David Dodson

Research Statement

David Dodson's area of research includes entrepreneurial acquisition, whereby one searches for, and acquires, a company that they intend to be the principal manager for; management issues around growing enterprises, small and medium sized acquired companies, and early stage enterprises.

Bio

David Dodson teaches S355, “Managing Growing Enterprises”, S555 “Managing Growing Enterprises” S543, and “Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition”. Mr. Dodson is a graduate of Stanford University (Economics ’83, MBA ‘87), and a former case writer (1988).

David Dodson has been active for twenty-five years in the formation of new businesses through entrepreneurial acquisition. Prior to entering the GSB, Dodson worked at McKinsey & Company, where he worked for clients in the oil field services, gas pipeline, liquefied natural gas, and offshore drilling. After graduating from the GSB, under the direction of Professor Irv Grousbeck, he wrote the original course material for search funds—then in its infancy. After one year as a case writer, David Dodson raised his own search fund.

Between 1990 and 2004, Dodson operated as CEO or Executive Chairman of five companies, including co-founding Wind River Environmental, the largest specialty trucking company of its kind, ADAP, Inc., an auto parts retailer that was eventually sold to Auto Zone, Smith Alarm Systems, Inc., Paragon Systems, Inc., and Worldbridge Broadband Services Inc, which was eventually sold to C-Corp

Dodson has been an active mentor and investor in over fifty early stage companies, and has been on the board of directors of over a dozen companies, including Asurion, LLC, an insurance company with over 15,000 employees operating in 14 countries.

Dodson has been active with the creation of market-based solutions to problems related to health and education, with an emphasis on approaches that reduce dependency on charity and instead use the free-market system for sustainable solutions that end the cycle of dependence on charity or government support.

Dodson co-founded Project Healthy Children with Stephanie Cornell in 1999 to address issues of micronutrient deficiency among mothers and children without access to healthy and nutritious foods. Project Healthy Children focused on sustainable solutions to malnutrition. Project Healthy Children estimates that its programs reach over 25 million children and adults throughout the world.

Dodson also co-founded Sanku, LLC—which in collaboration with Stanford University and Project Healthy Children invented a gravimetric device that accurately fortifies wheat flour in small rural mills, reaching the “poorest of the poor” using a market-based approach to sustainable solutions to malnutrition. The Sanku device is the only machine of its kind in the world, and Sanku hopes to reach 100 million people by 2025.

David Dodson is a resident of Wyoming and has three daughters: Caroline, Hannah, and Rachel.

Academic Degrees

• MBA, Stanford GSB, 1987
• BA in Economics, Stanford University, 1983

Awards and Honors

• MBA Class of 1973 Lecturer for 2015-2016

Teaching

Degree Courses

2018-19

STRAMGT 543: Entrepreneurial Acquisition

For aspiring entrepreneurs who don''t have a burning idea or desire to start a company from scratch, acquiring a small business can provide a direct route to running and growing a business. This class will explore entrepreneurial acquisition (EA...

2017-18

STRAMGT 355: Managing Growing Enterprises

This course is offered for students who, in the near term, aspire to the management and full or partial ownership of a new or newly-acquired business. The seminar, which is limited to 45 students, has a strong implementation focus, and deals in...

STRAMGT 543: Entrepreneurial Acquisition

For aspiring entrepreneurs who don''t have a burning idea or desire to start a company from scratch, acquiring a small business can provide a direct route to running and growing a business. This class will explore entrepreneurial acquisition (EA...

2016-17

STRAMGT 355: Managing Growing Enterprises

This course is offered for students who, in the near term, aspire to the management and full or partial ownership of a new or newly-acquired business. The seminar, which is limited to 45 students, has a strong implementation focus, and deals in...

STRAMGT 543: Entrepreneurial Acquisition

For aspiring entrepreneurs who don''t have a burning idea or desire to start a company from scratch, acquiring a small business can provide a direct route to running and growing a business. This class will explore entrepreneurial acquisition (EA...

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