Nick Gross
| Nick Gross | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Nicholas William Gross July 19, 1988 Laguna Woods, California, United States |
| Residence | Laguna Beach, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation |
Drummer entrepreneur |
| Known for |
Drummer of Half the Animal CEO of STRZ Enterprises COO of Milky Agency Founder of Find Your Grind |
| Parent(s) |
Bill Gross Sue J. Frank |
Nicholas William (Nick) Gross (born July 19, 1988) is an American musician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the drummer for the American Alternative Rock band Half the Animal, chief executive officer of STRZ Enterprises, vice president and chief operating officer of Milky Agency, and founder of the Find Your Grind Foundation.[1][2]
Early Life and education
Gross was born in Laguna Woods, California. He is the son of Sue J. Frank and Bill Gross, a prominent financial manager, author, and co-founder of Pacific Investment Management Company.
Musical career
Gross began playing drums in 1993 at the age of 5. In 2000, he met singer-songwriter Chase Johnson in an after-school church class and subsequently formed the band Open Air Stereo.,[3] which gained national attention after being featured on MTV's reality television show Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. After appearing early in the show's third season, Open Air Stereo went on to sign a contract with Epic Records.[4]
After 12 years of writing songs, touring, and playing at venues such as the Roxy Theatre and the Troubadour,[5] Johnson and Gross abandoned Open Air Stereo and established Half the Animal.[6] On July 15, 2016, Half the Animal released its first single, "Babylon." The band’s debut EP, “Shapes,” is scheduled for release February 3, 2017, under the STRZ Records label.[7]
Business Interests
In addition to his musical endeavors, Gross is also a serial entrepreneur.
Gross is chief executive officer of STRZ Enterprises, a fully integrated music, entertainment, and creative studio located in Los Angeles[8]vice president, chief operating officer of Milky Agency, a creative, branding, and business development agency based in Los angeles, and a venture capitalist. He was part of a group of investors that raised $2.9 million in seed funding for the mobile application Speakr.[9][10]
Philanthropy
In 2015, Gross founded the Find Your Grind Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles that’s dedicated to inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs through music, art, and technology education.[11]
Personal life
Despite his father’s financial background, Gross and his two siblings have all entered creative professions.[12] His half-brother, Jeff, is a photographer, and his half-sister, Jennifer, is an artist[13]
References
- ↑ "How To Define Your Brand Story – On Your Own Terms". YFS Magazine: Startups, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Culture.
- ↑ "3 Ways to Marry Music and Technology to Grow Your Startup". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- ↑ http://www.stunewslaguna.com/archives/front-page-archive/8714-chase-johnson-nick-gross-053113
- ↑ http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/115607/inside-laguna-open-air-stereo.jhtml#id=154349
- ↑ http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/115607/inside-laguna-open-air-stereo.jhtml#id=154349
- ↑ https://galoremag.com/band-laguna-beach-even-hotter-now/
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7557940/half-the-animal-new-song-premiere-shapes-ep
- ↑ http://www.strzenterprises.com
- ↑ "twtMob Raises $2.9 Million in Seed Funding to Connect Brands with Social Influencers". www.businesswire.com.
- ↑ http://venturebeat.com/2014/10/13/speakr-formerly-twtmob-scores-2-9m-to-land-more-brand-endorsements-for-net-influencers/
- ↑ http://fygfoundation.com
- ↑ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/b/7208f2e2-3f37-408e-9ce8-355c9fbb0070
- ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/08/us/bill-gross-fast-facts