Miles Spencer (born April 30, 1963) is an American angel investor, media entrepreneur and explorer. He is best known for his role as co-host[1] and co-creator of MoneyHunt,[2][failed verification] a reality-based show where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas[3] to a panel of experts.[4] MoneyHunt was distributed to PBS stations[citation needed] in the US beginning 1997[5] and overseas beginning 1999. Spencer and co-creator and co-host Cliff Ennico, a former police reporter for The Herald Statesman (now The Journal News), who had reported on the arrest and life of infamous Son of Sam serial killer David Berkowitz.[6][7] are known for their direct, fast-paced questioning[8][failed verification] and constructive criticism of entrepreneurs.[9][failed verification]
The two co-creator developed the program while stuck in a traffic jam together, after having met in a Connecticut venture group dinner highlighting five top entrepreneurs.[6] The show is considered the original program of the genre,[10] and has been copied in several markets worldwide, most notably Dragons' Den and Shark Tank.[citation needed]
Spencer, who was born in Norristown, PA, readily admits in his book MoneyHunt to having been inspired by Enterprise, a French show hosted by Bernard Tapie, while he attended school there in the early eighties as an exchange student from Choate Rosemary Hall.[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ New York Times: In a Gong Show for Start-Ups, The Best Business Plan Wins March 21, 1999, By James Schembari
- ^ Entrepreneur Magazine
- ^ "SAVP". Archived from the original on 2006-12-30. Retrieved 2007-04-04. The Deal
- ^ Sky-Delta Air Lines June 1999 by John Grossman
- ^ Kiplingers June 2000 by Ronaleen Rohaand
- ^ a b "Westport Minuteman - Fairfielder goes from crime reporter to small business guru". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-04-04. Westport Minuteman
- ^ San Francisco Chronicle August 9, 2000, by Peter Sintonare
- ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmfor/is_199806/ai_n15364153 Forbes Magazine
- ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3514/is_1_47/ai_58459686 Success Magazine
- ^ PR Week September 28, 2000, "Pitch-off piques Interest by Aimee Grove"