{{Short description|American entrepreneur and academic}} {{Infobox person | name = Matthew Pittinsky | image = File:Matthew Pittinsky.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = CEO of Parchment | known_for = Co-founder of Blackboard Inc along with Michael Chasen, Stephen Gilfus, Daniel Cane | alma_mater = American University, Harvard Graduate School of Education }}
'''Matthew Pittinsky''' is an American technology entrepreneur, educator and academic. He is the former CEO of Parchment and a co-founder of Blackboard Inc. Pittinsky is a visiting scholar at Arizona State University.
== Early life ==
The youngest of four children, Matthew Pittinsky grew up in a family of educators.<ref name=Bruno01/><ref name=Winkler13/> His father worked as a university administrator, and was the president of the local school board.<ref name=Layne99>{{cite news |title=Matthew Pittinsky |author=Anni Layne |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/61746/matthew-pittinsky |work=Fast Company |date=31 October 1999 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=Sivak/> Pittinsky's mother was a teacher at a public elementary school.<ref name=JewishNews12/>
As a child, Pittinsky was interested in technology and used his family's Atari 800 to program in BASIC and later learned to program on an Atari 1040ST.<ref name=Bruno01/><ref name=Pittinsky>{{cite book |last=Pittinsky |first=Matthew |editor-first=Pittinsky |editor-last=Matthew |title=The Wired Tower: Perspectives on the Impact of the Internet on Higher Education |url=https://archive.org/details/wiredtowerperspe00pitt |url-access=limited |publisher=Financial Times Prentice Hall |date=July 1, 2002 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/wiredtowerperspe00pitt/page/n221 201]–202 |chapter=Chapter 8: Five Great Promises of E-Learning |isbn=978-0130428295}}</ref><ref name=Kelleher11/> He was also active in Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle Scout.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://troop214.a-cal.com/document/25576 |title=Troop 214 Eagle Scouts |work=troop214.a-cal.com |publisher=Boy Scouts of America, Troop 214 |access-date=26 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125024354/http://troop214.a-cal.com/document/25576 |archive-date=25 January 2010 }}</ref> Pittinsky wanted to become a teacher from an early age,<ref name=Sivak>{{cite news |title=The education process is being transformed from chalkboard-intensive to utilization of e-Learning capabilities |author=Cathy Sivak |url=http://www.education.org/interviews/pittinsky.html |work=Education.org |access-date=26 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=Gibbs/> though he initially struggled as a student and had to repeat failed classes in summer school.<ref name=Aronson14>{{cite news |title=Matthew Pittinsky, CEO at Parchment |author= Isaak Aronson |url=http://edexecutives.tumblr.com/post/79172725641/matthew-pittinsky-ceo-at-parchment |work=The Perspective |date=10 March 2014 |access-date=26 June 2014}}</ref> After high school, he attended American University with the goal of becoming a social studies teacher. At American, Pittinsky was student body president his senior year. He graduated in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in political science.<ref name=Kelleher11>{{cite news |title=Blackboard Founders' Roots at American University |author=Anne Kelleher |url=http://www.american.edu/americantoday/campus-news/20110701-Blackboard-Pittinsky-Chasen.cfm |work=American Today |date=1 July 2011 |access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=FinancialExpress>{{cite news |title=Net software for entrepreneurs |url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/19990110/01055375p.html |work=The Financial Express |date=1999 |access-date=30 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=WashingtonPost98>{{cite news |title=Matthew Pittinsky, 25, CEO of Blackboard Inc. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/washtech/features/new/ceo/pittinsky.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=1998 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> While at American, Pittinsky met Michael Chasen, who would later become his business partner. The two met after Pittinsky borrowed a printer from Chasen. They later became roommates and fraternity brothers.