{{short description|American internet businessman|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{promotional|date=February 2015}} {{Infobox person | name = Andrew Conru | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | education = Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology<br/> Stanford University | occupation = Businessman | known for = | title = CEO, FriendFinder Networks Inc. | term = | predecessor = | successor = | boards = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | website = {{URL|http://conru.com/}} }}
'''Andrew Conru''' is an American internet businessman who has founded e-commerce, advertising, online dating, and personal ad sites including W3, AdKnowledge, WebPersonals, FriendFinder, and Adult FriendFinder. He is the CEO of FriendFinder Networks Inc.
==Education and early career==
Conru grew up in northwestern Indiana and attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, earning undergraduate degrees in economics and chemical engineering.<ref name="XBIZ">{{cite web|url=http://www.xbiz.com/articles/18715 |title=Hooking Up the World |publisher=XBIZ.com |date=2006-12-20 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> In 1991, he went to Stanford, receiving a doctorate in mechanical engineering.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://azstarnet.com/business/national-and-international/investors-spurn-profitable-risque-web-site/article_d22c5b44-1b1d-554e-ae55-ca681731e420.html |title=Investors spurn profitable, risque Web site |publisher=Azstarnet.com |date=2006-11-12 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref>
While there, he founded W3.com, an early interactive website development firm that was the first company to develop commercial software for membership management.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y24Xl59LZzgC&q=w3.com+conru&pg=PA214 |title=Political Communication Ethics: An Oxymoron? - Google Books |isbn=9780275964825 |accessdate=2014-06-25|editor1-first=Robert E. |editor1-last=Denton Jr. |year=2000 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.web2con.com/cs/web2con/view/e_spkr/1985 |title=Web 2.0 Conference |publisher=Web2con.com |date= |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> The company created PWS (Personal Web Site), an early customized advertising product used by Hewlett-Packard and Egghead Software.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/news/ad-management-tool-helps-determine-roi/77571/ |title=Ad Management Tool Helps Determine Roi | News - Advertising Age |publisher=Adage.com |date=1996-09-30 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> In 1997, the company released a product called AdOptimizer Network, the first centralized ad server, which allowed sites to manage advertising across a network of sites.<ref name="XBIZ"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/news/w3-unveils-product/3279/ |title=W3.Com unveils new product | News - Advertising Age |publisher=Adage.com |date=1997-03-25 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> He also founded Adknowledge, a web-based banner advertising company.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QiuJlGtVjM0C&q=andrew+conru+Adknowledge&pg=PA143 |title=Net Success Interviews - E. Loughane - Google Books |date= February 2005|isbn=9781411626980 |accessdate=2014-06-25|last1=Loughane |first1=E. |publisher=Lulu.com }}</ref> In 1994, Conru founded WebPersonals.com.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lovesites.com/andrew-conru |title=Andrew Conru Interview |publisher=Lovesites |date= 30 March 2010|accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> Considered to be one of the first internet dating sites, Conru sold the company in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stein |first=Joel |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/04/01/8403370/index.htm?postversion=2007033013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070408091959/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/04/01/8403370/index.htm?postversion=2007033013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 8, 2007 |title=Social networking's dirty side - April 1, 2007 |publisher=Money.cnn.com |date=2007-03-30 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref>
==FriendFinder==
In 1996, Conru launched FriendFinder.com, an early social networking site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlinepersonalswatch.com/news/2007/03/the_accidental_.html |title=The Accidental 'Friend' Finder - Online Personals Watch: News on the Dating Industry and Business |publisher=Online Personals Watch |date=2007-03-30 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> Days after the site went live, he found that members were posting nude photos pictures of themselves and using the site to seek out partners for adult activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/id/3078722/ns/today-today_tech/t/sex-firmsmine-riches-web-niches/#.U5mX1YXr2GI |title=Sex firms mine riches in Web niches - today > tech |publisher=TODAY.com |date=2002-09-29 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> As a result, he started Adult FriendFinder, followed by other niche dating sites, including Senior FriendFinder, Amigos.com, BigChurch.com, and Alt.com.<ref name="autogenerated2007">{{cite web|last=Stein |first=Joel |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/04/01/8403370/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509225204/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/04/01/8403370/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 9, 2007 |title=Social networking's dirty side - April 1, 2007 |publisher=Money.cnn.com |date=2007-03-30 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> By 2007, the websites had 260 million registered members combined, more than 500,000 affiliates and 450 employees.<ref name=autogenerated2007 /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-various-penthouse-idUSWNAS439320071212 |title=Penthouse buys AdultFriendFinder owner |publisher=Reuters |date=2007-12-12 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref>
