Casey Cowell

Casey Cowell graduated from the University of Chicago receiving an A.B. degree in Economics in 1975. In 1976, at the age of 23, he co-founded U.S. Robotics, Inc. He served as Chairman and CEO throughout the company’s history culminating in its merger into 3COM Corporation. A $200 post-college start-up, U.S. Robotics became the world’s largest manufacturer of modems and related products that connected computers to the global telephone network. In addition to a broad array of other products and technologies, USR also brought to market the Palm Pilot, the first highly successful digital handheld organizer. USR distinguished itself by designing and manufacturing all of its products in its own factories in the US in a period when US companies were focused on moving offshore. Its revenues grew from $50 million in 1990, the year before it went public, to $2.5 billion in 1997.

Cowell is an active investor, advisor and board member in a broad range of companies with an emphasis on start-ups and early stage. In 2016 he started Boomerang-Catapult, LLC to back entrepreneurs and launch these kinds of companies in northern Michigan, a boomerang being someone who grew up in or lived in northern Michigan, went out into the world and learned how to create value and would return if they could find the right work. Boomerang-Catapult seeks them out and invests in them in the Traverse City area. Since mid-2016 Boomerang-Catapult has helped to start 21 local, high-value creation companies into which more than $130 million of venture capital has been invested.

Cowell is engaged in many civic and philanthropic efforts and organizations with emphasis on northern Michigan and Traverse City. He serves on the boards of Munson Healthcare, Interlochen Center for the Arts and 20Fathoms incubator / accelerator and is an advisor to many enterprises and institutions.