Heidi Messer

{{Infobox person

| name = Heidi Messer

| image = Heidi Messer (17345977456) (1).jpg

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|08|28}}

| birth_place = Westchester County, New York

| alma_mater = Brown University, Harvard Law School

| occupation = Co-founder, Chairman, Collective[i]
Co-founder, CEO, World Evolved
Co-founder, President and COO, LinkShare.

| website = {{URL|collectivei.com}}

}}

Heidi Messer (born August 28, 1969) is an American entrepreneur and investor who has founded several global businesses, most notably LinkShare and Collective[i].{{cite web|title=Steve Waskul interviews Heidi Messer, Co-founder and Chairman of Collective[i] |url=http://waskul.tv/portfolio/heidi-messer-collectivei/ |publisher=waskul.tv |access-date=February 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312225133/http://waskul.tv/portfolio/heidi-messer-collectivei/ |archive-date=March 12, 2014 }}{{cite web|title=WSJ CIO Network Biography for Heidi Messer|url=http://cionetwork.wsj.com/?speakers=heidi-messer|work=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=February 28, 2014}}{{cite web|title=City Talk, Doug Muzzio interviews Heidi Messer|url=http://www.cuny.tv/show/citytalk/PR2002432|website=|date=November 11, 2013|publisher=CUNY Television|accessdate=February 28, 2014}} Messer served as a board member, President, and Chief Operating Officer of LinkShare, contributing to the sector of online marketing commonly referred to as affiliate marketing.{{cite web|last=Rojas|first=Javier E.|title=Conversation with Heidi Messer, Founder, LinkShare|url=http://sandhill.com/article/conversation-with-heidi-messer-founder-linkshare/|website=|date=October 20, 2008|publisher=Sand Hill|accessdate=March 1, 2014}}{{Cite web|url = http://www.alleywatch.com/2014/11/10-nyc-families-where-tech-is-in-the-blood/2/|title = 10 NYC Families Where Tech Is in the Blood|date = November 18, 2014|accessdate = February 5, 2015|website = AlleyWatch}}

Early life

Messer was born in Westchester County, New York. She is the eldest child of two entrepreneurs.{{cite web|last=Mendels|first=Pamela|title=Brother-Sister Team a Rarity in Silicon Alley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/digimet/102097digimet.html|date=October 20, 1997|work=The New York Times|accessdate=March 1, 2014}} Her paternal and maternal grandparents were also entrepreneurs.{{cite web|last=Surden|first=Esther|title=Heidi Messer Talks Realities of Entrepreneurship at NJ Tech Gals Meetup|url=http://njtechweekly.com/art/1917-heidi-messer-talks-realities-of-entrepreneurship-at-nj-tech-gals-meetup/|work=New Jersey Tech Weekly|date=May 21, 2013|accessdate=March 1, 2014}}

College and law school

Messer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Brown University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. She received her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, graduating cum laude.{{cite web|title=CEO Interview with Stephen Messer|url=http://www.twst.com/interview/18105|website=|date=April 6, 2004|publisher=The Wall Street Transcript|accessdate=March 1, 2014}}

Career

=Early career=

Throughout high school and college, Messer worked for her family's real estate and maintenance business. After graduating from Harvard, Messer worked as an attorney at Baker & Botts, LLP.

