Howard Marks

Chief Executive, StartEngine

Howard Marks is co-founder and chief executive at StartEngine Crowdfunding/Capital. Marks was also the founder and chief executive of Acclaim Games, a publisher of online games now part of Walt Disney Co. Before Acclaim, he was the co-founder of Activision Blizzard and chairman of Activision Studios from 1991 until 1997. He and a partner took control of Activision in 1991 and turned the ailing company into a $30 billion market cap video game industry leader. As a games industry expert, Marks built one of the largest and most successful games studios in the industry selling millions of games. He is bilingual and is a triple national of the United States, United Kingdom, and France.

Enjoy most: Every time we help a company raise capital, we feel rewarded because we have added value.

Toughest challenge: The finance industry is very conservative and has not yet accepted the equity crowdfunding as an alternative for companies to raise capital.

Proudest moment: When we achieved $30 million in capital raised for close to 40 companies.

Most excited: The day equity crowdfunding moves from an alternative source to a mainstream source, we will have achieved our mission.

Best advice: It is not necessarily IQ or knowledge that determines success, its resilience and resourcefulness.

Beverage: Tea.

Car you drive: Tesla Model S.

Alma Mater: BS, University of Michigan.

Fun fact: I still have a French accent even though I was born in Santa Monica.

Bucket list: Play Augusta National.

Hobby/passion: Golf.

Favorite destination: Europe.