Stephen Gilfus
| Stephen Gilfus | |
|---|---|
 Stephen Gilfus 2026.jpg Gilfus in 2026 (portrait) | |
| Born | Rochester, New York, U.S |
| 🏳️ Nationality | American |
| 🎓 Alma mater | Cornell University (B.S., 1997) |
| 💼 Occupation | Businessman, technology entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founding Blackboard Inc. |
| Title | Founder of Gilfus Education Group Founder of High Peak Studio |
| Board member of | ISACA, Oversight Ventures |
| 🌐 Website | https://stephengilfus.com/ |
Stephen Gilfus is an American businessman and technology entrepreneur. He co-founded the educational technology company Blackboard Inc. and was involved in its product development and strategy from its establishment in 1997 through its expansion into a publicly traded company[1] before leaving in 2008. He later founded the consulting firm Gilfus Education Group and has served on the boards of technology and cybersecurity organizations.
Education and early ventures
Gilfus attended Cornell University and graduated in 1997[2] with a B.S. in Managerial Economics & Entrepreneurship. While at Cornell, he studied managerial economics, entrepreneurship and strategy and founded the Cornell Entrepreneur Organization, a student organization connecting business and engineering students around entrepreneurial opportunities.
In 1997, Gilfus and fellow Cornell student Daniel Cane founded the company CourseInfo LLC, with Gilfus serving early on as head of sales and marketing.[3][4] The company operated from their dormitory and developed a course management application called the Teachers Toolbox.[5] The software also allowed instructors to create course websites, administer online tests and upload syllabi.[6] However, in 2018, CourseInfo’s successor Blackboard was announced as no longer being used by Cornell and was replaced by Canvas.[7]
Blackboard Inc.
In 1998, Gilfus and Cane met businessmen Michael Chasen and Matthew Pittinsky, who had established Blackboard LLC as a consulting firm. CourseInfo and Blackboard LLC subsequently merged to form Blackboard Inc., combining CourseInfo's course management software with Blackboard LLC's consulting contracts and industry relationships.[8]
Gilfus was responsible for corporate strategy during Blackboard's early growth and also participated in the development of the company's product architecture and software specifications.[9] Between 1998 and 2002, Blackboard experienced substantial revenue growth and raised more than $120 million in venture capital.[10] The company went public in 2004 and was acquired by Providence Equity Partners in 2011 for $1.64 billion.[11]
Later career
After leaving Blackboard in January 2008,[12] he founded the Gilfus Education Group, a consulting firm working with educational institutions, government organizations and investment firms on educational technology.[13] He later founded High Peak Studio, a venture studio for early-stage artificial intelligence and “vibe-coding” software ventures.[14]
Gilfus has served on the board of directors of ISACA, an international professional association focused on information technology governance, cybersecurity and related fields. He continues to serve as the Chair of the Innovation and Technology Committee.[15] He has also participated in public-sector digital trust initiatives, including work with the California Cybersecurity Taskforce under the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.[16][17]
References
- ↑ Hansen, Drew (2026-01-05). "Ellucian acquires Anthology division through bankruptcy auction". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Wilensky, Joe (May 22, 2026). "Meet the Entrepreneur Who Helped Change Wedding Planning". Cornell University. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Ruefman, Daniel; Scheg, Abigail G. (2016-04-15). Applied Pedagogies: Strategies for Online Writing Instruction. University Press of Colorado. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-60732-485-0. Search this book on
- ↑ The Scientist. (1997). United States: Institute for Scientific Information. Original from: The University of Chicago, The Scientist. United States, Institute for Scientific Information, 1997.
- ↑ Nagler, Michelle (October 15, 1997). "Senior's company helps to produce Web pages for college courses". Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Aloi, Daniel (April 8, 2020). "Snail mail to Wi-Fi: Cornell's history of remote instruction". Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Liu, Meredith (July 5, 2018). "Cornell to Replace Blackboard with Canvas for All Courses by 2019". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Chaudhary, Prof Sushila (April 20, 2025). "THE BLACKBOARD LEARNING SYSTEM". IJFMR - International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research. IJFMR. 7 (2). doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i02.42313. ISSN 2582-2160.
- ↑ "Eclectic Convergence 2026". Entrepreneurship at Cornell. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Buchanan, Leigh (August 30, 2012). "Private Again and On the Move". Inc. Archived from the original on 2025-05-08. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ "Opportunity Prospectus, Associate General Counsel - Marketing" (PDF). Barker Gilmore. p. 5.
- ↑ "Blackboard Co-Founder". Gilfus Education Group. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Overly, Steven (July 17, 2011). "The Download: FCC opens 'technology experience center' for staff, industry to interact". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ "ISACA Board of Directors". ISACA. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Industrial Cyber News Desk (August 1, 2025). "ISACA announces 2025–2026 board of directors, led by John De Santis and Jamie Norton - Industrial Cyber". Industrial Cyber. Archived from the original on 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ "Stephen Gilfus". Forbes Business Council. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ E. Clement, Keith. "California Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Education Strategy (2020-2030): Framework and Recommendations for a California Cybersecurity Career Education Pipeline and Pathway Project (CCCEPPP)" (PDF). California Cybersecurity Task Force. p. 250.
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