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John Spinale

Managing Partner at JAZZ Venture Partners

United States

Overview 

John Spinale is a Managing Partner at JAZZ Venture Partners, with a background in mobile devices and video games. He has held key roles at companies like Disney Interactive and Eidos, and has invested in various successful startups like PlayFab and Freeletics. As a Co-founder and Managing Partner at JAZZ Venture Partners, John Spinale has leveraged his expertise in product management and gaming to invest in companies like PlayFab and Freeletics, contributing to their growth and success. With a strong background at Disney Interactive and Eidos, Spinale's career highlights include roles as SVP of Social and Mobile Games at Disney and SVP of Product Development at Eidos, showcasing his leadership in the entertainment and gaming industries.

Work Experience 

  • Co-founder, Managing Partner

    2015 - Current

    JAZZ Venture Partners invests in companies that extend the boundaries of human performance — improving how we live, learn, work, play, and experience the world. JAZZ portfolio companies are unlocking human potential in broad markets including health, mind-body wellness, accelerated learning, training, sports, entertainment, and the enterprise.

JAZZ Venture Partners is a venture capital firm focused on technologies that extend the boundaries of human performance.

  • Investor and Advisor

    2006 - 2015

    Worked with entrepreneurs in the formation, scaling, financing, operation, governance and mentoring of a broad array of early stage consumer technology startups.

  • SVP and GM Social and Mobile Games, Disney

    2011 - 2014

    Managed the day to day operations (P&L) of the business of free-to-play games for social, web and mobile platforms. Led the turnaround post-acquisition by Disney.

Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution offers network and engineering operations, sales, advertising, and streaming services.

  • SVP Games and Media

    2008 - 2011

    OnLive created the first interactive streaming media and interactive content delivery platform, allowing users to experience high-end games and linear media via nearly any device connected to the internet.

OnLive, a cloud gaming company offering a cloud gaming platform and a cloud desktop system that develops server-based video game processing.

Raised $56,500,000.00 from HTC.

  • Co Founder, President

    2006 - 2008

    Co-founder of this innovative online travel company delivering personalized travel recommendations and custom itineraries to savvy travelers. NileGuide was sold to Travora Media in 2012.

NileGuide is a travel planning site allowing users to search for hotels, restaurants and other tour destinantions.

Raised $13,000,000.00 from MMV Capital Partners.

  • SVP Product Development

    2002 - 2006

    Executive during a turnaround and sale for this top-tier publisher of entertainment software. Ran a business > $100M annually, creating and distributing AAA content including the Tomb Raider series.

  • Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), SVP Product

    2001 - 2002

    MobileSys/MBlox (acquired by CLX Communications) was the world's largest mobile transaction network, processing billions of transactions around the globe.

mBlox offers mobile marketing and engagement solutions that help brands reach customers via SMS campaigns and push notifications.

Raised $129,842,730.00 from Saints Capital, Armentum Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, Scale Venture Partners, Horizon Technology Finance and Trident Capital.

  • Founder, CEO

    1998 - 2001

    Bitmo created a SaaS platform for enterprises to build and distribute mobile apps and secure messaging. [Acquired by MobileSys in February 2001]

  • Creative Director, Executive Producer

    1993 - 1998

    Early employee, serving in key product roles at Activision during the turnaround of the world's largest independent game publisher [from private through public listing: ATVI].

Activision develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment, and leisure products.

  • Management Consultant

    1991 - 1992

    Played a variety of roles at this boutique technical consulting firm - from software developer to expert witness in complex engineering projects.

Education 

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