Chad Steelberg & Ryan Steelberg
Chad Steelberg (CTO) and Ryan Steelberg (CEO) are the co-founders of BAT (Brand Affinity Technologies, Inc.). Founded in 2007, advertisers use BAT’s Endorsement Platform to identify, license, and activate the most effective talent for their campaigns, based on brand and targeting considerations. Currently, BAT’s Platform features more than 2,000 top athletes in markets nationwide, and is used by leading advertisers to build brand value and boost campaign performance. BAT’s celebrity roster includes marquee active and retired players in nearly every sport, including Drew Brees (NFL), Josh Hamilton (MLB), Rajon Rondo (NBA), Brooks Robinson (MLB – Hall of Fame), Emmitt Smith (NFL – retired), and Lennox Lewis (Boxing).
Since 1996, the Steelbergs have raised more than $150 million in equity financing, managed 400+ employees and created in excess of $3.0 billion in shareholder value, through the successful founding, management, and liquidation of three industry impactful companies.
Biography
Chad Edward Steelberg was born on May 8, 1971 in Northridge, CA. Ryan Scott Steelberg was also born in Northridge on December 2, 1973. They both attended Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, CA. After graduation, Chad went to the University of Southern California and Ryan attended the University of California, Los Angeles.
Chad and Ryan are both married with children and they continue to reside in Orange County, CA.
2CAN Media
2CAN Media, founded by the Steelbergs in 1998 and built into the 3rd largest Internet advertising sales organization under the Steelbergs, was also later sold to CMGI for over $50 million in a merger with Adsmart/Engage Media.
AdForce
AdForce (formerly ADFC on NASDAQ), founded by the Steelbergs in 1995 and grown into the world’s largest centralized independent ad serving and management solution, was acquired by CMGI after going public for more than $500 million in 1999. AdForce won the Smithsonian Award for the Best Technology in IT, for the year 2000.
dMarc Broadcasting
dMarc Broadcasting, founded by the Steelbergs in 2002, is the largest centralized radio advertising network and digital automation company servicing more than 4,600 Radio Broadcasters. dMarc was sold to Google in 2006 for $102 million in cash, with revenue targets that could push the deal upwards of $1.2B.
Awards
Named to the SportsBusiness Journal's "Forty Under 40" list of the best and brightest young executives in sports business. The publication recognized Ryan Steelberg — a relative newcomer to the sports business world — as an innovator in the field of endorsements. Others named to the 2009 list include David Berson, executive vice president of program planning and strategy for ESPN; Sarah Robb O'Hagan, chief marketing officer for Gatorade; and Peter Farnsworth, senior vice president of business development for the NBA.
A 2009 recipient of the OC Metro's 40 Under 40 Award given to the most successful young businesspeople in Orange County, CA. The Steelbergs were also named by the Orange County Business Journal as one of the county’s “50 Most Influential Businesspeople,” Ryan and Chad were also finalists for Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2000. Most recently, in 2006, Chad and Ryan Steelberg were named one of the “50 Most Powerful People in Radio,“ by Radio Ink Magazine.
References
Chuang, T. "O.C. venture gets Googled", Orange County Business Journal, June 17, 2002.
Helft, Miguel. "Google Encounters Hurdles in Selling Radio Advertising", New York Times, February 10, 2007.
"What the Google/dMarc "Marriage" Means for Radio", Radio Ink Magazine, February 27, 2006.
http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/special-report/2006.02.15-03_rw_google_2.shtml
http://www.ocmetro.com/archives/ocmetro_2006/metro042706/cover042706.html
http://www.ocmetro.com/t-CoverStory_40Under40_19_Ryan_Steelberg0509.aspx
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com