Payam Zamani

Payam Zamani
Alma mater	University of California, Davis
Occupation	Business executive

Payam Zamani is the founder and chairman of One Planet Ops Inc, a hybrid tech firm that consists of several operating technology companies and brands, an angel fund and a startup incubator. The firm currently operates a few large tech businesses, including BuyerLink.com (formerly Reply.com), MerchantCircle.com and QualitySmith. The firm operates under a "innovation + intention" philosophy and attempts to combine capital with social capital by ensuring all operating businesses are contributing to various social causes.

Zamani is a member of the Bahá'í Faith and was forced to escape religious persecutions in Iran. He came to the U.S. as a refugee in 1988 at the age of 16.

Zamani’s serial entrepreneurship began in 1994 when he co-founded Autoweb.com, the first online car buying service. In 1999 he helped to take the company public. The company’s market cap ultimately reached $1.2 billion.

Zamani later founded PurpleTie, before starting Reply! in 2001. In May 2011, Reply! acquired MerchantCircle, an online network of business owners, for $60 million in cash and stock.

Zamani recently founded Contractors.com, a new home improvement service which matches property owners with local contractors.

Zamani is on the board of Mona Foundation, which is focused on improving education around the world, particularly for women. Payam lobbied the board of Reply.com, to donate 1% percent of all its profits to Mona each year.

Zamani also sits on the board of the Tahirih Justice Center - a non-profit helping individuals fleeing violence and human rights violations.

...
Wikipedia