Rick Bolander on Kajeet’s Recent Accolade from Education.com

An entrepreneur with significant experience in the technology sector, Rick Bolander has served as a member of the board of Kajeet, Inc., for six years. In this position, Mr. Bolander contributes to the venture’s strategic decisions and closely follows the company’s press.

Shortly before the 2012 holiday season, Education.com released its annual Gift Guide. The website’s experts tested hundreds, if not thousands, of products for children of all ages. After combining the “fun” factor with parent and teacher approval, Education.com posted its final list. Alongside several books and games, the website ranked the LG Optimus Elite Android Prepaid Phone by Kajeet, Inc., as one of its top recommendations for fifth graders.

A cell phone company dedicated solely to creating telecommunications products for children and teenagers, Kajeet has developed a unique suite of services for this educational, child-friendly phone. With Kajeet’s LG phone, parents can closely monitor each child’s call, text, and Internet activity. The phone also features technology that allows parents to schedule black-out times, filter certain websites, and even enable a GPS tracker. Overall, as Education.com determined, Kajeet’s technology is sure to satisfy both child and parent.

Technology Has Positive Impact on Family Life

While some observers worry about technology’s increasing presence in our lives, others praise its power to keep families connected in real time. A 2010 survey commissioned by the publisher of Parenting magazine and the producers of BlogHer, Inc., found that most of today’s mothers believe that technology plays a vital role in their own and their families’ lives.

For example, almost three-fourths of the more than 1,000 mothers questioned said that technology-based activities can provide positive family experiences, and 83 percent appreciate technology for its ability to improve their overall quality of life. And while almost all parents who participated in the survey said they set limits on the amount and kind of online content their children access, only 5 percent reported that their child had shown signs of addictive behaviors related to technology.

In 2011, the California-based Barna Group published The Family & Technology Report, which drew on interviews with parents of 11- to 17-year-olds across the country. Among its findings, the report concluded that the majority of parents believe the effects of technology on their families have been neutral or positive rather than negative. Additionally, only about 25 percent of respondents said they experienced family conflicts over media limits.

Rick Bolander, an experienced business executive in the venture capital field, has devoted particular attention to assisting technology start-ups such as Kajeet, Inc., a mobile communications company serving young people and their families. In addition to his position as Managing Partner of San Francisco-based Gabriel Venture Partners, he is a member of Kajeet's Board of Directors.

Rick Bolander on the Advantages of GPS Technology in Children’s Cell Phones

Through his guidance of Kajeet, Inc., Rick Bolander has helped thousands of parents find peace of mind by way of their children’s cell phones. 

For the last seven years, Kajeet has developed and sold cell phones designed specifically for children. The company’s unique cellular technology offers parents the opportunity to limit phone usage, schedule black-out times, and restrict access to certain websites. Moreover, Kajeet allows parents to subscribe to a GPS locator service for just $7.99 per month. Using the company’s interactive mapping service, parents can view a child’s phone location in real time.

This tool can be especially important in emergency situations when locating a child is critical. It is also useful to help cultivate trust between parents and children. While experts caution parents against using a GPS locator as a preventive measure for teenagers, they do recommend this service as a way to rebuild trust after a negative incident. No matter how parents choose to use this convenient service, they will enjoy lessened anxiety about their children’s whereabouts, knowing that they can activate the locator device at any time.

In addition to his role on Kajeet’s board of directors, Rick Bolander also manages Gabriel Venture Partners and Michigan eLab.

Rick Bolander on Michigan eLab’s Commitment to Technology Commercialization

The co-founder of Michigan eLab, Rick Bolander also serves as the firm’s Managing Director. A longtime entrepreneur himself, Mr. Bolander now uses his experience and network to help University of Michigan students, faculty, and partners achieve their entrepreneurial goals.

In addition to sponsoring entrepreneurial training, Michigan eLab provides promising startups with the full venture capital support they need to achieve final liquidity. The eLab also works with a team of technology commercialization experts who identify and transfer recent innovations from the laboratory to the market. Once this team has selected a potential technology for commercialization, its experts guide researchers or university officials through several key steps.

First, the team ensures that the technology is patentable by researching relevant “prior art,” or previously extant information about an innovation, if any. Next, experts evaluate the product’s marketability and technological merit before applying for a patent. Finally, the technology commercialization team seeks out a licensee, or a company interested in purchasing the rights to the innovation. Alternatively, the team at Michigan eLab helps the researcher build his or her own startup company as a way to market the technology.