=LinkShare Corporation=

In 1996, Messer and her brother, Stephen Messer, created LinkShare, an online distribution network that allowed websites to monetize their traffic through performance based links.{{cite book|last=Kidder|first=David|title=The Startup Playbook: Secrets of the Fastest-Growing Startups from Their Founding Entrepreneurs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iyAbTjqVXgkC&q=stephen+messer+linkshare&pg=PA209|work=Published 2012|publisher=Chronicle Books, LLC|accessdate=March 1, 2014|isbn=9781452105048|year=2012}}{{cite web|last=Rojas|first=Javier|title=Return Leaders: Heidi Messer, Founder, LinkShare|url=http://seekinggrowth.typepad.com/blog/2013/07/return-leaders-heidi-messer-founder-linkshare.html|website=|date=July 2, 2013|publisher=Seeking Growth|accessdate=March 1, 2014}} Messer served as president and COO of LinkShare until its sale in 2005, to Rakuten Inc. for $425 million.{{cite web|last=Fackler|first=Martin|title=Japan firm enters U.S. Net market|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/06/technology/06iht-rakuten.html|date=September 7, 2005|work=The New York Times|accessdate=March 1, 2014}}{{cite web|last=Klich|first=Tanya Benedicto|title=The Rise of Stiletto Networks – Top 5 Women's Power Circles, Wafia (Women's Mafia Poker Night)|url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/231733#4|website=|date=March 3, 2014|publisher=Entrepreneur.com|accessdate=March 6, 2014}} In 2006, Messer left the company.{{cite web|last=Peters|first=Kurt|title=Founders Stephen Messer and Heidi Messer leave LinkShare|url=http://www.internetretailer.com/mobile/2006/02/09/founders-stephen-messer-and-heidi-messer-leave-linkshare|website=|date=February 9, 2006|publisher=Internet Retailer|accessdate=March 1, 2014}}{{cite web|last=Olson|first=Parmy|title=Mission Impossible: How Rakuten Billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani Plans To 'Beat Amazon'|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2012/09/06/mission-impossible-how-rakuten-billionaire-hiroshi-mikitani-plans-to-beat-amazon/3/|work=September 6, 2012|accessdate=March 1, 2014}}

=Collective[i]=

In 2008, Messer co-founded Cross Commerce Media with her husband and brother.{{cite web|title=Founded by Business Leaders, Built by World Class Scientists and Developers |url=http://www.collectivei.com/about/ |publisher=Collective[i] |access-date=March 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210183714/http://www.collectivei.com/about/ |archive-date=February 10, 2014 }} As of 2014, Messer serves as the chair of the company's board of directors.{{cite web|title=Collective[i] Leadership, Management Team Biography Listings |url=http://www.collectivei.com/management/ |publisher=Collective[i] |access-date=March 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212257/http://www.collectivei.com/management/ |archive-date=March 12, 2014 }} In 2014, Messer was granted two patents in conjunction with Collective[i]'s data analytics network.{{Cite web| url = http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8713076.PN.&OS=PN/8713076&RS=PN/8713076| title = United States Patent, 8,713,076, Providing a multi-tenant knowledge network| date = April 29, 2014| accessdate = January 16, 2015| website = US Patent & Trademark Office, Patent Full Text and Image Database}}{{Cite web| url = http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8825716.PN.&OS=PN/8825716&RS=PN/8825716| title = United States Patent, 8,825,716, Providing a multi-tenant knowledge network| date = September 2, 2014| accessdate = January 16, 2015| website = US Patent & Trademark Office, Patent Full Text and Image Database}}

= Angel investing, board affiliations, and community involvement =

Messer is co-founder and CEO of World Evolved, a platform for global investment and expansion.{{cite web|last=Maltby|first=Emily|title=First Stop: London. Next Stop: The World.|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/in-charge/2011/02/03/first-stop-london-next-stop-the-world/?KEYWORDS=Stephen+Messer|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=February 3, 2011|accessdate=March 1, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Heidi Messer CEO Profile|url=http://www.afieldguideto.com/influencer/heidi-messer|publisher=A Field Guide to Female Founders, Influencers & Deal Makers|accessdate=March 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312225318/http://www.afieldguideto.com/influencer/heidi-messer|archive-date=March 12, 2014|url-status=dead}} She is also a founding member of the Zokei Network, an invitation-only network of artists, scientists, and business leaders who meet in private salons around the world. Messer is also an angel investor in numerous startups including Spire,{{Cite web|url = https://gigaom.com/2014/07/29/spire-formerly-nanosatisfi-raises-25m-series-a-round-to-expand-its-satellite-fleet/|title = Spire, formerly Nanosatisfi, raises $25M Series A round to expand its satellite fleet|date = July 29, 2014|accessdate = February 14, 2015|website = Gigaom|publisher = Gigaom, Inc.|last = Brewster|first = Signe|archive-date = February 14, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150214201720/https://gigaom.com/2014/07/29/spire-formerly-nanosatisfi-raises-25m-series-a-round-to-expand-its-satellite-fleet/|url-status = dead}} Lifebooker, and DoDo Case.{{cite web|last=Brummelhuis |first=Simone |title=Role Model Female Entrepreneurs, Investors and Leaders meet in New York to set Goals |url=http://www.thenextwomen.com/2010/06/16/role-model-female-entrepreneurs-investors-and-leaders-meet-in-new-york-to-set-goals |date=June 16, 2010 |work=The NextWomen Business Magazine |access-date=March 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312230115/http://www.thenextwomen.com/2010/06/16/role-model-female-entrepreneurs-investors-and-leaders-meet-in-new-york-to-set-goals |archive-date=March 12, 2014 }}

