Keith Bergelt

Title: CEO, Open Invention Network
About Me: Keith Bergelt is the chief executive officer of Open Invention Network (OIN), the collaborative enterprise that enables innovation in open source and an increasingly vibrant ecosystem around Linux. Prior to joining OIN, Mr. Bergelt was the president and chief executive officer of two hedge funds, Paradox Capital and IPI – formed to unlock the considerable asset value of patents, trademarks and copyrights in middle market companies. The funds were the first of their kind to offer specialty lending products supported exclusively by intellectual property. During Mr. Bergelt’s stewardship, he raised over $300 million while financing portfolio companies of private equity firms. Previously Mr. Bergelt co-founded, advised and managed intellectual property portfolios within several multinational organizations. Mr. Bergelt also distinguished himself, serving for twelve years as a U.S. diplomat, with postings at the United Nations in New York and the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan where he was involved in the negotiation of intellectual property rights protection in Asia. Mr. Bergelt holds an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Duke University, a Jurist Doctorate degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Theseus Institute in France. He is a frequent speaker on corporate strategy, finance and intellectual property management.