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THE CENTER OF GRAVITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN TEXAS

Jonathan Coon

Partner

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Started 1-800 CONTACTS / contacts.com in my dorm in 1992 with $50 (originally called Eye Supply)

$414 million revenue in 2012 (about what Google does in three days – we know we’re small)

Public CEO for 10 years (1998 to 2007)

Had to get federal law passed to give Americans a right to their contact lens prescriptions (The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act became law in 2004).  Personally invested over 300 days in DC over 5 years before we succeeded.  Had to sue Johnson and Johnson to compel them to sell to us (big anti-trust case)

Made a successful movie with my younger brother called Napoleon Dynamite.  My wife and I put up 100% of the money.  Jeremy did all of the work (produced the movie and edited it in Final Cut Pro on his Mac at home)

Sold 1-800 CONTACTS in June 2012 for $900 million.  Still full time CEO at 1-800 CONTACTS / contacts.com / glasses.com, but investing in other startups.

I have been an Entrepreneur since I was 8 years old and have been married for 22 years.  Also a 12-time TEDster

Favorite quote “The difficult we do now.  The impossible takes a little bit longer.”  – US Army Core of Engineers

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