Profile

Fred Kriss Professional Profile

Biography

Fred Kriss is the Founder of FranchiseRight and chief architect of the FranchiseRight System — the proprietary methodology he developed for creating “best-in-class franchise” systems. Fred now licenses his unique system to five independent but cooperative FranchiseRight divisions including an institute, incubator, assessment and certification program, a capital source, and a franchise developer/supplier network. In addition, he is the lead investor in several start-up franchises developed in partnership with FranchiseRight (www.franchiseright.net). With more than 35 years of business and marketing experience, he has created investment-grade business plans and comprehensive franchise programs in more than 25 market verticals, successfully launched more than 50 start-up companies and served as an officer or director of several of the start-up franchise companies he developed.

A member of the country’s most active angel investor networks, including the Keiretsu Forum, Fred travels extensively to identify potential franchise concepts as well as like-minded angels who will co-invest in FranchiseRight-managed projects. He also pursues a busy schedule as a keynote speaker and franchise seminar leader and is currently writing the definitive book on the subject, “Franchising, The New Wealth Strategy.” As “Thought Leader” of FranchiseRight, Fred is the head instructor at FranchiseRight Boot Camps, Advanced Franchisor Training, and Angel Investment Workshops.

Fred formerly served as the Chief Operating Officer of Explorations Franchise Group, Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida, a successful franchisor that was acquired by a public company in less than 14-months after he developed and rolled-out the system. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Gold Coast Venture Capital Association and The Technology, Enterprise, and Development (TED) Center (Florida’s leading business incubator), and a past-president of The Treasure Coast Venture Capital Forum (currently Angel Investors Association of Florida).

Fred holds a patent in the construction industry and is a Florida licensed general contractor and swimming pool and spa contractor. A multiple academic scholarship winner and  record-holding athlete with 8-varsity letters in swimming and crew, Fred was a U.S. national schoolboy rowing champion in 1975.  Fred received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University’s School of Communications in 1979.

Affiliations

National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) (www.nbia.org)

The National Business Incubation Association is the world’s leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. Each year, it provides thousands of professionals with information, education, advocacy and networking resources to bring excellence to the process of assisting early-stage companies. An elected, voting board of directors representing the world’s leading incubators governs the association.

Fred Kriss, a member of the National Business Incubation Association, and founder of the FranchiseRight Incubator (the first franchise incubator worldwide), earned his “certified incubator manager” credentials at the 2009 and 2010 annual conventions. FranchiseRight, a recommended resource of fellow incubator and NBIA member University of Central Florida (UCF), exhibited at the 2010 International Business Incubation Conference in Orlando. FranchiseRight introduced its co-incubation program, the first franchise-specific incubation system available through local incubators.

International Franchise Association (IFA) (www.franchise.org)

The International Franchise Association, founded in 1960, is the leading membership organization of franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers.

Mr. Kriss was selected to develop and teach a new curriculum for the two key workshops that provide franchisee-specific education during franchise shows sanctioned by the International Franchise Association (IFA). First engagement in Los Angeles at the West Coast Franchise Expo  November 5-7, 2010.

Each franchise that Mr. Kriss invests in is required to join. Mr. Kriss regularly attends the IFA Convention and exhibits at IFA sanctioned franchise shows. The FranchiseRight Institute prepares candidates for the IFA’s “Certified Franchise Executive” program.

Keiretsu Forum (www.keiretsuforum.com)

Keiretsu Forum is the world’s largest angel investor network with 850 accredited investor members throughout nineteen chapters on three continents. Since Keiretsu Forum’s founding in 2000, its members have invested over $200m in 260 companies in technology, consumer products, healthcare/life sciences, real estate and other segments with high growth potential. Forum members collaborate in the due diligence, but make individual investment decisions, with rounds in the range of $250k-$2m. Keiretsu Forum’s community is strengthened through education on angel investing, as well as charitable giving. Forum members have donated over $1m to over 100 non-profit organizations.

Fred Kriss is recognized as the leading franchise expert in the group and regularly attends all four Southern California monthly meetings and social gatherings. Mr. Kriss also routinely participates in the three northern California meetings.