Our Team: Woody Benson
Who Woody is:
CEO advisor, extension of management team, professional director
What he looks for in a CEO:
Courage, vision, passion, ability to communicate
How he operates:
In business mode, working with companies on sales, marketing, business development, positioning
Where he invests:
Digital living technologies, mobile and on-demand software
Companies he directs:
LogMeIn, KickApps, Worldwide Biggies, 5:1, Expo and Conduit Labs. Formerly on the board of Salesnet, acquired by RightNow Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNOW) and Maven Networks, acquired by Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO). and M:Metrics acuired by comScore.
When he’s available:
7x24
What he admires in co-investors:
Calm under fire, long-term thinking, operational expertise, business development contacts
Grew Up In:
Swampscott, MA
Favorite Pastimes:
Golfing, boating, family, Red Sox, Capital Grill
Favorite Blogs:
gigaom.com, paidContent.org, techmeme.com
Conferences Attended:
"All Things Digital", Rutberg Wireless Influencers, DEMO, 3GSM, The Future of TV
Michael Simon, CEO, LogMeIn
How does Woody support the company?
Investors must have value to add. The ability to tap into Woody’s domain and marketing expertise is paramount. He is a strategist and adds enormously to the areas of positioning, marketing fundamentals and communicating.
Woody has always been a proponent of the underlying value that’s in LogMeIn. His willingness to travel to board meetings in Hungary or meet with a potential partner at CTIA are just a few examples of the level of commitment he makes to his companies. He is tireless in terms of helping make introductions where needed.
Board members and investors must have drive and commit to spending the time required to support their companies. Woody is at the highest end of the scale in terms of how much time he’s willing to devote when we need it, both on cycle and off. He never shows up at board meeting expecting to be updated. He does the leg work and the prep required to keep things moving forward.
How do you work together?
Woody is always on call for us and affords me the opportunity to share ideas over breakfast on a regular basis. I enjoy speaking with him. He’s a spectacularly good communicator.
Woody works differently than others in the venture world. He’s a mentor and a coach. He tries to share, not impose the skills he accumulated as a CEO. He makes it a practice to invite company leaders to his home for informal discussions around the business. He establishes close and natural relationships.
He was the first to get on board and have faith in LogMeIn. Most importantly, he’s delivered what he said he would.