In December 2007, Conru sold the company to Penthouse Media Group for $500 million, much of which came in the form of IOUs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/confirmed-penthouse-buys-adultfriendfinder-for-500-million/ |title=Confirmed: Penthouse Buys AdultFriendFinder For $500 Million |author=Duncan Riley |date=2007-12-11 |publisher=Techcrunch |accessdate=2009-06-08| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090601135926/http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/11/confirmed-penthouse-buys-adultfriendfinder-for-500-million/| archivedate= 1 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2010931488_sundaybuzz31.html |title=Business & Technology | Sex-site IPO to pay Seattle man's IOU | Seattle Times Newspaper |publisher=Seattletimes.com |date=2010-01-30 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> Penthouse later changed its name to FriendFinder Networks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-penthouse-bankruptcy-20130918-story.html |title=Penthouse publisher FriendFinder files for bankruptcy protection - Los Angeles Times |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2013-09-17 |accessdate=2014-06-10}}</ref> On September 17, 2013, FriendFinder Networks Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.<ref>{{cite web|last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |url=http://betabeat.com/2013/09/adultfriendfinder-bankruptcy/ |title=AdultFriendFinder Totally F*cked |publisher=Betabeat |date= |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Penthouse Publisher FriendFinder Files for Bankruptcy Protection|date=September 17, 2013|first=Marie|last=Beaudette| url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323527004579080821727792140 | work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{subscription required}}</ref> In December 2013, as the company emerged from bankruptcy protection, Conru once again gained control of the company, and is its CEO.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bathon |first=Michael |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-16/friendfinder-alters-reorganization-plan-to-win-court-ok.html |title=FriendFinder Alters Reorganization Plan to Win Court OK |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2013-12-16 |accessdate=2014-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/friendfindernetworks-bankruptcy-idUSL5N0HD0RO20130917 |title=Update 2-Penthouse publisher FriendFinder files for bankruptcy |work=Reuters |date= 17 September 2013|accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref>
== Charitable and political activity ==
In 2010, Conru launched the non-profit foundation ''Compute.org'', which awards internet and software startups with grants in amounts of $50,000{{En dash}}100,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2010/06/computeorg_looks_to_bankroll_startups_with_few_strings_attached.html |title=Compute.org looks to bankroll startups with few strings attached - Puget Sound Business Journal |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date=2010-06-25 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref> One startup that has been awarded is CityRoof.org, a social network for homeless people that helps the homeless connect with necessary resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://onlinepersonalswatch.com/2012/08/18/my-oops-moment-with-andrew-conru/ |title=My 'Oops' Moment With Andrew Conru |publisher=Online Personals Watch |date=2012-08-18 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref>
In 2014, he delivered the keynote address at AVN Internext Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/technology/FriendFinder-CEO-Andrew-Conru-to-Deliver-Internext-Keynote-540089.html |title=AVN - FriendFinder CEO Andrew Conru to Deliver Internext Keynote |publisher=Business.avn.com |date= |accessdate=2014-06-25}}</ref>
=== Human Diversity Foundation ===
In October 2024, Hope not Hate discovered through an undercover investigation that Conru had donated over $1 million to the far-right Human Diversity Foundation which publishes discredited ideas of eugenics and racism through podcasts, online magazines and dubious papers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pegg |first1=David |last2=Burgis |first2=Tom |last3=Devlin |first3=Hannah |last4=Wilson |first4=Jason |date=2024-10-16 |title=Revealed: International 'race science' network secretly funded by US tech boss |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/16/revealed-international-race-science-network-secretly-funded-by-us-tech-boss |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> In response to the investigation, Conru said he has stopped funding the HDF, remarking that he was "deeply troubled" by the findings of the investigation and stated he rejects "racism, discrimination or hateful ideology."<ref>Margo Vansynghel. [https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/visual-arts/seattle-arts-funder-after-guardian-report-disavows-hateful-ideology/ Seattle arts funder, after Guardian report, disavows ‘hateful ideology’]. ''Seattle Times''. 22 October 2024.</ref>
==See also== * Locals
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://conru.com/ Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conru, Andrew}} Category:Businesspeople from Indiana Category:American Internet company founders Category:Living people Category:Stanford University School of Engineering alumni Category:Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology alumni Category:American chief executives in technology Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:People involved in race and intelligence controversies