Messer serves on the Brown Women's Leadership Counsel and advisory boards for Netplenish,{{cite web|title=Heidi Messer Executive Profile|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=1132632&privcapId=41023055|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140310094710/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=1132632&privcapId=41023055|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2014|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|accessdate=March 1, 2014}} the Brown Entrepreneurship Program, the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins, Dell Computers, NBC Universal,{{cite web|last=Owen|first=Lauren Hazard|title=Women from Twitter, Gilt, One Kings Lane join NBCU's new digital advisory board|work=paidContent |url=http://paidcontent.org/2012/05/01/nbcu-women-digital-advisory-board/|date=May 1, 2012|accessdate=March 3, 2014}} and American Express OPEN. Messer also serves on the board of the Partnership for New York City and has been a judge and mentor in the NYC Venture Fellows Program.

Speaking engagements and press

Messer is a frequent speaker at universities and conferences around the world on entrepreneurship, digital marketing and advertising, business intelligence, and the future of the internet. Messer has presented at Baruch College, Columbia Business School, and Fordham University.{{cite web|title=Campaigning in the Digital City, Event Details|url=http://www.eventbrite.com/e/campaigning-in-the-digital-city-tickets-8155702927|website=|date=September 19, 2013|publisher=Baruch College|accessdate=March 2, 2014}}{{cite web|title=NYC Venture Fellows' Mentors |url=http://www.fordham.edu/TESTING_SITE/nycventurefellows1/mentors.asp |publisher=Fordham University |access-date=March 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312225251/http://www.fordham.edu/TESTING_SITE/nycventurefellows1/mentors.asp |archive-date=March 12, 2014 }} She has been cited in various publications including, The Wall Street Journal,{{cite web|last=Shellenbarger|first=Sue|title=The XX Factor: What's Holding Women Back?|url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304746604577381953238775784|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 7, 2012|accessdate=March 2, 2014}} The New York Times,{{cite web|last=Story|first=Lousie|title=As Corporate Ad Money Flows Their Way, Bloggers Risk Their Rebel Reputation|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50B12FB3C550C758EDDA80994DD404482|date=November 26, 2005|work=The New York Times|accessdate=March 2, 2014}}{{cite web|last=Tedeschi|first=Bob|title=Now for Sale Online, the Art of the Vacation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/06/technology/06ecom.html|date=February 6, 2006|work=The New York Times|accessdate=March 2, 2014}} USA Today,{{cite web|last=Abrams|first=Rhonda|title=How women entrepreneurs are changing the world|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/abrams/2011-06-09-women-entrepreneurs_n.htm|work=USA Today|date=June 9, 2011|accessdate=March 2, 2014}} Inc. Magazine,{{cite web|last=Mochari|first=Ilan|title=The Internet E-cosystem|url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/19991001/13597.html|date=October 1, 1999|work=Inc. Magazine|accessdate=March 2, 2014}} Forbes,{{cite web|last=Utz|first=Jennifer|title=Finding The Right Business Partner: It's All About Trust|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/capitalonespark/2013/01/08/finding-the-right-business-partner-its-all-about-trust/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140310094758/http://www.forbes.com/sites/capitalonespark/2013/01/08/finding-the-right-business-partner-its-all-about-trust/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2014|date=January 8, 2013|work=Forbes|accessdate=March 2, 2014}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/techonomy/2011/11/15/driven-by-data-your-bank-can-predict-your-divorce/|title = Driven by Data: Your Bank Can Predict Your Divorce|date = November 11, 2011|accessdate = February 5, 2015|work = Forbes|last = Bailey|first = James}} The Nikkei, Bloomberg Businessweek,{{cite web|last=Brady|first=Diane|title=Levo League's New Model for Millennial Media|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-17/can-levo-league-create-a-new-model-for-media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217212910/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-17/can-levo-league-create-a-new-model-for-media|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2014|date=February 17, 2014|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|accessdate=March 2, 2014}} Women's Wear Daily,{{cite web|title=Women's Wear Daily Article quotes Heidi Messer|url=http://www.wwd.com/search/results/?query=Heidi%20messer#Heidi%20messer+sort=relevance&|work=Women's Wear Daily|date=June 16, 1999|accessdate=March 2, 2014}} Chief Executive Magazine,{{cite web|title=Relationship Builders|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-65294983.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611091110/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-65294983.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2014|website=|date=December 1, 2000|publisher=Chief Executive (US)|access-date=March 2, 2014}} and Wired.{{cite magazine|last=Austen|first=Ben|title=The Story of Steve Jobs: An Inspiration or a Cautionary Tale?|issue=8|url=https://www.wired.com/business/2012/07/ff_stevejobs/all/|date=July 23, 2012|magazine=Wired|volume=20|accessdate=March 2, 2014}}

