NICK GROUF
InvestorManaging Partner at Alpha Edison
Los Angeles, California
Writes $100K β $5M checks Β· typically $1.5M
About
Nick Grouf is an entrepreneur and investor who founded Firefly Network in 1995 to commercialize collaborative filtering technology, later selling it to Microsoft. He co-founded PeoplePC, which he took public and merged with Earthlink, and subsequently started Spot Runner, a platform for targeted cable TV advertising. He also incubated and helped build startups including Loot Crate and Pluto TV, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Yale, with early career roles at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Company.
Invests in
ConsumerDeep TechFintechHardwareHealthtechInsurTech
Experience
- Yale School of ArtMember, Yale School of Art Deans Council Task Forcecurrent2023 β presentNew Haven County, Connecticut, United States
- Alpha EdisonManaging Partnercurrent2015 β presentLos Angeles, CA
- Clementine CapitalManaging Partner2012 β 2021Los Angeles
- MOJO Sports Inc.Board Member2020 β 2021Los Angeles, California, United States
- The RiveterBoard Member2019 β 2021Seattle, Washington, United States
- Pluto.TVFounder, Founding Investor2013 β 2019Los Angeles, CA
- Spot RunnerFounder CEO2005 β 2011
- PeoplePCFounder CEO1999 β 2003
- FireflyFounder, Chairman and CEO1995 β 1999
- Goldman SachsAssociate (Summer)1994New York, NY
- McKinsey & CompanyBusiness Analyst1990 β 1992New York, NY
Education
- Harvard Business SchoolMaster of Business Administration (MBA)1993 β 1995
- Yale UniversityBachelor of Arts (BA), American Studies1986 β 1990
Skills & more
+9 more
Social MediaProduct MarketingCreative DirectionDigital MarketingDigital StrategyMarketingOnline MarketingMergers & AcquisitionsStrategyFrom NICK's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School1,777
+ 1,771 more
Also attended Yale University491
+ 485 more
Shared employers
Also worked at The Riveter2
Also worked at Pluto.TV4
Also worked at Spot Runner3
Also worked at Goldman Sachs1,186
+ 1,180 more
Deals Β· 5
United Dwelling HoldingsBoard seat
via Alpha Edison Β· filed Jan 2023 Β· $8.6M raise
Neural AnalyticsBoard seat
via Alpha Edison Β· filed Oct 2021 Β· $15M raise
Small Homes HoldingsBoard seat
via Alpha Edison Β· filed Aug 2021 Β· $3.3M raise
RiveterBoard seat
via Alpha Edison Β· filed Dec 2018 Β· $15M raise
Novel EffectBoard seat
via Alpha Edison Β· filed May 2018 Β· $4.5M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at Alpha Edison
Network2
Investors connected to NICK in public investor directories β a warm-intro map.















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