Epic Foundation CEO and leadership

Alexandre Mars is a serial entrepreneur and an engaged philanthropist. Over the last 15 years, he has successfully launched and sold several companies in Europe and the US across diverse business sectors, including venture capital, Internet, mobile marketing, social media and advertising. His two latest startups, Phonevalley (the world’s largest mobile agency) and ScrOOn (a social media management system) were recently sold to Publicis Groupe and Blackberry, respectively. Alexandre’s passion for entrepreneurship blossomed early. At 17, he started his first venture: a concert promotion firm. At 21, he founded one of Europe’s first web agencies while continuing his studies at the HEC Paris business school and Paris Dauphine University. He ran his own venture fund, Mars Capital, from 1998-2001. In 2001, Alexandre created Phonevalley and within just a few years, he drove the company to become the largest mobile marketing agency in Europe. Publicis Groupe, the third largest communications group in the world, acquired Phonevalley in 2007 and established the firm as its official worldwide mobile marketing and advertising entity. Mars was appointed Head of Mobile at Publicis, thereby positioning it at the forefront of the mobile communications era. In the same year, Alexandre seized another emerging communications opportunity: the social media revolution. Recognizing its potential, Alexandre launched ScrOOn. ScrOOn was acquired by Blackberry in 2013 to be used as the underlying technology for monetizing its popular BBM product. Alexandre is passionate about fighting inequalities. In 2014, he founded Epic Foundation to bridge the gap between a new generation of individual and corporate donors and organizations supporting children and youth globally. Epic is developing new tools focused on enhancing how donors select, monitor and experience their impact. His vision is to disrupt the philanthropic industry by combining passion and expertise with game- changing technology and partnerships. Alexandre is regularly quoted by the New York Times, Le Monde and Wall Street Journal. He has been invited to share his mobile/digital and philanthropic vision at a variety of events including the Global Philanthropy Forum, Consumer Electronics Show, Advertising Week, AdTech, Mobile World Congress and NEXUS Youth Summit. He is a regular guest speaker on BFMTV, France’s most watched news network. In 2015, Alexandre was named one of New York City’s top 20 philanthropists under 40 by the New York Observer. Alexandre lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three children, whom he adores traveling with. Passionate about music and sports, Alexandre enjoys jazz music and watching Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Saints, and New York Yankees games. He ran both the Paris and New York City Marathons and practices mixed martial arts.

Myriam Vander Elst is a Chief Engagement Officer and ComEx Member at Epic Foundation and Shareholder at SECRET PLANET LTD and is based in London, Greater London, United Kingdom. She has worked as International Development Manager at SECRET PLANET LTD, Board account Planner at DDB UK, and Global Brand Strategist at MAKE WORLD MEDIA. Myriam attended Sciences Po between 1986 and 1990 and The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) between 1990 and 1991.

Alexandre Mars is a serial entrepreneur and an engaged philanthropist. Over the last 15 years, he has successfully launched and sold several companies in Europe and the US across diverse business sectors, including venture capital, Internet, mobile marketing, social media and advertising. His two latest startups, Phonevalley (the world’s largest mobile agency) and ScrOOn (a social media management system) were recently sold to Publicis Groupe and Blackberry, respectively. Alexandre’s passion for entrepreneurship blossomed early. At 17, he started his first venture: a concert promotion firm. At 21, he founded one of Europe’s first web agencies while continuing his studies at the HEC Paris business school and Paris Dauphine University. He ran his own venture fund, Mars Capital, from 1998-2001. In 2001, Alexandre created Phonevalley and within just a few years, he drove the company to become the largest mobile marketing agency in Europe. Publicis Groupe, the third largest communications group in the world, acquired Phonevalley in 2007 and established the firm as its official worldwide mobile marketing and advertising entity. Mars was appointed Head of Mobile at Publicis, thereby positioning it at the forefront of the mobile communications era. In the same year, Alexandre seized another emerging communications opportunity: the social media revolution. Recognizing its potential, Alexandre launched ScrOOn. ScrOOn was acquired by Blackberry in 2013 to be used as the underlying technology for monetizing its popular BBM product. Alexandre is passionate about fighting inequalities. In 2014, he founded Epic Foundation to bridge the gap between a new generation of individual and corporate donors and organizations supporting children and youth globally. Epic is developing new tools focused on enhancing how donors select, monitor and experience their impact. His vision is to disrupt the philanthropic industry by combining passion and expertise with game- changing technology and partnerships. Alexandre is regularly quoted by the New York Times, Le Monde and Wall Street Journal. He has been invited to share his mobile/digital and philanthropic vision at a variety of events including the Global Philanthropy Forum, Consumer Electronics Show, Advertising Week, AdTech, Mobile World Congress and NEXUS Youth Summit. He is a regular guest speaker on BFMTV, France’s most watched news network. In 2015, Alexandre was named one of New York City’s top 20 philanthropists under 40 by the New York Observer. Alexandre lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three children, whom he adores traveling with. Passionate about music and sports, Alexandre enjoys jazz music and watching Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Saints, and New York Yankees games. He ran both the Paris and New York City Marathons and practices mixed martial arts.