Messer is also known as the host of an exclusive all female Poker game, featured in Vogue as a new model for combining networking, idea sharing, and charitable giving similar to the intellectual salons of the past.{{Cite web|url = http://www.vogue.com/13254072/heidi-messer-women-only-poker-game/|title = Full House: Inside New York's Most Elusive Women-Only Poker Game|date = April 13, 2015|accessdate = May 11, 2015|work = Vogue|last = Mitchell|first = Heidi}} Additionally, Messer has appeared on national television and radio programs including the Today Show,{{cite web|title=Stiletto Network on the TODAY Show!|url=http://www.pamelaryckman.com/stiletto-network-on-the-today-show/|website=|date=May 26, 2013|publisher=The TODAY Show|accessdate=March 6, 2014}} Rock Center,{{cite web|title=Rock Center, Women create 'stiletto networks' to help each other achieve business success|url=http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/23/18448664-women-create-stiletto-networks-to-help-each-other-achieve-business-success?lite|website=|date=May 23, 2013|publisher=Rock Center with Brian Williams|accessdate=March 6, 2014}} Business Talk Radio, Fox News, CBS Morning News, and the Fox Morning Show.{{cite web|title=Slow Sales Prompt More Drastic Discounts|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/slow-sales-prompt-more-drastic-discounts/|website=|date=December 21, 2004|publisher=Fox News Channel|access-date=March 3, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Your World with Neil Cavuto", Topics and Guests for December 20|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/topics-and-guests-for-december-20/|website=|date=December 21, 2004|publisher=Fox News Channel|access-date=March 6, 2014}}

Messer and her brother Stephen were featured in the Startup Playbook by David Kidder along with Elon Musk, Tony Hsieh, Steve Case, Jay S. Walker, Reid Hoffman, and Sara Blakely.{{cite web|last=Kidder|first=David|title=The Startup Playbook Founder Profile for Heidi Messer|url=http://www.thestartupplaybook.com/heidi-messer/|website=|date=December 12, 2012|publisher=The Startup Playbook|accessdate=March 3, 2014}}{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Kira|title=A Book in 5 Minutes: The Startup Playbook: Secrets of the Fastest-Growing Startups from Their Founding Entrepreneurs|url=http://tech.co/startup-playbook-david-kidder-2013-01|website=|date=January 24, 2013|publisher=Tech Cocktail|accessdate=March 3, 2014}} She has also been cited in An Incredible Dream: Ralph Roberts and the Story of Comcast by William Novak and Stiletto Network by Pamela Ryckman.{{cite book|last=Ryckman|first=Pamela|title=Stiletto Network|publisher=AMACOM, American Management Association|url=https://archive.org/details/stilettonetworki0000ryck|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/stilettonetworki0000ryck/page/83 83]|quote=heidi messer speaker.|accessdate=March 3, 2014|isbn=9780814432532|year=2013}}{{cite web|last=Koplovitz|first=Kay|title=Stiletto Network: The Emerging Power of Women's Human Capital|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kay-koplovitz/stiletto-network-the-emer_b_3308137.html|work=HuffPost|date=May 22, 2013|accessdate=March 3, 2014}}

