About Frank Gruber

Frank Gruber, Co-Founder

Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) is an entrepreneur and new media journalist focused on sharing his Web product expertise and analysis on Web 2.0, social media and emerging technologies in articles and videos online. His works have been featured in TechCrunch, iMediaConnection, ReadWriteWeb Network and on his popular personal tech blog, Somewhat Frank, which he kept religiously from June 2005 till December 2009 when he redirected energies towards building the TECH cocktail digital media business, which he co-founded in 2006.

He keynotes regularly about entrepreneurship, emerging technology trends, social media and his love for the “shiny objects” or Web products across the country at industry events. Frank has been dubbed by the Washingtpost Post and LATimes as a “digital nomad” for his on the go work anywhere and everywhere lifestyle. Frank has been listed as a blogger every Isreali startup should know by the Isreali publication, The Marker. Frank was named one of 100 DC Tech Titans by Washingtonain Magazine in May 2009. Frank is also one of Forbes Top 20 Most Media Connected in Tech.

Frank co-founded TECH cocktail with Eric Olson, in Chicago (Frank’s hometown – Go Cubs!) in 2006 to help better connect and amplify the local technology signal and have some fun doing it. Since 2006, TECH cocktail has grown to become a media company offering technology news, events and community-powered projects open to technology enthusiasts, entrepreneurs & professionals interested in the latest technology in their community.

Frank was formerly a product strategist and evangelist for the Aol social networking group, which included such products as AIM, SocialThing, Goowy, Bebo and ICQ with a focus on communications and lifestreaming products. Frank was instrumental in connecting Aol with a number of industry experts, media and start-ups (some of which were acquired by Aol). Frank’s previous team was also responsible for the launch of the widget driven myAOL personalized homepage/startpage product in 2007. Frank departed Aol right before the Aol spinoff January 1, 2010 (as covered by TechCrunch).

Frank has experience bootstrapping on a variety of start-up endeavors. Frank is a co-founder of Shiny Heart Ventures, a technology start-up focused on building community driven products that remind people of the joys of life. Shiny Heart Ventures first product, Thankfulfor.com is an online gratitude journaling community that has been praised by CNN, TechCrunch and CBS News among others. Shiny Heart Ventures is also co-producer of Digital Capital Week (@DCWEEK), a 10 day festival in Washington DC focused on technology, innovation and all things digital in our nation’s capital.

Frank currently lives in Washington, D.C. but travels a lot as he circles the globe speaking, hosting events and helping entrepreneurs, startups and technology communities amplify their local technology signal.

You can contact Frank by email at: frank [at] techcocktail dot com