<ref name=Gibbs>{{cite news |title=Blackboard Rules: Advice from Two of the Smartest Kids in the Class |author=Hope Katz Gibbs |url=http://www.beinkandescent.com/tips-for-entrepreneurs/323/the-magic-of-blackboard-inc |work=Beinkandescent |access-date=17 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320071314/http://www.beinkandescent.com/tips-for-entrepreneurs/323/the-magic-of-blackboard-inc |archive-date=20 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Burn06>{{cite news |title=Agent of Change: Blackboard CEO Michael Chasen erases the old way of learning |author=Timothy Burn |url=http://www.smartceo.com/sites/default/files/May06.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622164812/http://www.smartceo.com/sites/default/files/May06.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-06-22 |work=SmartCEO |date=May 2006 |access-date=17 June 2014 }}</ref> After graduating from American, Pittinsky earned a Master's of Education in 1995 from Harvard Graduate School of Education.<ref name=Bruno01>{{cite news |title=Washtech.com: The E-learning Revolution |author=Michael Bruno |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/liveonline/01/washtech/special/washtech_blackboard120501.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=5 December 2001 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=Kelleher11/><ref name=Gibbs/>
== Career ==
=== Early career ===
While at Georgetown, Pittinsky developed software for online college admissions applications with Chasen. They called the venture Search and Apply Group.<ref name=Kelleher11/> Pittinsky and Chasen were unable to sell the idea to universities and later abandoned the project.<ref name=Gibbs/><ref name=Burn06/> In 1995, Pittinsky took a job at KPMG Peat Marwick as a higher education consultant. Chasen was hired by KPMG the following year and together they created technology solutions for universities. In 1996, while jogging along the Charles River near Harvard, Pittinsky had the idea to create online software for course instruction.
Pittinsky and Chasen left KPMG to start Blackboard in 1997. They used computers loaned from their boss and also stole desk chairs by using them to move the borrowed computers out of the office.<ref name=Gibbs/>
=== Blackboard Inc ===
Pittinsky founded Blackboard LLC, with Chasen in 1997. At the time of the company's foundation, it operated as a consulting group to the IMS e-Learning standards project, where Pittinsky was an early member.<ref name=Bruno01/><ref name=Wirthman12/> In 1998, Blackboard LLC merged with CourseInfo LLC, an online learning software company developed by Cornell University students Stephen Gilfus and Daniel Cane, to create Blackboard Inc.<ref name=WashingtonPost98/><ref name=Burn06/><ref name=Darcy09>{{cite news |title=Years at Blackboard an education that turns employees into entrepreneurs |author=Darlene Darcy |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/08/03/story2.html?page=all |work=Washington D.C. Business Journal |date=9 August 2009 |access-date=28 July 2014}}</ref> CourseInfo had already developed a product and found a market fit by selling to 15 premier institutions. The company renamed CourseInfo's Interactive Learning Network Product into Blackboard CourseInfo.<ref name=Kelleher11/> Between 1997 and 2008, Pittinsky worked in several roles at the company, including chairman and CEO, co-CEO, and executive chairman.<ref name=Aronson14/><ref name=DallasBusiness02/> He was responsible for building the Blackboard brand along with Chasen through conferences, list-serves, marketing and networking.<ref name=Layne99/><ref name=Gibbs/><ref name=Burn06/> Pittinsky also shaped corporate strategy and product strategy, and oversaw the company's relations with the education community.<ref name=Bruno01/>
In 2002, while at Blackboard, Pittinsky co-wrote and edited a book called ''The Wired Tower'' on e-learning and the internet's impact on education.<ref name=TCMedia02>{{cite news |title=The Wired Tower: Perspectives on the Impact of the Internet on Higher Education |url=http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news.htm?articleId=4266 |work=TC Media Center |date=1 December 2002 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Pittinsky helped take Blackboard public in June 2004. The first day of trading raised US$70 million for the company, becoming the second most successful technology IPO of the year.<ref name=Burn06/><ref name=Wirthman12/>
