BusinessWeek – In 2008, hedge fund manager Matthew Michelsen received the phone call that would change his life—from 50 Cent. Actually, the rapper and energy drink mogul was calling to speak with Michelsen’s wife, Jenny, about investing in her 3D eyewear company, Gunnar Optiks. Jenny passed the phone to Matthew, and an unlikely friendship was born.
Michelsen, who co-founded trading technology firm UNX after starting two hedge funds, never thought he’d work in entertainment. Yet after “Fitty” introduced him to Lady Gaga’s manager, Troy Carter, Michelsen saw an opportunity to employ his financial tech expertise: Carter had been looking for a way to unify Gaga’s “Little Monster” fans online. Michelsen, now 39, introduced Carter to Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Joe Lonsdale and Alex Moore. The group subsequently founded the Backplane, an online platform that allows fans to build all-encompassing e-communities. Michelsen left UNX in 2010.
