Robert von goeben

Entrepreneur and author Robert von Goeben has excelled in numerous fields, including consumer products, venture capital, and entertainment.

Robert teaches innovation in the MBA program at Portland State University. Previously, he was a Senior Adjunct Professor at California College of the Arts in San Francisco, teaching in both the MFA and MBA programs.

Robert was a co-founder of Green Toys, the leading manufacturer of eco-friendly children’s products, and a pioneer in the use of recycled material in consumer products. Within five years of launch, Green Toys had distribution in over 80 countries and was carried by major U.S. retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Whole Foods, Pottery Barn, Target, and many more. Robert was the company’s CEO and head of product development and retired from the business after the sale of the company to private equity firm The Friend Group.

Robert previously founded Propellerhead Studios, a Silicon Valley design studio specializing in electronic toys and games. Propellerhead worked with many leading toy companies, including Mattel, Radica and Wild Planet.

During the ‘90s, Robert worked as a Silicon Valley venture capitalist. He was the founder and Managing Director of the first generation of Starter Fluid, a top quartile returning venture capital fund backed by leading institutional and corporate investors, including Compaq Computers and the University of Chicago. Before that, Robert was also a founding director of Redleaf Venture Management, one of Silicon Valley’s first Internet-focused venture capital funds.

In the early ‘90s, Robert started and ran the online division of Geffen Records, establishing one of the first online programs in the entertainment industry. In 1994, Robert and the Geffen team developed what is considered the first digital delivery of music, for which Robert was nominated for the ComputerWorld award by the Smithsonian Institution. Before that Robert, worked in digital imaging with Applied Graphics Technologies working with leading entertainment companies such as Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, MCA, etc.

A prolific writer, he is the author of eight published book. Robert’s most recent book is POSTER CHILD: The Psychedelic Art & Technicolor Life of David Edward Byrd published fall of 2023 by Abrams Books. The book chronicles the life and work of the acclaimed rock and Broadway poster artist David Edward Byrd. He was also the co-author of The VC Comic Strip, a widely read parody of the venture capital industry.

Robert has an MBA from the University of Southern California and a BA in Mathematics from the State University of New York.

He holds two US Patents in the field of toys and games, won an IDSA design award, has a ridiculous credit on a Beavis and Butthead album, and the honor of having one of his products depicted on South Park.

For a full list of professional experience, click here to see Robert's LinkedIn CV.