On Wednesday, September 28, the fall IMPACT Speaker Series will continue with a talk by Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network. Bergelt strives to enable innovation in open source and to create a vibrant ecosystem promoting Linux.  He is a leader in patent rights management. 

Please join us for this event in the LeCraw Auditorium, College of Management at 4:30 pm.

More about the speaker:

Keith Bergelt is the chief executive officer of Open Invention Network® (OIN), the collaborative enterprise that enables innovation in open source and an increasingly vibrant ecosystem around Linux. In this capacity he is directly responsible for enabling, influencing and defending the integrity of the Linux ecosystem. Central to the achievement of his goals is the acquisition and transfer of patent rights designed to permit members of the Linux ecosystem to operate free of the threat of assertion and litigation from those whose business models are antithetical to innovation and global economic growth in information technology and computing.

Prior to joining the Open Invention Network®, Mr. Bergelt served as president and CEO of two Hedge Funds – Paradox Capital and IPI – formed to unlock the considerable asset value of patents, trademarks and copyrights in middle market companies. These funds enabled the emergence of patents, trademarks and copyrights as a viable source of collateral in asset-based loans, forever reshaping the emerging IP Finance landscape.

Mr. Bergelt holds an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Duke University, a Jurist Doctorate degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Theseus Institute in France.

About the Impact Speaker Series

Since 2002, the IMPACT Speaker Series has brought highly successful business leaders from a variety of industries to campus to share their experiences and give advice to students and other entrepreneurs on topics ranging from "building a venture around intellectual capital" to "successful entrepreneurship in large organizations" and "socially responsible leadership".

The weekly series provides Georgia Tech students, alumni and the Atlanta business community an opportunity to network and learn from successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and notable business and non-profit leaders. Events for the series take place in the LeCraw Auditorium in the College of Management building at 4:30 pm on Wednesdays unless otherwise noted.

The series is free and open to the public, and reservations are not required.