Episode 199. Tom Cottingham – former CEO, Insider Louisville, and Serial Entrepreneur
Tom Cottingham is a serial entrepreneur who builds successful publishing companies in the digital age.
As CEO of Insider Louisville, Tom leads his team to deliver news in the world of smartphones, tablets, and other emerging platforms in which traditional media may struggle. As he describes it: “Our mission is to deliver useful, engaging information about critical issues. We tell stories, tell them sharply, and in a way that respects the intelligence of our audience.”
With the motivation of creating jobs to fuel him, He has a long track record of building successful publishing companies amid technology changes. As a lead investor and founding partner in successful start-ups, his roster includes hits like TechRepublic and NarrowCast Group LLC, publisher of ITBusinessEdge. TechRepublic sold to Gartner and ITBusinessEdge to Quinstreet Enterprise.
In the early days of tech, he co-founded The Cobb Group as one of the first desktop publishing firms in the country. That company sold to Ziff Davis, where Tom served in executive roles before founding TechRepublic. He also served in marketing roles at computer book publisher Que Corporation.
Tom was selected as the 2000 winner of the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for E-Business in the Ohio Valley region.
In addition to his duties at Insider Louisville, he advises entrepreneurs and investors about the best ways to create and capitalize on opportunities. He has served for many years on the Anchorage Independent School Board and the board of the Louisville Orchestra. He is also a supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana.