Michael Lythcott

Michael F. Lythcott (born April 6, 1974) is an American entrepreneur and investor who has founded several media and internet companies. He is the son of Barbara Ann Teer who founded Harlem's National Black Theatre^[1] in 1968, and the grandson of former Assistant Surgeon General George I. Lythcott.^[2]

As an entrepreneur he has founded several companies including PureAdvice, TrueCredit (a division of TrueLink), Uplift Equity Partners, OnWax Media, and STAR Industries, LLC, among others.

After Truelink was sold to TransUnion in 2002,^[3] Lythcott Co-founded Uplift Equity Partners.^[4] In 2005, while a partner at Uplift Equity, he became the interim Chairman and CEO of VAS Entertainment, a position he held until he was replaced by media scion Andrew Tow.^[5] As CEO of VAS, Lythcott executive produced several feature films documentaries, and television shows, including the documentary Bra Boys starring Russell Crowe and Koby Abberton,^[6] the reality television show The Block for G4, and The Art of Flight starring professional snowboarder Travis Rice. While at VAS he acquired 11 media companies, including Studio 411, which he bought from Casey Wasserman's WMG.^[7]

In 2004 while at Uplift, Lythcott formed Lythcott & Co, an incubator and holding company for his investments. In 2010, Lythcott and Co partnered with the George Washington School of Business to established a proprietary customized MBA Program (STAR MBA). This program is specifically for professional athletes and entertainers to offer support for their future success as entrepreneurs and business owners.

Lythcott graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996 and in 2004 obtained an MBA from Columbia Business School.

References

1. National Black Theatre web site
2. Petdiatrics Adolescent Health Assistant Surgeon General
3. TransUnion Takes Significant Equity Position in TrueLink
4. Uplift Equity Partners, BusinessWeek
5. Wax CEO discusses new video distribution model and Vas, Business Transworld
6. "Bra Boys (2007)", IMDB
7. Wasserman Media Group's Sportnet & VAS Entertainment Join Forces to Distribute Leading Action Sports Content Across DVD & Online Platforms

• Jeff Gottlieb, "He's No Business Guru, but a Lot of Stock Is Put in His Guidance", Los Angeles Times, April 17, 2004.
• "Michael Lythcott" at IMDb.
• "Michael Lythcott"
• Rick Maese, "George Washington University creates MBA program for professional athletes", The Washington Post, July 7, 2011.
• Matt K. Lewis, "A school for NFL players to get their MBA’s (and avoid going ‘Broke’ when they retire)", The Daily Caller, February 16, 2013.
• Kevin Flynn and Felicia R. Lee, "A Harlem Cultural Hub Is Threatened by Debt", The New York Times, January 31, 2011.
• http://harlemworldmag.com/tag/michael-lythcott/
• http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/03/washington-business-report-march-31-2013-86870.html
• "Transunion Acquires Truelink", December 9, 2002.
• "The Orchard and VAS Partner Up On Digital Distribution", Transworld Business, August 13, 2009.
• "Tony Hawk Awarded At Stoked Awards for 390 Skate Park Projects", Transworld Business', October 20, 2008.
• "The Meeting IN Aspen Releases Schedule of Events", Transworld Business, September 29, 2008.
• "Sportnet, VAS Entertainment Join Forces To Produce Action Sports Content", Transworld Business, April 7, 2008.
• "VAS Entertainment Opens Japanese Subsidiary", Transworld Business, March 19, 2008.
• "VAS Entertainment Acquires Koastal Media Distribution", Surfline, November 6, 2009.