Pittinsky resigned from his executive duties in 2008, yet remained chairman of Blackboard's board of directors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pearlstein |first=Steven |date=November 17, 2012 |title=Blackboard's departing founder, an opportunist who made his own luck |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/blackboards-departing-founder-an-opportunist-who-made-his-own-luck/2012/11/17/0663816e-2f7f-11e2-9f50-0308e1e75445_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |quote=And in 2008, Pittinsky decided to give up his executive duties and pursue a long-delayed academic career while remaining a Blackboard director and close Chasen friend.}}</ref> Pittinsky and Chasen sold Blackboard to private-equity firm Providence Equity Partners in 2011, following a $2 billion valuation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bogage |first=Jacob |date=August 22, 2015 |title=Blackboard loses high-profile clients as its rivals school it in innovation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/blackboard-loses-high-profile-clients-as-students-gripe-about-its-design/2015/08/21/1fd91708-4511-11e5-8e7d-9c033e6745d8_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |quote=Founders Michael Chasen and Matthew Pittinsky led Blackboard to the Nasdaq in 2004 after a barnstorming run grabbing top-tier clients. By 2011, after the company amassed a $2 billion valuation, they sold the company to private-equity firm Providence Equity Partners.}}</ref>
=== Academia ===
Pittinsky left Blackboard in 2008 after completing his Ph.D. in Sociology of Education from Columbia University through Teachers College. After earning his Ph.D., he was hired as an assistant professor of sociology at Arizona State University in January 2009.<ref name=Wirthman12>{{cite news |title=Matthew Pittinsky found his formula for success — times two |author=Lisa Wirthman |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2012/06/29/matthew-pittinsky-found-his-formula.html?page=all |work=Denver Business Journal |date=29 June 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=Rivero12/><ref name=Parry12/> His academic research specialized in economic sociology, sociology of education, and social network analysis.<ref name=Winkler13/><ref name=Rivero12/>
While at Arizona State, Pittinsky created a research project that used data collected from student ID cards to track student transactions and understand student social and academic activities.<ref name=Parry12>{{cite news |title=Big Data on Campus |author=Marc Parry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/education/edlife/colleges-awakening-to-the-opportunities-of-data-mining.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |work=The New York Times |date=18 July 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> As of August 2024, he remains a non tenure-track visiting scholar of sociology at Arizona State.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matthew Pittinsky: Visiting Scholar/Faculty/Researcher, The Sanford School |url=https://search.asu.edu/profile/1241757 |publisher=Arizona State University}}</ref><ref name=Winkler13>{{cite news |title=Matthew Pittinsky of Parchment - Today's Campus Innovation Interview Series |author=Kirsten Winkler |url=http://todayscampus.uberflip.com/h/i/53089-matthew-pittinsky-of-parchment-todays-campus-innovation-interview-series |work=Today's Campus |date=25 April 2013 |access-date=25 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140815172556/http://todayscampus.uberflip.com/h/i/53089-matthew-pittinsky-of-parchment-todays-campus-innovation-interview-series |archive-date=15 August 2014 }}</ref>
=== Parchment ===
While at Blackboard, Pittinsky became interested in creating a company to help users manage academic credentials.<ref name=Wirthman12/><ref name=Rivero12>{{cite news |title=Matthew Pittinsky Unleashes the Power of Parchment |author=Victor Rivero |url=http://edtechdigest.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/interview-matthew-pittinsky-unleashes-the-power-of-parchment/ |work=EdTech Digest |date=10 September 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> He was later introduced to Docufide, a company founded in 2003 that specialized in the online transfer of academic transcripts from high schools to colleges and universities.<ref name=Wirthman12/>
In January 2011, Pittinsky invested in Docufide and was hired as the company's CEO.<ref name=Wirthman12/><ref name=SoCalTech11>{{cite news |title=Docufide Raises $4.5M, Taps Blackboard Founder As CEO |url=http://www.socaltech.com/docufide_raises_4__m_taps_blackboard_founder_as_ceo/s-0033813.html |work=socaltech.com |date=February 9, 2011 |access-date=28 July 2014}}</ref> In April 2011, the company rebranded as Parchment and Pittinsky helped launch Parchment.com, the company's consumer site, later that year.<ref name=JewishNews12/><ref name=Rivero12/>
