Chuck Templeton is an American Internet entrepreneur, best known as the founder and former CEO of OpenTable, which went public in May 2009 and was acquired by The Priceline Group in June 2014. He is currently a Managing Director of S2G Ventures (Seed to Growth), an investment fund focused on healthy food and sustainable agriculture, Investment Committee Member at Impact Engine, a Chicago-based social and environmental impact investment fund, and serves on the boards of several other Internet start-ups.

Education and early life

Originally from Lafayette, California, Templeton started his career as a United States Army Ranger. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics from

California Polytechnic State University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (California Polytechnic State University, Cal Poly"Cal Poly" may also refer to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, California or California State Polytechnic Univ ...

and a Master of Business Administration (Class of 2006) from Northwestern University’s

Kellogg School of Management The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (also known as Kellogg) is the business school of Northwestern University, a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1908, Kellogg is one of the oldest and most p ...

Career

OpenTable

The idea for OpenTable developed in 1998 when Templeton’s in-laws came to town for a visit. Templeton's father-in-law is

Lettuce Entertain You Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) is a restaurant group currently comprising 120 or more restaurants mainly located in the Chicago metropolitan area. It was founded by Rich Melman and Jerry A. Orzoff in 1971. History The first restaur ...

founding partner Bob Wattel, and the dining selections for the Wattels' visit were so important that Templeton recalled his wife spending 3 1/2 hours on the phone trying to secure reservations.

GrubHub

Templeton was the founding Chairman and served as an advisor for GrubHub, now GrubHub Seamless, which went public in April of 2014.

OhSoWe.com

In 2004, Templeton co-founded OhSoWe.com, a site that allowed neighbors to trade or rent items like tools or sporting equipment among each other.

Getable

Former Board Member of Getable, Inc. which simplifies the process of renting construction equipment.

Impact Engine

Templeton is an Investment Committee Member at Impact Engine, a venture capital and private equity firm investing in companies driving positive impact in economic empowerment, education, environmental sustainability, and health.

Juhl Energy, Inc.

Templeton has been a board member of Juhl Energy, Inc. since April 9, 2014. The company services a wide variety of wind projects and renewable energy developments.

Piece & Co., Inc.

Former Board Member of Piece & Co., Inc., which promoted sustainable employment for women in developing countries through the sale of handmade fabrics to high end designers.

ThinkCERCA, Inc.

Former Board Member of

ThinkCERCA ThinkCERCA is a Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country ...

, Inc., a literacy and critical thinking software company.

S2G Ventures

In 2015, Templeton co-founded and currently (as of January 2016) serves as co-Managing Director of the S2G Ventures (Seed to Growth) venture fund. The fund focuses on “soil to shelf” businesses within food and agriculture, including companies that deliver locally produced, nutritious, organic foods.

Honors and recognition

* Crain’s Tech 50 2015 * Built In Chicago startup hub's Moxie Mentor of the Year 2014 *2014 Hall of Fame Inductee - Distinguished Restaurants of North America * Crain’s Tech 50 2013 * Moxie Mentor of the Year 2013 * Crain’s Tech 50 2012 * The Executives Club of Chicago Innovation Award to Impact Engine 2013 * 2011 Alumni Entrepreneur Innovator Award from the Larry and Carol Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice

Personal life

Templeton is married to Julie Templeton and together they have two daughters Kendall and Josie Templeton. Templeton is committed to preventing climate change, and is an avid runner.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Templeton, Chuck Living people 1968 births California Polytechnic State University alumni Kellogg School of Management alumni American technology chief executives Businesspeople from California People from Lafayette, California