Gene Hoffman (technology executive)

Gene Hoffman
Official headshot of Gene Hoffman, CEO & President of Chia Network
Bornc. 1975 [a]
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill[b]
OccupationTechnology executive
Known forCEO of Chia Network; co-CEO of Permuto Capital; co-founder of eMusic and Vindicia

Gene Hoffman is an American technology executive. He is the chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Chia Network, and the co-chief executive officer (co-CEO) of Permuto Capital.[2][3] He previously co-founded the online music service eMusic.com and the subscription billing company Vindicia.[4]

Early life and education

While a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Hoffman co-founded PrivNet, a privacy software startup that created Internet Fast Forward, one of the first commercial ad-blocking programs. PrivNet was acquired by Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) in 1996, after which Hoffman moved to Silicon Valley to work at PGP.[5][6]

Career

eMusic

Hoffman co-founded eMusic.com in January 1998 and served as its president and chief executive officer until the company was sold to Vivendi Universal (Universal Music Group).[7][4] In April 2001, Universal agreed to acquire eMusic for approximately $23–25 million in cash.[8][9]

Vindicia

In 2003, Hoffman co-founded Vindicia, a software-as-a-service provider of subscription billing and digital commerce tools, and served as chairman and CEO through 2016.[4] News coverage of Amdocs’ 2016 acquisitions lists Vindicia among the three vendors purchased as part of its digital strategy.[10][11]

Chia Network

Hoffman became an advisor to Chia Network in 2017 and joined the company full-time in August 2019 as chief operating officer and president. He was appointed CEO on January 1, 2023.[12][2]

Permuto Capital

In December 2024, Hoffman was appointed co-CEO of Permuto Capital and chairman of its board of directors, as disclosed in company announcements and filings.[13][3]

Recognition

  • Featured on the cover of Forbes as part of the magazine’s “E-Gang” profile (July 1999).[14]

Notes

  1. ^ Based on age noted in the Chia Network, Inc. Form S-1 registration statement.[1]
  2. ^ Contemporary coverage describes him as a UNC student when he co-founded PrivNet; see sources in the article.

References

  1. ^ "Chia Network, Inc. Form S-1 Registration Statement". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. August 13, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Chia Network Announces Leadership Transition to Support Scaling Growth". Business Wire. January 19, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Newly Launched Permuto Capital Announces Filing of Registration Statement for New Type of Equity Product". Permuto Capital. January 15, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Gene Hoffman Jr". Directors & Boards. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  5. ^ Claburn, Thomas (July 8, 2021). "In conversation with Gene Hoffman, co-creator of the web's first ad blocker". The Register. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  6. ^ "A Perfectly Private Marriage". Wired. February 1, 1997. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  7. ^ "Gene Hoffman, chair and CEO, Vindicia (speaker bio)". The Guardian. February 28, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  8. ^ "EMusic Agrees to Be Acquired by Universal Music for $23 Million". Los Angeles Times. April 10, 2001. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  9. ^ "Universal Music to Acquire EMusic". Adweek. April 9, 2001. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  10. ^ "Amdocs acquires three leading technology companies to expand digital offering". Reuters. September 14, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "Amdocs Buys Trio of Vendors to Advance Digital Strategy". Light Reading. September 14, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  12. ^ "Gene Hoffman — Team". Chia Network. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  13. ^ "Form S-1 (Permuto Capital MSFT Trust I) — Company and Management". Permuto Capital. January 15, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "The E-Gang". Forbes. July 26, 1999. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
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