Supervised the creative production of titles based on animated features. Led game design, script, animation, and digital asset engineering. Directed audio talent including... more Danny DeVito and James Woods.
Produced Hercules Animated StoryBook on time and $340K under budget. Hercules was Disney’s first digital title to release simultaneously with an animated feature. Bestselling US children’s title of 1997.
“Reviewer’s Choice” – PC Magazine | “Brian is a hero for Disney” – Michael Eisner
Produced Hercules Animated StoryBook on time and $340K under budget. Hercules was Disney’s first digital title to release simultaneously with an animated feature. Bestselling US children’s title of 1997.
“Reviewer’s Choice” – PC Magazine | “Brian is a hero for Disney” – Michael Eisner
Voyager
Senior Producer & Editorial Board Member
Pioneering leader in digital media publishing. Founding company of “Silicon Alley.”
Led content acquisition, script, design, schedule, talent, video, and audio for a portfolio... more of titles.
Managed team of five Creative Producers from product concept through market release.
Titles included Treasures of the American Museum of Natural History, winner of Newsweek Editor’s Choice.
Led content acquisition, script, design, schedule, talent, video, and audio for a portfolio... more of titles.
Managed team of five Creative Producers from product concept through market release.
Titles included Treasures of the American Museum of Natural History, winner of Newsweek Editor’s Choice.
MTV Europe
FILM DIRECTOR, SCREENWRITER & EDITOR (Contract)
WOW Explorations
Advisor
March 4th (formerly Little Pickle Press)
Advisor
Advisor
Employee
Advisor
Education
About
Achievements
Creative dealmaker who drives growth and market innovation through strategic partnerships. Data-driven opportunity discovery to develop strategy, identify partners, build relationships, and execute deals for long-term value exchange. Versatile and nimble executive from experience as an entrepreneur, a deep product background, a strong academic foundation, and a commitment to continuous learning. Extensive network and collaborative approach quickly builds trust with a range of constituents at all levels of an organization. Domain expertise spans entertainment, animation, publishing, games, licensing, news, social media, public safety, and fundraising.
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