Managing a High-Tech Startup, by Rick Bolander

You have a great idea, but you still need to know how to turn your great idea into a successful business over the long term. As a venture capitalist who has worked with numerous high-technology start-up companies, I’ve listed a few basic points below that can assist any entrepreneur in finding success.

1. First, understand the nature of what you are selling. Are you carving out a brand new field or niche industry? Are you improving on an existing product or service in the market? This understanding will assist you in determining the right positioning and branding strategy for your company.

2. Invest wisely in researching potential consumer markets for your product. Is there room for it to grow and develop within its industry niche?

3. Plan which aspects of your company you will and will not outsource. For example, many new businesses can reduce overhead by outsourcing their information technology, human resources, and legal departments. On the other hand, you usually won’t save money by outsourcing operations such as product development, which go to the core of your brand identity.

4. Hire personnel who have significant experience getting startups off the ground successfully, and create a strong management team whose members possess complementary skill sets.

5. Remember that the way you organize your new company can ultimately be as important as the quality of your product. Venture capital firms and other potential funders will use the quality of your operations as a key factor in any investment decision related to your company.

About Rick Bolander: The Managing Partner at San Francisco-based Gabriel Venture Partners, Rick Bolander co-founded the firm in 1999. He and his team have worked with companies such as Kajeet, Inc., a mobile phone service for young people, and Netscaler, which developed a cloud-based performance operations program for businesses.

Rick Bolander | Crain's Detroit Business

Silicon ... Michigan? Founders of VC fund whose hearts are here hope to build bridge to the Valley By Tom Henderson


Michigan eLab founders (standing, from left) Rick Bolander, Doug Neal and Bob Stefanski gather with staff in incubator space that the venture capital firm uses in Ann Arbor.        

The business model for one of the state’s new venture capital firms can be summed up as simply as this: Silicon Valley meets Michigan. That refers to Michigan, the state, and the University of Michigan, the university with $1.3 billion in research spending a year and spinoff companies looking for...Read the rest of this entry...

Rick Bolander Discusses Gabriel Venture Partners’ Investment Focus

An experienced finance professional and venture capitalist, Rick Bolander currently works as a Managing Partner of Gabriel Venture Partners (GVP) in Redwood City, California. Founded in 1999 by Bolander and Phil Samper, GVP presently manages some $260 million in assets. The firm focuses its investment activity on early-stage startups, primarily those with passionate founders who offer new business models and next-generation technologies. Throughout all of its business activities, GVP makes use of a capital efficiency model, which focuses on small and early deals with a high potential for rapid growth and exits in the short term. In general, GVP seeks out those companies which will require less than $15 million in venture funding to reach an exit point or achieve cash flow positive status. Rather than seeking out long-term opportunities for billion-dollar valuations and very large initial public offerings (IPOs), GVP’s model allows for resiliency and diversification. To learn more about Gabriel Venture Partners, visit www.gabrielvp.com.

Rick Bolander: Kajeet’s Support of Right Back on Track (Part Two)

Part One of this article discussed the mission and municipal partners of the New York City Dropout and Truancy Prevention Network's (DTPN) Right Back on Track Mentoring program. Kajeet, a technology company focused on the emerging need for kids’ smartphones, is engaged with the program as a partner. The DTPN initiative emphasizes phone-based coaching and mentoring as a way of motivating at-risk teenagers to stay in school. Participating students carry mobile devices with them that have full text, data, and talk capacities. If they do not show up for classes and events as expected, the assigned mentor reaches out to the student through the phone and checks his or her location and expected arrival time. The strength of the program is that it combines the power of a mentoring relationship with greater communication capabilities. Kajeet assists in DTPN’s battle against student truancy by offering cost-effective, contract-free communications options. Augmenting its patented parental online controls are satellite-enabled device locators that allow parents to keep track of their children’s whereabouts. Rick Bolander, a leader at Kajeet, fully supports the company’s efforts in providing teenagers with empowering technologies.

Rick Bolander on School Guard: kajeet's Latest Tool for Child Access Management

With a focus on providing parents with the tools they need to supervise their children's mobile phone usage, kajeet, Inc., has revolutionized the smartphone industry with innovative products that empower kids and parents alike. The company's newest service, School Guard, brings these tools to administrators and teachers interested in better managing bring-your-own-device programs. Many schools have encouraged students to use their tablets and mobile devices in order to enrich the learning environment, and kajeet has made it possible for schools to manage students' usage of Android-based devices by creating Internet access policies. School Guard enables schools to approach Internet filtering with a granular methodology, providing the flexibility necessary for administrators to tailor the system to their own needs. Using kajeet's technology, teachers can create individualized policies for their own classrooms, and parents can join with their children's schools to manage Internet access at home. For more information on kajeet, visit the company's website at www.kajeet.com. About Rick Bolander: A Member of the Board of Directors for kajeet, Rick Bolander also serves as the Managing Partner and cofounder of Gabriel Venture Partners, a venture capital firm focused on innovative technologies and companies in the information technology sector.

