Jeff Hoogendam
Co-Founder
Jeff is one of the two co-founders of (un)Common Logic, which started as a lead-generation company in 2005. When the lead-gen unit spun off into its own firm, 360Connect, Jeff became CEO of that company.
This wasn’t Jeff’s first experience co-founding a company, nor was it his first experience with Jim McKinley. Jeff and Jim met when they were both entrepreneurs-in-residence at SSM Ventures, and co-founded venture-backed start-up SmartPrice, Inc., a free service to help businesses and consumers compare, select, and manage telecommunication services. Jeff was also CEO of the company.
Before SmartPrice, Jeff served as CEO of InfoGlide Software, a leading provider of fraud detection and alias identification software solutions for insurance companies. In his role as CEO, he oversaw the launch of the company’s first product, Fraud Investigator, secured the first lighthouse customers, and raised several rounds of additional capital.
Jeff speaks at numerous venture capital and technology-related functions, and currently serves on the boards of advisors for several start-up companies in the Austin area.
Jeff was a technology consultant for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). At Andersen, Jeff sold, developed, and implemented technology solutions to various Fortune 500 clients all over the country.
Jeff earned his MBA with honors in entrepreneurship and finance from the University of Texas, Austin, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University.
He is a board member of the Moot Corp Foundation and has served as a judge every year in the International Moot Corp. Business Plan Competition since winning the event in 1995. Jeff speaks at numerous venture capital and technology-related functions, and currently serves on the boards of advisors for several start-up companies in the Austin area. In his free time, Jeff enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his wife and four children.
What are your responsibilities at (un)Common Logic?
My role is that of co-founder/board member. What that means is that I help the CEO with what we like to call “strategery” and sales.
What’s your favorite thing about working with (un)Common Logic?
The approach the firm takes to marketing. I studied mechanical engineering in college so a data-oriented, meticulous approach to marketing is something I can both understand and get excited about.
What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
Time. My “day job” is CEO of 360Connect, a B2B lead generation firm and sister company to (un)Common Logic. That role keeps me fairly busy, but I help out where I can.
Anything big happen this year outside of work?
I guess the biggest thing outside of work right now is that I have three (of four) kids in college at the moment! My oldest daughter is a senior at the University of Texas while my twin boys are going to be sophomores at Texas Tech.
What makes Austin special?
I have been here in Austin since the early 1990s. While I have seen the city change (a lot) over that time, there still is an undercurrent of discovery in the city. I love finding new things while hiking the greenbelt, new restaurants, and things to do.
What makes you (un)Common?
I love basketball! I still manage to play pick-up basketball 3 times a week.
What’s the biggest digital marketing change you think will occur this year?
What I am hoping for is for an additional channel to emerge to challenge the Google/Facebook duopoly. Don't get me wrong, I love the scale provided by Google/Facebook, but I would love to see one to two more competitors emerge to provide options and alternatives.