Mr. Tyson is co-founder and Managing Partner of EFC. For the past 37 years, Mr. Tyson has founded, managed and/or invested in a variety of businesses, including satellite distributed programming, cable TV, hotel and healthcare private interactive television networks, real estate, a children’s animation focused motion picture studio, and solar energy.
In April 2009, Mr. Tyson and Mr. Sampson, EFC’s principals, partnered with ITOCHU to form SolarNet LLC. Through EFC, Mr. Tyson is a member of SolarNet LLC and serves on the Board of Directors.
Prior to the formation of EFC, Mr. Tyson has founded and invested in many companies and ventures including an early stage investment in FTL Solar, a lightweight solar structure company. Prior to FTL, Mr. Tyson partnered and invested in the acquisition of the assets of U.S. Online, one of the largest private cable TV companies in the U.S. and facilitated divestiture of the company’s assets to cable system operators throughout the U.S.. Prior to U.S. Online, Mr. Tyson invested in, became its CEO and helped take private World Satellite Network. At World Satellite Network, he participated in the firm’s growth to serving more than 1 million private cable and wireless subscribers. Prior to World Satellite, Mr. Tyson founded and was CEO of Hospitality Network, an interactive TV venture focused on the hospitality industry, and helped grow the firm to became the third largest operator of hotel in-room television systems in the U.S.. Currently, Hospitality Network serves more than 120,000 rooms. Prior to Hospitality Network, Mr. Tyson founded and was CEO of Cable Healthcare, an interactive TV operator that served major hospitals including Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai (now HeathAnswers.com). Prior to Cable Healthcare, Mr. Tyson founded and was CEO of Austin Satellite Television, Austin, Texas’ second largest cable television system. In this venture he was granted the first FCC license for microwave distribution to apartment complexes. Prior to this, Mr. Tyson founded and was CEO of Video Vista, the first media distribution firm licensed by the FCC for direct to hotel reception of satellite programming. Video Vista hosted the first teleconferences for both IBM and The American Bar Association.
Mr. Tyson has served on numerous boards, including a public company and a charitable children’s foundation.