Rick Bolander: Driving Early-Stage Success at Persistent Systems

With a reputation for nurturing successful early-stage ventures in the information technology, clean tech, and communications spheres, Rick Bolander serves as Co-founder and Managing Director of Gabriel Venture Partners (GVP). He has sat on the boards of a number of funded ventures, including IPWireless, NetScaler, Tut Systems, Inc., and Persistent Systems Ltd.

An established India-headquartered firm focused on technology services and the software-product life cycle, Persistent Systems has partnered with diverse technology brands over the past 22 years. The firm collaborates integrally with corporate clients to develop top-tier solutions spanning the consumer products, health care, life sciences, and financial sectors. Services extend through all stages of a product’s life cycle, including concept, design, engineering, and ongoing support and maintenance. The firm has entered into high-profile partnerships with industry leaders such as IBM Corp., Microsoft, and Cisco Systems, Inc.

With GVP, Rick Bolander is currently active on the boards of the tween-focused safe mobile education and mobile-services provider Kajeet, Inc., and digital textbook rental firm Chegg Inc.

Objectives of the National Venture Capital Association: An Overview

As cofounder and Managing Partner of Gabriel Venture Partners in Redwood Shores, California, Rick Bolander takes part in several key conferences each year and is involved with numerous industry groups. Among these, Rick Bolander holds membership in the National Venture Capital Association, the foremost trade organization representing the interests of venture capital professionals across the United States.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the National Venture Capital Association plays an active role in lobbying efforts for individuals and companies in the venture capital industry and frequently argues on behalf of innovation in public policy debates. With a focus on the ongoing development of professional and ethical standards, increased cooperation between corporate and governmental entities, and new sources of revenue for the economy, the National Venture Capital Association helps venture capitalists lead the country into a renaissance of ideas and industry.

Kajeet Featured in a September Issue of the New York Post

by Rick Bolander

Among kajeet’s recent accomplishments, it earned featured coverage in the September 1, 2012, issue of the New York Post, which praised the mobile service as one of “the hottest gadgets for kids this season.” Citing the service’s low cost, global positioning system tracking, and time-limiting function, the New York Post declared kajeet the favorite no-contract, Android-powered smartphone among parents and children alike. The article represents the latest in a string of victories for kajeet, as it takes the child- and parent-friendly phone service into the future.

About the Author: A Board of Directors member for kajeet since 2007, venture capitalist and early-stage technology backer Rick Bolander has facilitated the company’s growth from a promising concept in safe parenting into one of the most highly touted pay-as-you-go mobile phone services for children. Indeed, Rick Bolander and his colleagues have steered kajeet toward a number of key partnerships, media appearances, and professional hires to foster the company’s continued development in mobile markets in the United States and abroad.

Kajeet Announces Free Mobile Hotspot Access

Based in Northern California, Rick Bolander co-founded Gabriel Venture Partners. An active technology investor, Bolander serves on the Boards of Directors for multiple enterprises, including Kajeet, a cell phone provider that offers parental controls.

Kajeet furnishes an array of mobile devices to its customers, including Android models. Individuals who purchased Android units and Kajeet mobile web add-ons may now connect to the Internet on the go and, even more usefully, may use their Kajeet devices as wireless hotspots. Kajeet users can share this wireless connection with nearby friends and family who are using other devices such as laptops or tablets. This mobile hotspot is secure and password-protected, and connecting to the web in this fashion costs nothing extra. Of course, the device holder must have previously purchased a Kajeet mobile web add-on and is responsible for data usage under his or her normal monthly plan.

The Android devices eligible to take advantage of this feature include the Samsung Replenish, Galaxy tablet, Conquer, Kyocera Milano, LG Optimus S, and the HTC Evo Shift.

Rick Bolander: Chegg for Good and Music Education

A Director on the Board for Chegg, a textbook rental and educational services company, Rick Bolander has advised the company in its efforts to attract college student clients. Along with providing tutoring assistance and an online marketplace, Chegg conducts community service and outreach under Chegg for Good.

In August of 2012, Chegg announced a contest for college students which offered the opportunity to win money for their music departments as well as a concert from singer Taylor Swift. The company encouraged participants to vote for their universities every day for a month to win the tally. The schools with the top five volumes of votes will each receive a $10,000 grant for their music departments. The winning institution earns the chance to host Taylor Swift.

