Phil Hill, is a successful entrepreneur from Atlanta, GA. He has extensive experience in the technology, non-profit sector and consumer products industry. He has been involved in multiple successful start-ups and is skilled at building organizations from the concept stage through acquisition.
Currently, Phil is CEO of OpenStudy.com. OpenStudy is a social study network for students to ask questions, get help, collaborate and meet others learning similar subjects. Founded by professors and students from Georgia Tech and Emory University, and funded by the NationalScience Foundation and the Georgia Research Alliance, Openstudy believes that students can teach students through peer-to-peer learning. Kinda like Facebook meets match.com but for learning. The company also provides colleges, schools and publishers of online educational content, such as e-text books, a way to create social study groups and micro study communities. We’re currently helping MIT build a study community for their 9 million OpenCourseWare students (go have a look).
In 1996, he co-founded an Internet based, music-downloading software company – NetZip. Hill established a business model based on software product sales and advertising revenue, and under his guidance the company established a network of top-tier partnerships with some of the industry’s most recognized names, such as Netscape, CNet and Real Networks. When the company was acquired by Real Networks in Jan. 2000 for $267m it was profitable and supported 15m users.
As part of the acquisition by Real Networks, Hill relocated to Seattle was given the task of developing an offering to facilitate the legal distribution of digital music – “a legalized Napster”. The service proved to be an early forerunner of some of today’s most recognized music subscription offerings.
When Hill returned to Atlanta in 2001 he worked pro-bono for a year as fulltime interim Executive Director of a non-profit called Soccer in the Streets where he introduced a new vision to get at-risk city kids off the streets and away from drugs and crime. Hill currently serves as Chairman of the organization as it positively changes the lives of thousands of at-risk kids in 19 cities around the US.
In 2003, Hill co-founded a new technology company called Vocalocity (then Zivva), a company that provides Internet phone services to small businesses. As one of the “new-wave” telecom start-ups in the VoIP space, Vocalocity experienced rapid growth and has established itself as one of the nations leading VoIP companies in its market. Hill was named as one of the Top 20 VoIP Influencers of 2007 acknowledging his involvement in shaping the VoIP industry.
Prior to his arrival in the U.S., Hill graduated from the University of Wales in the UK with a BA Honor in Economics and served as marketing manager for the Coca-Cola Company in London from 1989-1993. After back-packing around the world he settled in Atlanta, GA where he currently resides. As well as being an avid soccer player, Hill has spent time with an Improv Comedy troupe and produced a documentary on inner city kids.
Hill also assists emerging technology companies in developing their offering and business. Some recent projects he has worked on include:
- OpenStudy.com – a social learning network for students. Think webex-meets-facebook-meets-match.com! As of Jan-2010, Phil became CEO.
- Fizzbee.com – TAG photos with interactive media
- SoccerStreets.org – Life skills for at-risk kids
- Go to the Projects tab to see more details.
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