Eric Free

Experience

Flexera Software

Chief Growth Officer 2016 - Present (over 10 years)

Flexera is transforming the software supply chain by reimagining the way software is bought, sold, managed, and secured.

Responsible for driving revenue and EBITDA... more

SVP, Strategic Growth 2016 - 2018 (about 2 years)

Responsible for defining Flexera Software’s corporate vision and strategy, overseeing M&A and strategic transactions, managing the company’s solutions portfolio, defining... more

Allwayswithyou

Vice President & General Manager, Internet of Things Group 2013 - 2016 (about 3 years)

Intel's Internet of Things (IoT) Group designs and builds essential hardware, software and service building blocks that power many of the world’s connected, intelligent devices.

Founder... more

Vice President & General Manager, Intel Media/OnCue 2011 - 2013 (about 2 years)

Co-founder of Intel Media and executive in charge of all content- and service-related business activities for the OnCue platform, including content and product strategy, user... more

Telvetto

Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board 2010 - 2011 (about 1 year)

Founded new venture focused on the next-generation of social television (social networking and digital media in the connected living room).

Exit

Rovi

Executive Vice President, Product Development

2008 - 2010 (about 2 years)

Created the new company’s first global product organization, drove product and company strategy, and headed development of the company’s major new product initiative. Oversaw... more twenty releases of television guidance, media recognition and discovery, search and recommendation, and advertising products and services that power hundreds of millions of connected devices and some of the world's largest websites and media networks, and supported approximately $430 million in annual licensing revenue.

Executive Vice President, Embedded Solutions

2005 - 2008 (about 3 years)

Created the company’s first global business unit focused on technologies for the consumer electronics and cable/mobile device sectors and grew it from $32 million to $94 million,... more generating more than $120 million of cumulative earnings. Oversaw sales and professional services, business development, product strategy, and product development. Developed company strategy that resulted in three acquisitions, six divestitures, and the repositioning of the company.

Vice President, Business Development & Strategy

2003 - 2005 (about 2 years)

Led  team responsible for business strategy, market analysis, major partnerships, and technology licensing -- initially for the company’s largest business unit ($111 million... more revenue, focused on enabling and protecting digital distribution of content by the Hollywood studios, record labels, and leading game companies) -- and then for the entire company. Oversaw multiple acquisitions.

Director, Corporate Development

2001 - 2003 (about 2 years)

Led merger and acquisition and venture capital activities, oversaw major strategic business development programs, and managed the company's strategic planning process. Managed... more $60M venture portfolio, led investments in four early-stage companies, and acquired four companies.

Electrifier

Vice President, Business Development 1998 - 2001 (about 3 years)

Led all strategic marketing and business development activities for 'DEMO company to watch' and 'Upside Hot 100 private company' in the early (pre-YouTube) streaming media/digital... more

Aurora Funds

Associate 1998 - 1999 (about 1 year)

Founder

Telvetto

Employee

Allwayswithyou, Rovi, Aurora Funds, Flexera Software, Electrifier

Education

About

Achievements

Founded three startups and three startup divisions, turned around a public company, and drove ~$4B in exits and M&A. Advised or invested in more than two dozen early-stage companies.

Services, products and technologies from my teams power some of the world's largest digital properties, tens of millions of households, much of the Fortune 500, and more than a billion connected devices shipped worldwide by market leaders such as Sony, Apple, Samsung, Panasonic, Nokia, Cisco, Pace, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Sky, among others.

Currently driving the growth of a PE-backed software/SaaS company in the software asset management and security space.

Describe the most impressive thing you've done.

Skills

Private Equity Venture Capital Corporate Strategy Mergers & Acquisitions Sales/Marketing and Strategic Partnerships Strategic Partnerships Business Strategy Business Development Product Management Product Marketing Product Strategy Marketing Management Management Product Development

Locations

San Francisco Palo Alto Santa Clara San Jose Chicago

Eric Free

Entrepreneur, intrapreneur & former VC. C-suite change agent at multiple PE-backed, VC-backed & publicly-held companies. Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, application security & software asset management.