In announcing the contest, Chegg cited the benefits of music education, including a stronger ability to communicate, a greater sense of camaraderie with classmates, and qualities of cooperation and self-confidence.

Kajeet and the Community: DC SCORES

By Rick Bolander

This past July, Kajeet continued its support of children in the local community by providing resources for free soccer and arts camps for children in the greater Washington, D.C., area through DC SCORES. The 2012 Couch to Camp program provided the opportunity for about 200 kids to play together, discover the value of teamwork, and get great exercise.

On one of the camp days, the Kajeet staff spent time with children and counselors involved with the program. The day began with an educational scavenger hunt around the National Gallery of Art, which taught participants about their cultural heritage and the future of art. Later, children, counselors, and Kajeet staff went to the National Mall for a game of pick-up soccer, which let the kids stretch their legs and enjoy the beauty of the nation’s capital.

DC SCORES works with schools throughout Washington, D.C., to teach children the value of cooperation and the importance of physical fitness while instilling a sense of community. Individuals can learn more about the organization at americascores.org.

About Rick Bolander: A member of the Kajeet board, Rick Bolander is the Managing Director of Gabriel Venture Partners. Outside of work, Mr. Bolander maintains a dedication to philanthropy and supports a range of worthy causes.

Chegg: Helping Students Lower Textbook Expenses By Rick Bolander

Rick Bolander, co-founder and Managing Partner of Northern California-based Gabriel Venture Partners, has assisted in funding and developing numerous start-up companies that have gone on to achieve success. Among these, Mr. Bolander invested in and sits on the board of Chegg Inc., a textbook rental company that translates commitment to education into action. Chegg has saved students significant amounts of money via its streamlined online operations.

Paying for college has become even more challenging now that publishers routinely include expensive material such as CD-ROMs, guides, and workbooks that professors may not even require. It is not uncommon for a single college-level textbook to cost well in excess of $100. Multiply that by several courses per semester, and it is understandable that students are actively seeking more cost-efficient strategies. Recent research has shown that a typical undergraduate at a private college spends more than $1,200 for textbooks alone.

Chegg’s rental program provides a highly effective alternative to the traditional practice of purchasing new textbooks at the beginning of a semester. Comparison shopping websites show that renting a book from Chegg often costs half as much as the cheapest new or used book from other sites. And similar to the popular Netflix DVD rental service, Chegg even provides a box for students to use when they return their books. For more information, visit Chegg.com.

Chegg for Good Visits Africa by Rick Bolander

Many know Chegg as the online portal that connects students with academic resources. However, aside from providing homework help, course information, textbook options, and scholarship connections, Chegg also gives students a way to make a difference. Through the company’s philanthropic arm, Chegg for Good, eight college students earned the opportunity to make an educational visit to South Africa and Zambia this past July.

Chegg For Good teamed up with rock superstar Bono’s international advocacy group, ONE, to help students learn firsthand about foreign aid, advocacy, and service. To investigate global health issues, agricultural challenges, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa, the group met with student advocates, young local entrepreneurs and emerging leaders.

As they return to campus, these social entrepreneurs have pledged to use this new knowledge to foster awareness of these and other serious issues faced by millions of African students, such as extreme poverty and lack of access to first-rate educational institutions. These students are to be commended for their dedication to becoming catalysts for positive change.

About the Author: A member of Chegg’s Board of Directors, Rick Bolander consulted for the African Communications Group in Tanzania early in his career. Bolander is the Managing Director of Gabriel Venture Partners, based in Redwood Shores, California.

The Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan: The Power of Ideas

Created within the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering, the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) empowers both entrepreneurial spirit and the kind of inventions that change lives, grow the economy, and drive innovation. Among the many benefits of CFE are opportunities for students to consult with alumni in the start-up world, receive grants that allow them to pursue their ideas and concepts, and connect with the greater Michigan entrepreneurial network. In only four academic years, attendance in the entrepreneurship program managed by CFE has leapt from 14 students to 216, and nearly 100 companies have been founded within the program during that time.

The Advisory Board at CFE lends support by providing guidance, strategic advice, and tactical oversight for all of the Center’s activities. By enabling connections for the Center and supporting its fundraising efforts, the Board assures that CFE will give power to ideas for a long time to come.

About the Author: The co-founder and Managing Director of Gabriel Venture Partners, Rick Bolander holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Michigan. Today, he continues to maintain ties with the school as a member of the Advisory Board of the CFE.