“Techstars Entry into Emerging Markets” by Ed Roberto

İTÜ ÇEKİDEK, otuz yılı aşkın bir süredir aktif olarak girişimcilik ve yatırımcılık yapan, Techstars’ın Orta Doğu & Afrika bölgesinden sorumlu Genel Müdür Yardımcısı Ed Roberto’yu ağırlıyor. “Techstars Entry into Emerging Markets” semineri 1 Ekim saat 16.00’da İTÜ Çekirdek Konferans Salonu’nda gerçekleşecek.

About Ed Roberto,

 Ed Roberto has been an active entrepreneur and investor for the past 33 years. He is a limited partner in venture capital funds across the United States. His angel investment activity is primarily focused in the Denver-Boulder, CO corridor. Ed enjoys mentoring company founders and executive teams, from the TechStars program and his local angel investments, to refine operating plans, develop business models, and deliver compelling investment presentations.

Numerous venture capital and private equity firms, including the Carlyle Group, Kayne-Anderson Capital Advisors, Trencor SA, and Pall Mall Partners, have recruited Ed as a consultant regarding their portfolio companies. Ed has worked with both early stage ($0-$20MM revenues) and mid-sized ($50-$250MM) companies. His work has encompassed turnaround and streamlining of operations, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property sales, upgrading management teams, developing partnerships and third party distribution channels, securing equity financing, and preparing companies for initial public offerings. Ed provides his expertise either as an active Board member, management consultant, or permanent executive officer. Recent roles include:

• VP, Middle East & Africa for Techstars. - (March 2015 - Present)
• CEO of Lagrange Systems, Inc. (December 2012 – February 2015)
• CEO of Collective Intellect, Inc. - sold to Oracle (April 2012 - August 2012)
• CEO of REMOS Aircraft GmbH (May 2010 – May 2011)
• President of Hydra Group - sold to Adknowledge (April 2009 - June 2010)
• COO of Trenstar, Inc - sold to Macquarie Securities (July 2006 - March 2008)

Ed has the ability to quickly develop and execute strategic and operational priorities which will have the greatest positive impact with the resources on hand. He is able to maintain his integrity, effectiveness, and composure in sustained high stress environments. For example, for six months in 2007 and 2008, he provided on-site business mentoring to nuclear, biological, chemical, and delivery scientists from the Iraqi regime to develop feasible business models to aid in the post-war reconstruction of the country.

Ed’s prior experiences in international and high tech operations included the following roles:

• Co-founder and CEO of Newmerix Corporation, offering a suite of software products that improved the quality and reduced the cost and time associated with continuous change in Enterprise Resource Planning applications. Financing was provided by Mobius Venture Capital, IDG Ventures, and Siemens Venture Capital.
• Co-founder and CEO of Asia Online, Ltd, consolidating ISPs across Asia Pacific. Prior to being named CEO, led all M&A efforts in nine countries in Asia Pacific. He was intimately involved in fundraising, and IPO efforts. The company raised US$142MM in venture financing and grew revenues to $100M in the first 2 years of operation. The venture syndicate included Softbank Technology Ventures, GE Capital, Dell Ventures, BNP-Paribas, JP Morgan Venture Partners, Pequot Capital, Lightyear Capital, and others.
• Co-founder and VP-Business Development at VIA Internet (Nasdaq:VNWI), a consolidator of ISPs in Europe and Latin America. Ed was instrumental in the development and presentation of the company’s business plan and Series A financing. The company raised an initial round of US$52MM in venture financing lead by Centennial Ventures.