Michael Chasen

Michael Chasen is an American businessman. He is a co-founder and former CEO of Blackboard Inc., a position he held from 1999 to 2012. In April 2013, Chasen co-founded SocialRadar, a technology startup company developing a location-based social app. In 2020, he co-founded ClassEDU, the maker of Class For Zoom, which aims to improve the effectiveness of Zoom-based remote learning.

Early life

Michael Chasen grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut. Also during high school, he was an active member of BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization).

Chasen attended American University and completed a degree in computer science in three years, graduating in 1993. While at American, Chasen worked part-time doing technology work for the FBI.

Career

Early career

While still at Georgetown, Chasen was inspired by the application process to multiple undergraduate and MBA programs to start Search and Apply Group, a company that offered a computer application allowing colleges to accept online applications. After hearing about Search and Apply Group, Greg Baroni, who was Matthew Pittinsky's manager at KPMG Peat Marwick (now KPMG Consulting), offered Chasen a job.

Chasen and Pittinsky left KPMG in 1997 to launch their e-learning business. In an oft-cited anecdote, Baroni allowed them to borrow their computers while they got themselves set-up, a situation that Chasen and Pittinsky used to then steal their office chairs. In 1998, the company merged with CourseInfo LLC, a software provider which had developed a platform for internet and networked learning, which they called a "Course Management System" platform. The combined company became known as Blackboard Inc.

Chasen became chief executive officer (CEO) of Blackboard in 1999, as one of the youngest CEOs of a publicly traded company when he orchestrated Blackboard's initial public offering in 2004.

By 2012 Blackboard had grown to more than 3,000 employees with 20,000 clients in over 65 countries, and earning $600 million in revenue, Jay Bhatt was named as his successor. He is the CEO of the new company.

In June 2013, it was reported that Chasen had secured $12.75 million in a first round of investments. SocialRadar's app was planned to enter beta testing in July 2013

Awards and recognition

Chasen was included in Forbes’ list of “America's 15 Most Powerful CEOs 40 And Under” Other recognition received by Chasen includes being named Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year for Emerging Companies in Washington, D.C." and being honored as a "Young Innovator" by the Kilby Foundation. Chasen was listed by Washington Techway Magazine as one of D.C.'s "most-admired bosses" and was featured in Washington Business Forward's list of the Washington, D.C. area's "rising stars".

Personal life

Chasen lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Randi and three children.