Residence Boston, MA Spouse(s) Dina Selkoe Occupation Entrepreneur Name Greg Selkoe | Television Karmaloop TV Role Entrepreneur Title Founder Organizations founded Karmaloop | |
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Alma mater Rollins College; Harvard University Education Rollins College, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government Profiles | ||
Being an Entrepreneur | Win/Win | Bonus Clip
Greg Selkoe (born June 4, 1975) is an American entrepreneur and the founder of Karmaloop.com. Since January 2010 he has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.
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Early life and education
Selkoe was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. He went to The Winchendon School, a boarding school in Winchendon, Massachusetts. Selkoe received his undergraduate degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. After graduation from Rollins and before starting Karmaloop, Selkoe worked for the City of Boston for three years at the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
Career
Selkoe began Karmaloop from his parents' basement in 2000. After starting Karmaloop, he continued his education at The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and completed a Masters in Public Policy in 2005. Selkoe also suffers from ADHD, but cites the disorder as one of the reasons he's been successful.
Karmaloop.com is one of the world’s largest online retailers of streetwear (including footwear, apparel, accessories, housewares and more). The company targets and sells to the "Verge Culture” demographic, a multicultural group referred to as the first generation “raised on the internet" typically between the ages of 18 and 34 years.
Selkoe was interviewed and featured in articles regarding Karmaloop and Karmaloop TV including in USA Today, The New York Times, Business Week, Entrepreneur and The Boston Globe. He has been interviewed on TV networks including Fox Business, CNBC and Bloomberg Television.
Selkoe made a cameo as himself on the HBO scripted drama “How to Make it in America” in the first episode of Season 2.
Selkoe was featured in a chapter of the 2007 book Outside Innovation by Patty Seabold. He was a contributor to the 2010 book "Black Sheep: An unconventional look at good ol' family values" by Karyn A. Gray He was featured in a chapter in the 2011 book 10 Who Mentor by Denise Korn.
Selkoe sits on the board of the Kanye West Foundation, contributes to and works with the Boston Public Health Commission on its youth anti-violence programs, and was a spokesperson for the Vote for Change campaign during the 2008 presidential election. He also filmed a public service announcement for the Vote for Change website, encouraging young people to vote for Barack Obama.
Selkoe founded the Future Boston Alliance in 2011 – a group dedicated to improving cultural life in Boston and retaining local creative talent. He is involved with Pharrell Williams' Kidult Youth Conference, has contributed a significant portion of the money toward the restoration of the Brewer Fountain on the Boston Common, helped to create a partnership between the Boston Ballet and Karmaloop, and sits on the board of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and the board of Youth Design, an organization that helps find paid summer design internships for inner city high school students.
Selkoe is also actively involved with the Institute of Contemporary Art, and UNICEF.
In 2009, Selkoe was selected as one of the top 25 most influential entrepreneurs under 35 in the United States and was invited to participate in a White House summit for young business leaders on economic policy, new media, and youth messaging.
In 2010, Selkoe signed on to be a blogger with popular liberal news site, The Huffington Post, where he comments on current events.
Selkoe received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Award in the e-commerce category in New England.
Personal life
Selkoe currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and Creative Director at Karmaloop, Dina Selkoe.