Michael Kranitz is currently President and CEO of Kaango, a company he founded in 2005 and recently sold to Hearst Corporation and MediaNews Group. Kaango is a networked online classified ad marketplace and software platform for media companies.
Kaango was an outgrowth of RCUniverse.com, a company which Kranitz co-founded and grew into the world's largest online community for radio control hobbyists. RCU was also sold as part of the Kaango acquisition in November 2007. Kranitz programmed more than 85% of the site.
Kranitz practiced corporate reorganization law for 11 years and is the author of two books and a consumer auto leasing software package. Kranitz was a faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and author of "The Basic Guide to Bankruptcy," a primer for practicing professionals. Kranitz received the highest peer recommendations from judges and practicing lawyers.
In the late 90’s, Kranitz authored "Look Before You Lease: Secrets to Smart Vehicle Leasing" and LeaseWizard software for consumers. He created LeaseWizard.com, CarWizard.com and LeaseSource.com, which also serve the auto buying and leasing public. Kranitz sold those assets to Denver-based Navidec, Inc. (NASDAQ; NVDC), where he became President and a director of DriveOff.com, Inc., an Internet auto purchasing and financing subsidiary backed by parent company, Navidec, and Wells Fargo Bank (NYSE: WFC), which invested 15 million dollars into the startup. DriveOff.com was sold to joint venture of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) in 2000.
Kranitz gives back to the community through donations of money and his time. He has spoken extensively over the last decade in the auto, hobby and newspaper industries and has been invited to speak at Vanderbilt and University of Florida graduate business schools.
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