Stephen Cunningham is a seasoned turnaround executive, business entrepreneur, and strategic innovator with a 30-year career marked by the successful launch and development of six companies. Stephen has led ventures across technology, retail, media, and healthcare, and they have resulted in almost $3 billion in combined valuations.

 

Stephen was a co-founder of the TV Food Network, where he was instrumental in developing the distribution strategy that was used to raise $40M in launch capital. He also founded Ucopia Communications, a leading Wi-Fi technology company in Europe, and later expanded its operations into North America. As CEO of Ucopia Global, Stephen navigated the company through the complexities of the healthcare market during the Pandemic, developing markets for government-approved biodegradable nitrile gloves in the U.S.

 

A student of data analytics, Stephen co-founded Data in Action Analytics (DinA) in partnership with IBM, focusing on real-time live event analytics. His strategic foresight has consistently enabled him to stay ahead of the curve, whether by doubling political ad revenues for the cable industry through Target Media Networks or by launching the first online bridal registry service in partnership with various major retail outlets, which he scaled to profitability before selling it to Primedia Inc.

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His advice to entrepreneurs reflects his own journey:

 

Curiosity is critical:

Don’t Underestimate Market Research: Always take time to drill into the competitive space. What’s working? What’s not? Why? What processes are in place? How can you harness what’s already here?

Prioritize for the best results: When faced with prioritizing initiatives (sales, marketing, product, etc), ask yourself: what will make the biggest difference in my business?

Learn to Say No: Build a good relationship with your instincts and know when to walk away to a better opportunity. Challenge your premises frequently.

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People make the difference:

Character is more important than competence.

Teamwork is more important than talent.

Attitude is more important than ability.

The way I feel about you is the way you feel about me.

 

Stephen’s experience spans the globe, and his journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, strategic thinking, and the importance of a positive impact.