About Qmania
Qmania® has developed a unique, proprietary mobile proof-of-purchase system that provides a secure, trackable and fraud-resistant means for mobile redemptions and promotions. Qmania's web-based platform doesn't require any special hardware or software at the retailer (point of sale), making implementation easy and immediate for customers like Starwood Hotels, Popeyes and independent businesses. With 40 million people forecast to use mobile redemptions in the U.S. in 2013, the Qmania system has proven to solve the concerns businesses face with both mobile and printed coupon redemptions.
The Board
Douglas Kato Co-founder & CEO
Douglas H. Kato is co-founder of Qmania®, Inc., where he sought to develop a service that, plugging into the growing smartphone market, would grow users while saving consumers, retailers and producers money. Prior to Qmania, Mr. Kato founded Up Above Records in 1995. As the music industry began shuttering vinyl manufacturing plants in the early 2000s, Mr. Kato recognized the fallow land of vinyl record sales, rebirthing it to a $30MM annum business via Up Above and its associated Barefoot Distribution, serving the vinyl needs for over 500 independent music companies. Mr. Kato's fierce entrepreneurialism and keen sensibilities has made him a driving force in bettering and refining services and products for the past twenty years.
Kikuo Nishi Co-Founder
Kikuo Nishi is co-founder of Qmania, Inc., where he drives product and new business development, as well as Qmania's marketing efforts. He is also a founder of Up Above Records and the Visionarie Crew Inc., with more than two decades experience in design, and guerilla and lifestyle marketing. Launching his career at Nike Inc. when the company's focus was performance technology, Mr. Nishi was instrumental in spearheading the first "Lifestyle" section at Nike's flagship Beverly Hills, CA, store, setting the foundation for subsequent lifestyle marketing forays. Mr. Nishi's design work was at the core of an urban line for Tokyo's Haward Corp.; additional clients include Gatorade, Escada, Midway Games, and Warner Bros. Pictures. Mr. Nishi maintains his roots in the entertainment, fashion and technology industries and continues his creative conquest with an expertise in youth trends and development, and emerging marketing media.
Kenneth Ong Co-Founder
Kenneth Ong is founder and owner of Kong Design Group, a graphic designer, film producer/director, photographer, and marketing and brand developer. As a brand developer and designer for Up Above Records, Mr. Ong created the visual identity for the label. Mr. Ong's diverse client list includes high profile projects in the music, snowboard, skateboard, surf, automotive, food and entertainment industries. Mr. Ong's marketing prowess melds design and brand development to reflect the functionality and integrity of the product it visually and symbolically represents.
Stacy Haitsuka
Stacy A. Haitsuka is an entrepreneur and technologist with 15+ years of experience and is currently a partner at Westlake Venture Partners, L.P. From March 2005 to October 2006, Mr. Haitsuka was the CIO for Jambo, Inc., a provider of pay-per-call, click-to-call and conference calling services. Mr. Haitsuka was a co-founder of NetZero (NASDAQ: UNTD) where he served as Senior Vice President of Technology. During his tenure there, he also served as Chief Technology Officer and as a member of the board of directors. Mr. Haitsuka holds 8 technology patents.
Christopher Chin
Christopher Chin is currently Deputy General Counsel at Google Inc., and he has spent his entire career at several top companies in the Valley. From 1995 to 1996, Mr. Chin served as Counsel in the Licensing and Distribution group at Oracle Corporation. In 1996, he joined Netscape Communications Corporation as Corporate Counsel where he supported the organization responsible for product development. Following Netscape's acquiristion in 1999, Mr. Chin joined Ariba Inc., a leading B2B software provider, serving as Senior Corporate Counsel until 2002 when he left to join Google. From 2002 to 2004 he served as Senior Counsel, where he worked on some of Google's largest advertising and advertising distribution deals. From 2004 to 2009 Mr. Chin managed the US Commercial team, which supported all of Google's US based product development, sales and procurement organizations. From 2009 to the present, Mr. Chin has been focused on the development of technology systems which make the practice of law more efficient.
Advisors
Harold MacKenzie
A longtime technology innovator beginning with his co-founding of NetZero (IPO 1999), where he led Software Development and holds eight technology patents related to online advertising and market research systems. Mr. MacKenzie is the CEO and founder of mobile money startup iPaid, Inc., and is also a partner at Westlake Venture Partners, LP. He brings extensive experience in the areas of operations, technology and strategy from his leadership and advisory roles with a diverse range of companies such as: NetZero (ad supported ISP), Jambo (pay per call innovator), JetEye (search result aggregation and sharing), Jumpcut (online video editing and sharing), Green Plug (digital power innovator) and WebVisible (local online advertising).
