Jim Scheinman

Jim joined Charles River Ventures as an Entrepreneur in Residence in 2007. His focus is on uncovering new investments in the consumer Internet, social networking and social media sectors, while working with the firm’s portfolio companies and evaluating opportunities for his own next start-up venture.

Jim is one of the early pioneers of the social networking phenomenon and was previously the head of business development and sales at the first social networking site, Friendster. There he created the concept of ‘engagement marketing’ within social networking sites, mobilizing the idea of enabling consumers to become brand advocates of engaging content and spreading the brands’ messages amongst their network of friends.

Prior to joining Friendster, Jim was a co-founder of Bebo and served as vice president of business development and sales. At Bebo Jim helped many great brands, including Disney and Coke, with their marketing efforts.

Jim is a seasoned speaker and is often called upon to talk on the subject of social networking and marketing. In recent times this has included events such as; Ad Tech in both San Francisco and London, Harvard Business School, Digital Hollywood and the IIA Annual Congress in Ireland. As one of the industry’s leading experts, Jim provides regular comment on engagement marketing and the future of social networking for wide range of publications including; the Economist, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Ad Week and e-consultancy, in addition to TV and radio.

Prior to his internet career, Jim practiced corporate and intellectual property law at a leading Silicon Valley law firm. He went on to serve as senior vice president of business development at NBC Internet, a $2 billion public company of NBC & GE before joining Bebo and Friendster. Scheinman is an attorney, entrepreneur and seasoned internet marketing executive. He has a BSc in Neuropsychology from Duke University and earned a JD at the University of California Davis School of Law.

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