Co-Founder and CEO
AdGenesis LLC;
Beezag.com
Richard Smullen, is Co-Founder and CEO of AdGenesis LLC, a next generation multiple media, real-time video advertising platform launched in 2010 that enables advertisers to send their video ads directly to members, who trade consumer insights, watch advertisements and receive rewards on web sites, mobile devices, social media, and eventually, interactive television. Mr. Smullen, is also Co-Founder and CEO of an AdGenesis sister company, Beezag USA LLC, an open opt-in multiplatform community formally launched in 2009 where consumers watch entertaining branded content and video ads they like in exchange for rewards, points and discounts.
Since 2005, Mr. Smullen has been the Founder and CEO of SouthWinston Investments (Pty) Ltd, a South African-based, global private equity and VC fund that incubates and develops businesses in media, technology and entertainment. Smullen still sits on the board of SouthWinston and overseas the the investments in Rok Entertainemnt Group, Worlds.com Inc and New Vision Media (Pty) Ltd
Mr. Smullen launched his business career during his university years, when he founded woiSA.com ("What’s on in South Africa"), South Africa’s first Internet entertainment and information portal. After leaving university after three years to focus on woisSA.com, he built the startup into the country’s leading infotainment portal and then it to World Online in 2001. He then joined DataSphere Technologies, an IT company specializing in digital identity management. When the NASDAQ listed digital security firm ActivIdentity Inc. acquired DataSphere in 2002, Mr. Smullen became COO of the newly formed ActivIdentity Africa Ltd where he remained until founding SouthWinston Investments.
AdGenesis Digital LLC (http://www.adgenesisdigital.com) developed and deploys a next generation consumer rewarded marketing and advertising experience, “me-commerce.” Its platform enables advertisers to send their video ads directly to members, who trade consumer insights, watch advertisements and receive rewards on web sites, mobile devices, social media, and interactive television. A sister company, Beezag USA LLC, is an Internet and mobile program that perfected the targeted consumer reward concept.
Since inception, AdGenesis and sister company, Beezag, have raised over $4 million http://www.crunchbase.com/company/beezag from founders and a group of angel investors. The company's Executive Council includes: Michael Kassan; Gerry Byrne, Former Publisher of Variety and SVP of Media and Entertainment at Nielsen; Oliver Ripley and Timur Sardarov of Ocean Group International; Clifford Gundle, a member of the Dean’s Council of Harvard; Robert Friedman of Radical Media; Rick Sirvaitis, former President and COO of GM Mediaworks; MediaLink's Wenda Harris Millard; and Antoine Spillman.