Stephen Stokols

Stephen Stokols is an American entrepreneur, technologist, investor, and executive located in Los Angeles, California.[1] Stokols most recently served as the CEO of FreedomPop, the company he co-founded in August 2012 with Skype founder Niklas Zennström.[1] FreedomPop was sold in June 2019.[2]

Stephen Stokols
CitizenshipAmerican
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley
London Business School
OccupationEntrepreneur, investor
TitleCEO of FreedomPop

In October 2019, Stokols helped launch XvsX Sports, a sport technology company, with former NBA Champion Metta World Peace, aiming to open access to premium pick-up games at underutilized indoor courts across the US.[3]

In November 2019, Stokols joined forces with Liquide Inc. to raise $1 billion to bring high-speed wireless access to Africa.[4]

Education and honors

Stokols received his MBA from UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business in 2002. During this time, Stokols attained two significant fellowships: Haas Venture Capital Fellowship in 2001 and the Price Center Fellowship in 2000. Stokols then attended the London Business School from where he received his Masters of Finance degree in 2007.

Stokols received the Wireless Week Leadership award in 2014.[5]

Career

As CEO of FreedomPop, Stokols raised over $109 million in venture capital and grew the company to over 100 employees.[6][7] In 2015, Stokols expanded FreedomPop’s free mobile service internationally.[8]

In early 2016, Stokols closed a $50 million Series C financing for FreedomPop and launched a Global Hotspot with free mobile data in over 25 countries.[9] In 2017, Stokols turned down a merger and acquisition offer for FreedomPop, worth as much as $450 million.[6]

Before FreedomPop, Stokols was the CEO of Woo Media, until its sale to Zoosk in November 2011.[6] The idea for Woo Media was spurred by his sister's experience with speed dating.[10] Stokols immediately saw an opportunity for an online speed dating website leveraging new web based video technologies and created WooMe.[11] Over four years, Stokols grew Woo Media into an online media group, incorporating several online communication channels. Under his leadership, Stokols grew Woo Media to over 10 million users until it was sold to Zoosk in 2011.[12]

Prior to the creation of Woo Media, Stokols represented the BT Group as BT's Vice President of Strategy and Business Development in London. Before moving to BT Group, Stokols was the Director of Commerce at Qwest Communications. Stokols also worked for CMGI where he focused on positioning AltaVista for its sale to Yahoo!. Stokols is also a member of the Founders Pledge.[13]

Stephen is also an active investor in technology companies, including villiger where he teamed up with actor Walton Goggins.[14] Stokols was featured on CNBC’s Making a Millionaire, where he invested in Lego startup Brickhole.[15]

FreedomPop was sold in June of 2019.[2] Stokols continues to serve as the Chairman and CEO of STS Media, Inc., which is pursuing an acquisition of Boost Mobile from Sprint.[2]

References
  1. "Skype Founder's New Startup, FreedomPop, Picks CEO". Bloomberg News. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  2. Dang, Sheila (June 7, 2019). "STS Media gears up to bid for Boost Mobile with sale of FreedomPop". Reuters. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  3. "How a team of former NBA stars plans to remake recreational hoops". Pitchbook. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  4. "Telecom Pioneer Teams Up With Liquide Inc. to Bring Low-Cost Wireless Connectivity to Africa". Erie News Now. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  5. "Wireless Week's Leadership Awards Recognize T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, FreedomPop". AdvantageMedia. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  6. Dave, Paresh (25 August 2017). "1 million people pay nothing for cellphone service, so how does FreedomPop make money?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  7. "FreedomPop pockets $50M, launches global hot spot with free data". rcrwireless.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  8. "Freedompop launches in the uk intros free and 19month iphone only plans in us". techcrunch.com. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  9. Fried, Ina (20 January 2016). "FreedomPop Raises Another $50 Million to Offer Cheap Global Roaming for World Travelers". Recode. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  10. "Stephen Stokols, co-Founder And CEO Of WooMe". Online Personals Watch. July 20, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  11. "Interview with Stephen Stokols, WooMe". SocalTech.com. November 6, 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  12. "Woo Media Sold to Zoosk". SocalTech.com. November 4, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  13. "The Founders Pledge". Thefounderspledge. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  14. "It takes a Villiger:Actor Walton Goggins launches parenting app". L.A. Biz. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  15. "Make Me A Millionaire Inventor". CNBC. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
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