Under Pittinsky's leadership, the platform has grown from 800,000 users in 2011 to approximately 1.6 million users in 2014.<ref name=Wirthman12/><ref name=Winkler14>{{cite news |title=Parchment Raises $10 Million Follow-on Investment |author=Kirsten Winkler |url=http://www.edukwest.com/hedline-parchment-raises-10-million-follow-investment/ |work=Edukwest |date=19 March 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> He has led the company through multiple rounds of financing which, as of 2020, have brought in a total of $66 million in investments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Millward |first=Wade Tyler |date=February 13, 2020 |title=Parchment Merges with Credentials Solutions to Take On Transcripts and Certifications |url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-02-13-parchment-merges-with-credentials-solutions-to-take-on-transcripts-and-certifications |work=EdSurge}}</ref> He has also helped expand Parchment's services to allow users to store and transfer transcripts, use academic data such as test scores and GPA to find matching institutions, and determine their likelihood of acceptance.<ref name=Wirthman12/><ref name=Rivero12/>
During his time at Parchment, he became an advocate for the adoption of Postsecondary Achievement Reports (PAR), which are documents that include both traditional academic records, such as grades, and information about student's development and learning experiences.<ref name=Pittinsky14>{{cite news |title=Extending the Transcript |author=Matthew Pittinsky |url=http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2014/02/10/essay-calls-broader-concept-transcripts#sthash.ixbucJPj.dpbs |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=10 February 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Pittinsky was CEO of Parchment until 2020, when it was acquired by Brentwood Associates. He continued as CEO under Brentwood from 2020 through the sale to Instructure in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The Edge: Behind the $800-million deal for an unsexy ed-tech company|url=https://www.chronicle.com/newsletter/the-edge/2024-06-20|date=June 20, 2024|first=Goldie|last=Blumenstyk|work=The Chronicle of Higher Education|issn=0009-5982|oclc=1554535}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scottsdale.org/opinion/candidate-questionnaire-matthew-pittinsky/article_c7ca2774-712e-11ef-a1fd-47c15d767b90.html|title=Candidate Questionnaire: Matthew Pittinsky|date=September 12, 2024|work=Scottsdale Progress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/kkr-francisco-partners-vying-acquire-instructure-sources-say-2024-07-03/|title=KKR, Francisco Partners vying to acquire Instructure, sources say|publisher=Reuters|date=July 3, 2024|first=Milana|last=Vinn}}</ref>
== Awards and recognition ==
While at Blackboard, Pittinsky won several awards. In 2000, he was awarded a "Young Innovator" award from the Kilby Awards Foundation and an Ernst & Young award for "Entrepreneur of the Year for Emerging Companies in Washington, D.C."<ref name=DallasBusiness02>{{cite news |title=Blackboard Inc.'s execs honored |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2000/10/30/daily14.html |work=Dallas Business Journal |date=2 November 2002 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> He was included in ''Washingtonian'' magazine's “100 People to Watch” list in 1999 and named to ''Washington Techway'' magazine's list of Top Under-30 Technology Executives in 2000.<ref name=Bruno01/><ref name=Means99>{{cite news|title=100 People to Watch |author=Howard Means |url=http://www.washingtonian.com/people/people_to_watch/index.html |work=The Washingtonian |date=1999 |access-date=25 June 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://archive.today/20000229201827/http://www.washingtonian.com/people/people_to_watch/index.html |archive-date=29 February 2000 }}</ref> In 2001, he was named "Visionary of the Year" by the Northern Virginia Technology Council.<ref name=Bruno01/>
