David S. Wetherell is an American entrepreneur, investor, and venture capitalist renowned for his role in the early internet industry during the dot-com era. Born in 1955 in Maine, he grew up in the state and pursued higher education at the University of Maine, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. Wetherell's early career focused on the printing and graphics sector, but he quickly recognized the potential of emerging technologies, leading him to co-found the Center for Management and Graphic Innovation (CMGI) in 1986 in Andover, Massachusetts. Under his leadership as founder and CEO, CMGI transformed from a graphics firm into a prominent internet incubator and investor, backing startups such as Lycos, GeoCities, and Tribeworks, which propelled the company's stock to extraordinary heights in the late 1990s, briefly making Wetherell one of the wealthiest individuals in the tech world. The dot-com bust in 2000 brought significant challenges, with CMGI's market value plummeting from over $100 billion to mere fractions, resulting in substantial losses for investors and employees. Wetherell stepped down as CEO that year but continued to influence the tech landscape through subsequent ventures, including the management of family investment offices and involvement in funds like the Wetherell Group. He has maintained a lower public profile since, focusing on selective investments in technology, media, and real estate, while also engaging in philanthropy, particularly in education and environmental causes in New England. Despite the volatility of his high-profile career, Wetherell's early bets on the internet helped shape the digital economy.