Michael Serbinis

Michael Serbinis
Born
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Alma materQueen's University (BS)
University of Toronto (MS)
Occupation(s)Founder and CEO, League Inc.

Michael Serbinis is a Canadian entrepreneur, engineer and angel investor based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

While a student, Serbinis worked for Microsoft on advanced routing algorithms.[1]

He later helped found the cloud-based document storage network company DocSpace. In December 2009, Serbinis co-founded Kobo Inc., a digital reading company. In 2014, Serbinis launched League, a digital health and wellness benefits platform.[2] Along with being a co-founder, he also serves as Chief Executive Officer.

Career

At age 19, Serbinis entered the Ontario Engineering Competition.[1] His entry in the competition was a frictionless[clarification needed] motor operated by a new generation of software code that mimicked genetic coding. Because the software constantly evolved, the motor was able to hover effortlessly[clarification needed] above a magnetic bearing without crashing.[1] One of the judges, Ken Nickerson, who was an executive at Microsoft at the time decided to give Serbinis a summer job with the company.[1]

Zip2 and Kobo

Serbinis worked alongside Elon Musk at Zip2.[1] Zip2 primarily provided and licensed online city guide software to newspapers.[3] It was eventually sold to Altavista for $300 million.[4]

Serbinis then helped found a cloud-based document storage network company called DocSpace. Two years after DocSpace was launched, San Francisco-based Critical Path Inc. agreed to acquire it for $530 million.[1]

In 2001, Serbinis was appointed Chief Technology Officer of Critical Path.[1]

In 2009, Serbinis co-founded Kobo Inc., a digital reading company. In January 2012, Kobo was acquired by Japanese e-commerce conglomerate Rakuten for $315 million.[1]

League Inc.

In 2014 Serbinis launched League Inc., a digital health and wellness platform.[2] Along with being a co-founder, Serbinis also serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. In 2016, League raised a US$25 million Series A.[2] In June 2017, League expanded its platform into the US.[5] In July 2018, League raised a US$41.7 million Series B.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Inside the Kobo deal that netted Indigo $165-million". The Globe and Mail. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Mike Serbinis gives "all-in" lesson for startup founders at #TechTO". BetaKit. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Zip2 Plays Up National Network Card – Editor & Publisher". www.editorandpublisher.com. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  4. ^ Napoli, Lisa (17 February 1999). "Compaq Buys Zip2 to Enhance Altavista". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Diversity, Balance and Big Dreams: Michael Serbinis is in a League of His Own". Techvibes. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  6. ^ "League raises $47.1M Series B to fix corporate health care benefits". TechCrunch. Retrieved 17 August 2018.

External links