Mark R. Florence is Managing Partner and Founder of Umagination Labs (Umagination), a joint venture formed with IDEO, the largest product development service provider in the United States, and WPP, one of the world’s top marketing, communications and advertising firms. The combined talents of IDEO and WPP enable Umagination to design and invent innovative new products, test, publicize and market them in a compelling fashion.
As a highly dynamic business innovation executive, I leverage and monetize business opportunities in consumer goods and high technology markets to drive outstanding revenue and profitability growth. A creative strategist and thought leader in IP development, I am passionate about bringing cutting-edge concepts to market, raising capital for start-up or early-stage companies, and reinvigorating established enterprises.
Prior to Umagination, Mark’s career has included a successful turnaround of a major division of The Ozer Group, one of the countries leading retail consulting, business evaluation, and asset disposition firms; Founder and CEO of CrossMarket Corporation, a B2B online marketplace, which he successfully sold the company to RedtagBiz; senior management with Syratech Corporation, a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products where he implemented a $300 million sale; and Boston Capital Ventures, a Boston based venture capital firm where he served on the boards of directors of portfolio companies and, developed a high technology investment strategy.
Mark received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Tufts University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan.