Our Partners solicit new deals, coordinate the investment activity with candidate companies, manage the flow of information to Network Members and direct the day-to-day operations of Tech-Rx. Together with our Advisers and Affiliated Executives they develop rescue plans and serve as board members, advisers, and senior management of the selected companies.
The Partners
Steve Hogan, Managing Partner
Steve specializes in the rescue of early-stage companies. He has led rescue activities as CEO of Synamics, a webinar service provider; President of Axiom Navigation, a GPS systems company; CEO of US Traxsis, a cutting-edge GPS technology startup; CEO of Murl.com, an Internet startup; and, CEO of ExtraCorp, an innovative healthcare IT company. Steve founded and built LinkUSA, the first wholesale provider of enhanced telecom services, (now part of Global Crossing), and previously was VP, Communications Research for Telecom*USA/MCI. Steve holds a BSEE from Illinois Institute of Technology and has been awarded 23 tech patents.
View Steve’s profile on LinkedIn.
Chris Sorensen, Managing Partner
Chris has extensive experience building VC-backed companies. He founded Lake Forest Venture Management, raised $30M for early-stage ventures, and returned $135M to investors. Chris co-founded m-Via, one of the first mobile remittance companies, served as Director of Strategy for Art.com and was Director of Marketing and Product Design for MediaShare, an early leader in sales force automation. He began his career at Accenture Consulting and holds a BA(Economics) and a MBA (Finance) from the University of Illinois, and a MS (Computer Science) from Northwestern.
View Chris’s profile on LinkedIn.
Philip Engelhardt, Investment Partner
Philip is Managing Partner of PhilQuo Ventures, an angel group targeting web-based services, film production and digital media. He also serves as an advisor to tech companies growing into entertainment markets, and to media companies planning for their digital evolution. Philip serves on the Board of RKO Pictures and has previously served on the Boards of Société Générale de Financement du Québec, Miranda Technologies and Cinequest; on the Advisory Boards of SGF Tech, Kasenna, Acacia Research, Florida National Bank and Sensei Partners; and as Chairman of the Content Advisory Board of the Internet Streaming Media Alliance. He is a founding member of the High Technology Council of the Western Governors Association and has been active at the annual meeting in Davos and at regional meetings of the World Economic Forum since 1979.
View Philip’s profile on LinkedIn.
Tom Burniece, Operating Partner
Tom has more than 30 years of high-tech experience, including over 12 years as an independent consultant working directly with over 50 companies from unfunded startups to large public corporations, and conducting due diligence for potential investors. His operating experience includes: CEO of iVivity, Voelker Technology and Rutilus Software, Chairman of Ciprico, and General Manager with P&L responsibility for a $1 Billion+ division of Digital Equipment Corporation. Tom holds a BSEE from Minnesota, a MSEE from Arizona State, and is a graduate of the MIT Sloan School’s Senior Executive program.
View Tom’s profile on LinkedIn.
Jerry Gibson, Operating Partner
Jerry has over 30 years’ experience in the healthcare and technology fields in various executive positions encompassing large corporations, medical startups and technology turnaround situations. He has been the cofounder of 4 medical startups and is on the Board of several medical technology companies in addition to serving as a member of the External Advisory Board of the University of California/National Science Foundation Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology. Prior to his startup and turnaround experience he worked for Xerox Corporation and Siemens Medical Solutions. Jerry holds a BBA from the University of Memphis.
View Jerry’s profile on LinkedIn.
James Hogan, Operating Partner
James is a serial entrepreneur and organizational leader with significant software and engineering management experience in start-up and large enterprise environments. Currently he is COO of Future Cities Development, a social entrepreneurship venture focused on building charter cities to raise the standard of living worldwide. Previously James was Senior Director of The Seasteading Institute; EVP of Engineering at PayPal; and Software Engineer with Nortel Networks. James holds a BSCS from the University of Illinois.
View James’ profile on LinkedIn.
Bill Hunt, Operating Partner
Bill is a technology CEO/CTO who has founded or been a senior exec at six successful software companies, each first and a leader in their space. Currently Co-founder and CTO, OptTown, he was formerly CTO of Incent/Align; CEO of TweetAmigo (acquired by Involver); VP of Habeas (acquired by Return Path); VP of ClearAll (acquired by Oracle); and CEO of Akaba. Previously, Bill held engineering management positions with Internet Devices (acquired By Alcatel); VPNet (acquired By Avaya) and Novell.
View Bill’s profile on LinkedIn.
Bob McDonald, Operating Partner
Bob is founder of R.A. McDonald Company providing interim and turnaround C-level management for companies from start-up to international Fortune 500 size, in semiconductors, computer hardware, software, audio, desktop publishing, equipment, logistics, tech services, contract manufacturing and consumer products. Clients include Mackie Designs, TimeLine/Tascam, Carmé Cosmetics, Xerox, Dole (Brazil), HP, TRW, Rockwell, Honeywell, Philips and ITT. Previously, he was CEO or COO of several venture-backed startups, President of Commodore’s Consumer Computer Division, and General Manager of General Instrument’s Memory and Microprocessor Division. Bob holds a BS (Mathematics) from BYU and a MS (Physics) from Arizona State.
View Bob’s profile on LinkedIn.
Russ Singleton, Operating Partner
Russ specializes in growing global, sustainable businesses to 10x revenue and profits from stagnant or net loss. He is currently interim COO and advisor to the CEO’s of medical and health tech companies. Russ’ operating experience includes CEO of Molecular Image, General Manager at Philips Healthcare and General Manager at KLA-Tencor. Co-inventor of the world’s 1st wafer inspection system which grew to a $1B business for KLA, he’s savvy in creating collaborative partnerships with key technologists to match solutions to the right market opportunity. Russ holds an MS and PhD in EE from the University of Illinois. He has also completed Stanford’s Executive Program in Management of High Tech Companies.
View Russ’ profile on LinkedIn.
Robb Spalding, Operating Partner
Robb is an accomplished business development executive with broad technical, marketing, and partner management experience and a proven record of results. He is a Partner at Water Street Holdings LLC, and former Business Development Manager and Product Manager (Office 2000) with Microsoft; Manager, Strategic Alliances with Infinium Software, Inc.; and, Program Manager with Software 2000, Inc. Robb holds a BA (Finance) from the University of Wisconsin.
View Robb’s profile on LinkedIn.
Tom Spanier, Operating Partner
Tom has C-level experience in consumer, business and government markets, and is an expert in assessing, developing and executing focused business plans, rationalizing operations and reducing cash burn. He has led teams in the US, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and has driven rescues as CFO of Intelligentias and Xalted Networks; Chairman and CEO of Digital Video Systems; Senior VP Finance and Operations of Cradle Technologies; President & COO of Uptime One; and EVP, COO and CFO of California Culinary Academy. Previously, he founded and built Sullivan Industries, an international company selling advanced tech materials, lobbying Congress and the Pentagon leading to over $100M in contracts. Tom holds a BS (Business) from UC Berkeley, graduating first in his class and Phi Beta Kappa, and a MBA from Harvard.
View Tom’s profile on LinkedIn.
Nikki Griggs, Business and Marketing Associate
Nikki is a business and marketing associate at Tech-Rx where she supports business and marketing initiatives. Prior to joining Tech-Rx in 2013, Nikki gained marketing experience at a high-tech public relations agency in the Silicon Valley. Nikki holds a BA in Global Economics from University of California Santa Cruz with future plans to attend graduate school to pursue a career in international development.
View Nikki’s profile on LinkedIn.
Advisers
In addition to our Partners, Tech-Rx is privileged to have the services of an elite group of advisers who are experts in their field. They include:
Aaron P. Belcher, APB Law, P.C.
Aaron is an experienced corporate and M&A attorney in the technology sector, advising clients in the software, semiconductor, internet, e-commerce, data security, social networking and online gaming industries. His practice has included cross-border transactions, tender offers, exchange offers, auctions, asset acquisitions, securities, corporate governance advice and emerging companies work. Prior to founding APB Law, Aaron practiced for several years at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, a large, well-known international law firm providing corporate and M&A legal services to technology clients.
For more information, visit www.apblegal.com
Anica John, Senior Counsel, Bloom Energy
Anica is responsible for Bloom Energy’s corporate development and expansion efforts to Brazil and other international markets. On behalf of Bloom, Anica has worked directly with government agencies, Fortune 500 and international companies in the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and India. Prior to Bloom, Anica founded Sarva IP, an outsourcing firm for intellectual property portfolio analysis. During her years leading Sarva, she developed new business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry while managing a team of scientists and attorneys in the US and India. She holds a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law.
For more information, visit Anica on LinkedIn
Ed McGavin, Managing Director, Fountainhead Consulting
Ed is an experienced global professional specializing in strategy and operations transformation for clients in the US, Canada, Asia and Europe in the areas of risk management, due diligence for product development, operations, and supply chain and program management. He previously served as VP of Pipeline &Performance Management with Colorplast A/S (Denmark); Senior Director of Consulting Operations, Novell Inc.; and, Consulting Senior Manager, Industrial & Automotive Practice with KPMG, LLP. Ed holds a BS, Mathematics from Purdue, and a PhD, Operations Management from Purdue’s Krannert School.
For more information, visit Ed on LinkedIn
Theo Priestley, Industry Analyst and Startup Advisor
Theo Priestley – business technology consultant of 15 years, industry analyst and startup advisor. Since 2007, he has advised the large and the small, from stealth startups to large established software vendors, providing industry insight, fostering analyst relations and guiding product strategy and marketing direction. Named in the Top 50 Influencers of 2012 for the (BPM) Case Management industry, Theo also writes high quality, high impact articles at high velocity and edits the popular technology industry blog ITredux, writes and edits for Successful Workplace, frequently contributes to Venturebeat and Techtarget’s ebizQ and ghost writes company blogs.
For more information, visit Theo on LinkedIn
M.M. “Sath” Sathanarayan, President, Offshoring Success LLC
Sath is a world-recognized expert at helping companies to improve the effectiveness of their outsourcing relationships and to overcome the challenges presented by distance, time zones and cultural differences. In addition to his pioneering work in offshoring, he has provided leadership to product development and IT organizations for over two decades, including as a senior executive at a Fortune 500 Corporation and Founder and CEO of a startup. Sath is the author of “Offshore Development and Technical Support” and a speaker at industry conferences.
For more information, visit www.offshoringsuccess.com
Ron Ybarra, Partner, B2B CFO®
Ron has over 22 years of financial experience, including 12 years as a CFO and Controller for public and privately-held companies in the high tech industry. He specializes in rapid-growth, entrepreneurial companies and brings knowledge and experience from diverse industries, including software and professional service companies. Ron is skilled in regulatory and human resource compliance issues and securities practices, and has earned FINRA Series 7 / 63 Securities Licenses.
For more information, visit http://www.ronybarracfo.com/
Affiliated Executives
In addition to our Partners and Advisers, our pool of over 50 Affiliated Executives, each with 15+ years of operating and C-level experience ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies to top consulting firms, can be drawn upon to serve as new management, board members and advisers to the target companies. Representative backgrounds include Adobe, American Express, Cisco, HP, Hitachi, Merrill Lynch, Omidyar Network, Palm, the US Secret Service, VMware, and many more.