ÂÜÀòÂÒÂ×

As Co-Founder and CEO of Begin, the parent company of HOMER, Neal manages the company’s purpose and vision, sets its strategy and execution plan, recruits talent and manages strategic relationships with investors and partners. Neal has built a team with deep industry expertise across organizations such as Nickelodeon, PBS Kids, Scholastic, Barnes & Noble, Pearson and Mattel. He has helped guide HOMER to be one of the largest, fastest growing and most promising platforms for early childhood literacy and language learning, earning recognition from the Aspen Institute, American Library Association, Education World and National Education Association. Neal is also a Co-Founder of Saavn, the largest streaming service for South Asian music in the world, and a Founding Partner at [212]MEDIA, which builds consumer media ventures in fragmented markets alongside major media companies. Prior to [212]MEDIA, Neal was Co-Founder and President of Simile, a contextual advertising platform in media and publishing. With a B.S.F.S. in International Relations from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University Neal began his career as an Investment Banker in an upstart unit of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette that advised media & telecom companies. His favorite children’s book is Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne.