Episode 75. Greg Fischer – Entrepreneur & 2008 U.S. Senate Democratic Candidate

A core believer in the servant leadership model, Greg Fischer is a successful businessman and civic leader in Louisville, Ky.

Also, a believer in the concept of citizen soldiers laid out by Thomas Jefferson, Greg felt there was an opportunity and responsibility to participate in the country’s leadership. He ran for the U.S. Senate, a race in which he finished second out of a field of seven.

In 2000, Greg co-founded bCatalyst, a business accelerator in Louisville, Ky. bCatalyst later evolved into a mergers and acquisition advisory firm.

Greg co-invented and holds the patent for a combination ice and beverage dispenser. This invention led to their forming SerVend, a family business with his father and brother. Under his leadership, the small business grew to a global manufacturing company and employed over 300 people. In 1999, Fischer retired from SerVend International and founded Iceberg Ventures, a venture capital firm assisting other start-ups. He is its current chairman.

In 1990, Greg and his father and brother were named Kentucky and Southern Indiana’s regional Entrepreneurs of the Year in manufacturing, an award sponsored by Inc. Magazine, Ernst & Young, Merrill Lynch, and Business First.

Greg was born and raised in Louisville and still resides in the area with his family. Greg was voted in as Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, in 2011.