In 2011, Messer organized an art exhibit held at the Charles Bank Gallery in New York City.{{cite web|title=Heidi Messer talks to Ingrid about the power of Entrepreneurship|url=http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/46849843|website=|date=October 14, 2011|publisher=Dell EIR|accessdate=March 3, 2014}} The show, entitled Celestial Matters, featured works of art that had only previously been displayed in an exhibition hosted during a private mission on the International Space Station. The reception for these works benefited the Challenger Center for Space Science Exploration and featured the astronaut Buzz Aldrin.{{cite web|last=Chow|first=Denise|title=Space Art Launching from NYC Gallery This Weekend|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44905226/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/space-art-launching-nyc-gallery-weekend/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212221/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44905226/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/space-art-launching-nyc-gallery-weekend/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 12, 2014|website=|date=October 19, 2011|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=March 3, 2014}}

Messer served on the 2012 Wall Street Journal Executive Task Force on Women and participated in the 2014 Wall Street Journal CIO Network as a subject matter expert.{{cite web|title=Task-Force Members|url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304723304577370232322477226?KEYWORDS=Stephen+Messer&mg=reno64-|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 7, 2012|accessdate=March 3, 2014}}{{cite web|title=The Wall Street Journal CIO Network Schedule of Event for 2014|url=http://cionetwork.wsj.com/program/#undefined|work=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=March 3, 2014}}

In 2013, Messer was selected to serve as a member of Comptroller Scott Stringer's Transition Committee.{{cite web|title=New York City Comptroller-Elect Scott M. Stringer Announces The First Wave Of Appointments To His New Leadership Team|url=http://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/new-york-city-comptroller-elect-scott-m-stringer-announces-the-first-wave-of-appointments-to-his-new-leadership-team/|website=|date=December 24, 2013|publisher=New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer|accessdate=March 3, 2014}}

Awards and honors

In 2012, Messer was selected as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs as part of their Builders and Innovators Summit. Additionally, Messer was named one of the 2012 Power Players in New York City by AlwaysOn.

Under Messer's leadership, LinkShare was recognized by Deloitte & Touche in 2002 and 2003 as the fastest growing technology company in the New York Region. In 2002, LinkShare was also named the Best Affiliate Network Provider by ABestWeb.{{cite web|title=Online Affiliate Community Votes LinkShare Best Affiliate Network Provider of 2002; Leading Performance-Based Marketing Provider Receives Top Rating from Industry Users; LinkShare CEO Voted Best Service to Industry|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Online+Affiliate+Community+Votes+LinkShare+Best+Affiliate+Network...-a096118962|website=|date=January 6, 2012|publisher=The Free Library|accessdate=March 3, 2014}}

In both 2012 and 2013, Messer's current venture, Collective[i], was selected as one of OnMedia's 100 Top Private Companies.{{cite web|last=Messer |first=Stephen |title=Council for Accountable Advertising: Year One Highlights |url=http://www.councilinsider.com/2012/04/council-for-accountable-advertising-year-one-highlights/ |website=|date=April 9, 2012 |publisher=Council for Accountable Advertising |access-date=March 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312224707/http://www.councilinsider.com/2012/04/council-for-accountable-advertising-year-one-highlights/ |archive-date=March 12, 2014 }}

In 2015, Collective[i] was named an OnCloud Top 100 private company under the 'Software-as-a-service solution for big data analytics' category.{{Cite web|url = http://aonetwork.com/blogs/Announcing-the-2015-OnCloud-Top-100-private-companies|title = Announcing the 2015 OnCloud Top 100 private companies|accessdate = February 21, 2015|website = aonetwork.com|publisher = AlwaysOn|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150221210448/http://aonetwork.com/blogs/Announcing-the-2015-OnCloud-Top-100-private-companies|archive-date = February 21, 2015|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web|url = http://ceoworld.biz/2015/02/13/2015s-top-10-software-service-solution-big-data-analytics-companies-list|title = 2015's Top 10 Software-as-a-Service solution for big data analytics companies list|date = February 1, 2015|accessdate = February 21, 2015|website = CEOWORLD Magazine}}

On November 19, 2015, Messer received the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Technology Pioneer Award at the United Nations in New York City.{{cite news |url=http://www.womenseday.org/community/wed-annual-pioneer-awards/2015-wed-pioneer-awards/|title=Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards 2015 Winners |accessdate=July 5, 2018 |first=Wendy |last=Diamond |publisher=WED}}