Miles Spencer

Miles Spencer (born April 30, 1963) is an American angel investor, media entrepreneur and explorer. He is best known for his role as co-host[1] and co-creator of MoneyHunt,[2] a reality-based show where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas[3] to a panel of experts.[4] MoneyHunt was distributed to PBS stations[5] in the US beginning 1997[6] and overseas beginning 1999. Spencer and co-host Cliff Ennico[7] are known for their direct, fast-paced questioning[8] and constructive criticism of entrepreneurs.[9] The two developed the program after a classroom experience at a local continuing education class.[10] The show is considered the original program of the genre,[11] and has been copied in several markets worldwide, most notably Dragons' Den and Shark Tank. Spencer, who was born in Norristown, PA, readily admits in his book MoneyHunt to having been inspired by Enterprise, a French show hosted by Bernard Tapie, while he attended school there in the early eighties as an exchange student from Choate Rosemary Hall.

Miles Spencer on MoneyHunt, circa 2000

Angel Investor

Spencer’s investing career has centered on consumer products, media, online and mobile activities.[12] Since 2003 until 2017, these investments have been made together with a small group of angels and through Vaux les Ventures,[13] his personal investment vehicle. Previously, investments were made through Capital Express, a private equity firm based in New York[14] where Spencer was one of four members. Capital Express’[15] most notable investment was Register.com. Vaux's most notable investments to date are Operative (sold to Sintec) , Mojiva (Sold to Pubmatic) and Aptaris. A commercial claim relating to the Operative investment totalling USD300,000, guaranteed by Miles Spencer, arose in July, 2019. The claim is in dispute. Vaux’s investment criteria are published on its website.

Charitable Adventures

Spencer is also well known as the co-founder[16] of Kayak for a Cause, an annual charity event[17] that raises funds for local and national charities.[18] On a dare in 2000, Spencer and Scott Carlin kayaked from Norwalk, CT, across Long Island Sound to the Huntington area.[19] Up until 2010, up to 300 kayakers followed Spencer and Carlin in the “Adventure with Purpose” and over 5,000 people per year donated funds.[20] Donations were given away to local[21] and national charities. The kayak fleet was scuttled and sold off in 2012 and the Charity searched for its next adventure.

Spencer and Wellington Jones (Tad Jones) trekked 1,100 miles (1,800 km) through the deserts of the Middle East to raise funds for peace was dubbed “Lawrence on Arabia”. The trek lasted 26 days and retraced T. E. Lawrence's steps as told in “Seven Pillars of Wisdom”. The trek served as creative inspiration for a West End Play in development, titled A line in Sand by playwright Elizabeth Egloff with Producer partner Nelle Nugent.

Kayak for a Cause eventually rebranded as Innovadores Foundation, which beginning in 2015 helps develop young entrepreneurs by offering internships at Grand Central Tech in New York City.

gollark: �� Rolling Dice![d5 : 2]In the end, the result was: 2
gollark: Perhaps I need to start using more terrible names then.
gollark: It's not just "how do I convert my idea into words", it's "AAAAAAAAAARGH I NEED AN IDEA".
gollark: I've done three.
gollark: Descriptions are hard to write, indeed.

References
  1. New York Times: In a Gong Show for Start-Ups, The Best Business Plan Wins March 21, 1999, By James Schembari
  2. Entrepreneur Magazine
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-12-30. Retrieved 2007-04-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) The Deal
  4. Sky-Delta Air Lines June 1999 by John Grossman
  5. https://www.amazon.com/Money-Hunt-Creating-Breakaway-Business/dp/product-description/0066619955 Amazon
  6. Kiplingers June 2000 by Ronaleen Rohaand
  7. San Francisco Chronicle August 9, 2000, by Peter Sintonare
  8. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmfor/is_199806/ai_n15364153 Forbes Magazine
  9. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3514/is_1_47/ai_58459686 Success Magazine
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-04-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Westport Minuteman
  11. PR Week September 28, 2000, "Pitch-off piques Interest by Aimee Grove
  12. http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-cellufun-gets-3-million-in-first-round-funding MocaNews
  13. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2004_Jan_19/ai_112309313 Business Wire
  14. MoneyHunt's 27 Rules for Growing a Breakaway Business (Harper Collins, ISBN 978-0-06-661995-8)
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-04-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) AtNew York
  16. Home - The Advocate Archived 2007-08-11 at the Wayback Machine
  17. http://www.hamptons.com/hamptons_article_magazine_814.htm%5B%5D Hamptons News
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-03-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Cancer Care
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2007-03-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Huntington News
  20. http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/aug2006/id20060811_291743.htm Business Week
  21. http://www.thehour.com/story/329302684241740.php%5B%5D
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