Eckart Wintzen

Eckart Wintzen was a Dutch entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and environmentalist. He was known for founding software company BSO/Origin,[2] co-founding Ex'pression College,[3] and contributing to the success of Ben & Jerry's Benelux,[4][5] Wired,[5] and Greenwheels.[5]

Eckart Wintzen
Eckart Wintzen (right) in 2007
BornApril 19, 1939[1]
DiedMarch 21, 2008(2008-03-21) (aged 68)
France
CitizenshipNetherlands
Alma materLeiden University
Occupations
  • Entrepreneur
  • venture capitalist
Known forBSO/Origin, Ex'tent, Ex'pression College
Website"Ex'tent". Archived from the original on 13 September 2017.

In his own words, he wanted to "put technology at the service of inter-human warmth."[4]

He died of heart failure in 2008,[5] while on vacation in France.[6]

Early life and education

Wintzen was born in a fishing village in Holland, and later studied math and physics at Leiden University.[4]

In the early 1960s, he served a mandatory stint in the Dutch army, where he first developed an interest in computers.[2]

Business career

BSO/Origin

In 1976, Wintzen founded the software company BSO, which was later renamed Origin.[6] In 1995, the privately held company had 6,500 employees and 100 offices in 24 countries, with global revenues above $500 million. The firm's clients included Volvo, Texaco, Eastman Kodak, Procter & Gamble, and Motorola.[2] In 1996, the company merged with Philips Communications and Processing Services, and ready to move on to other ventures, Wintzen chose not to stay onboard after the merger.[2]

Ex'tent

After retiring from Origin in 1996, Wintzen decided to put the profits to good use. He founded green venture capital firm Ex'tent,[7] which offered management and financial support to small companies with philanthropic missions.[2][5]

Ex'pression College

In 1999, Wintzen co-founded Ex'pression College, a private for-profit college for digital arts, in Emeryville, California. Initially, the school was funded exclusively by Wintzen, who invested roughly $20 million into the project.[8] Wintzen said his support of the school was part of a plan to participate in the "immaterial economy."[3] Along with the management team, Wintzen actively participated in the development of the long-term vision and goals for the school.[6]

Advising

Eckart advised many entrepreneurs, and served on the boards of commercial and non-profit organizations including the Dianne Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Carbon Disclosure Project.[9]

References
  1. "Register of Condolence". extent.nl. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. Van Bakel, Rogier (1 November 1996). "Origin's Original". Wired. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  3. Levy, Dan (2 June 2002). "Dutch entrepreneur tunes into the futurGenius for self-expression / A Dutchman wrote the check, and he gets to pontificate at a hatchery for new-media arts in Emeryville". SFGATE. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  4. "McLuhan Program: Eckart Wintzen". University of Toronto. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008.
  5. Dylan, Tweney (28 March 2008). "Maverick IT Entrepreneur Eckart Wintzen Dies". Wired. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  6. "Ex'pression College Mourns Passing of Founder Eckart Wintzen". Mix. 27 March 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  7. "This is Ex'tent". extent.nl. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  8. Tanaka, Wendy (4 January 1999). "Ex'pression Center for New Media, A new school in Emeryville, wants to create career-ready professionals with a fast-paced program". SFGATE. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  9. "Eckart Wintzen (1939 - 2008)". extent.nl. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
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