In 2012, Pittinsky received the President's Medal of Excellence from Teachers College.<ref name=EducationUpdate12>{{cite news |title=President Susan Fuhrman Presents Awards to Distinguished Alums at Teachers College |url=http://www.educationupdate.com/archives/2012/MAY/HTML/col-susanfuhrman.html |work=Education Update |date=May–June 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Pittinsky lives in Arizona with his wife and three children. He is of Jewish descent and is a member of Congregation Beth Israel.<ref name=JewishNews12>{{cite news |title=Business Profile: Matthew Pittinsky, CEO |url=http://www.jewishaz.com/localnews_features/matthew-pittinsky-ceo/article_2f6694df-6a3f-5a45-b8e5-5843a2e166d7.html |work=Jewish News of Greater Phoenix |date=10 August 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Active as an angel investor, Pittinsky has invested in companies including SocialRadar, Interfolio,<ref name=Flook13>{{cite news |title=SocialRadar raises $12.75 million from NEA, Grotech, Leonsis and more |author=Bill Flook |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/techflash/2013/06/michael-chasens-socialradar-lands.html?page=all |work=Washington Business Journal |date=19 June 2013 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Picmonic,<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2018/03/22/ed-tech-firm-parchment-grows-scottsdale-office.html|title=Ed-tech firm Parchment grows Scottsdale office|journal=Phoenix Business Journal|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=March 23, 2018|first=Hayley|last=Ringle|quote=Pittinsky has also invested in several local companies as an angel investor, including with Picmonic}}</ref> and Stellic.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.qatar.cmu.edu/news/the-peninsula-alumni-startup-stellic-is-a-unique-story-of-entrepreneurial-success/|title=Alumni startup, Stellic, is a unique story of entrepreneurial success|date=August 14, 2022|work=The Peninsula|via=Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar|accessdate=March 13, 2024|quote=Just recently, Stellic secured $11M investment led by Reach Capital along with 15 edtech founder-investors including ... Matt Pittinsky (Blackboard/Parchment).}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://assets.entrepreneur.com/magazine/2022-05-entrepreneur-middle-east.pdf|title=Built for Students (By Students)|journal=Entrepreneur|issn=0163-3341|first=Pamella|last=de Leon|page=77|date=May 2022}}</ref> Pittinsky is on the boards of American University<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.american.edu/trustees/current-trustees.cfm|title=Current Trustees|publisher=American University|accessdate=March 12, 2024}}</ref> and New Classrooms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newclassrooms.org/leadership/|title=Leadership|date=25 February 2021 |publisher=New Classrooms|accessdate=March 12, 2024}}</ref> In addition to Blackboard and Parchment,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parchment.com/company/leadership/|title=Leadership|quote=He currently serves on the Boards of American University, New Classrooms, and Parchment, and previously served on the Boards of Blackboard, CampusLogic, High Meadows Graduate School of Teaching and Learning, The Institute for Citizens & Scholars, and Picmonic.|accessdate=March 12, 2024}}</ref> he has been on the boards of The Institute for Citizens & Scholars (formerly the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation),<ref name=Aronson14/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://citizensandscholars.org/who-we-are/team/board-of-trustees/|title=Board of Trustees|publisher=The Institute for Citizens & Scholars|accessdate=March 12, 2024}}</ref> CampusLogic, the High Meadows Graduate School of Teaching and Learning (formerly the Woodrow Wilson Graduate School of Teaching and Learning), and Picmonic.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y5YqEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22matthew+pittinsky%22+%22campuslogic%22&pg=PT333|title=The Great Skills Gap: Optimizing Talent for the Future of Work|publisher=Stanford University Press|date=June 8, 2021|isbn=978-1-5036-2807-6 |editor-first1=Christine|editor-last1=Farrugia|editor-first2=Jason|editor-last2=Wingard|accessdate=March 12, 2024}}</ref> Pittinsky was elected to the board of the Scottsdale Unified School District in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scottsdale.org/city_news/lewis-pittinsky-sharkey-to-join-susd-board/article_28cc4502-a6c7-11ef-9b44-cf900ce408da.html|title=Lewis, Pittinsky, Sharkey to join SUSD board|first=Tom|last=Scanlan|work=Scottsdale Progress|date=November 20, 2024}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.parchment.com/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pittinsky, Matthew}} Category:American University School of Public Affairs alumni Category:American chief executives in technology Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni Category:Teachers College, Columbia University alumni