Invests in
Locations:
Min Investment:
$5,000.00Max Investment:
$50,000.00Target Investment:
$25,000.00
Skills
Education
- US
Lists including Kal
Work Experience
Co-founder, Silicon Valley in Your Pocket
2018
Silicon Valley in Your Pocket, a Global Kinetics company, is a virtual startup founder community and accelerator that helps entrepreneurs anywhere in the world grow their companies, with acceleration curriculum, coaching, and a comprehensive, personalized “investor-readiness” assessment. The virtual acceleration program is the perfect complement to startups from pre-seed to A round; at the idea stage, market launched or somewhere in-between. The program helps startups in key areas including legal & corporate, marketing & IP, competitive landscape, go-to-market strategy, finance & KPIs, sales pipeline, pilot partnership strategies, leadership & corporate governance, pitch optimization, due diligence & deal room and fundraising.
2020
Co-Founder
2020
DealEngine leverages data and diversity to help make startups better for both founders and investors. Our SaaS tools give entrepreneurs equal opportunity to succeed, while giving investors better access to vetted high-potential startups.
2020
Adjunct Instructor, UC Berkeley
2020
Partnering with UC Berkeley Extension to launch Spanish-language translation of Silicon Valley in Your Pocket virtual startup acceleration program. Focus of program is startup traction and investor readiness for companies in Latin America and Spain.
2015
Managing Partner & Founding Investor-Advisor
2015
Founding Investor-Advisor and Partner at Batchery, an Oakland-based global incubator for early-stage startups ready to go from idea to launch at lightning speed. Served as CEO through December 2016, bringing the company to cash-flow positive by Q4 2016. The Batchery is a community of veteran angel and venture capital investors and advisors ready to provide startups with ideas, insights, and networks. The Batchery also serves as a global gateway to Silicon Valley, with the best-in-class curriculum, mentorship, tools, network and partnerships for entrepreneurs in the Bay Area, around the US, and world. Industry focus of portfolio companies includes FinTech, blockchain, IoT, enterprise software, AI, machine learning, VR, robotics, mobile applications, hardware, SaaS and more.
2014
Member, Berkeley Angel Network
2014
Member of Berkeley Angel Network, angel investment group for, of and by UC Berkeley alumni. Serving on Startup Screening, Pitch Event and Due Diligence Committees.
2010 - 2018
Startup Advisor & Investor
2010 - 2018
Providing consulting services to early-stage startup companies, offering "virtual" Chief Revenue Officer advisory services related to unique value proposition, go-to-market strategies, product pricing, revenue optimization, financial modeling, product strategy and analytics/KPIs. Traveling internationally and facilitating entrepreneur and startup workshops and boot-camps at incubators, accelerators, corporations and universities interested in global innovation. Boot-camp topics include: product value proposition, go-to-market strategy, revenue optimization, competitive analysis, fundraising, metrics for success and many others.
2016 - 2017
Co-Founder & International Startup Advisor
2016 - 2017
HUBSV is a global network of Silicon Valley HUBs centered around and operated from Silicon Valley, and features 300+ Silicon Valley experts and investors on a mission to release the potential of the very best cross-border technology startups and Foreign Micro Enterprises. From innovative hotspots in the world HubSV aims to pave a non-friction path to global growth, including Silicon Valley acceleration, investments, alternative funding as well as acquisition and other exit models. A recent global acceleration and innovation program, focused on a national call for startups in the Republic of Georgia. Over 750 applicants were screened down to 50 participating in a local bootcamp. Twenty received seed funding and three months of remote mentoring. Eight were invited to visit Silicon Valley for an immersion program and demo day.
2012 - 2017
Founder & Co-Chair, Art of Mixology
2014 - 2017
Now in its fifth year, Art of Mixology is an annual non-profit fundraising event focused on the art of craft cocktails. Bartenders compete for the prestigious Mixologist of the Year award along with cash prizes. Over 320 people of legal drinking age come to Orinda Theatre Square to sample safe-and-sane portions of 20+ cocktails in a festive, lively atmosphere.
Board Member
2012 - 2015
Member Strategic Planning Committee. Co-Chair of Art of Mixology craft cocktail competition and fundraising event & Lamorinda ShortDocs Film Fest. Managing technology platform, including CRM, CMS-based website, social media, and email marketing tools.
2008 - 2011
Co-Founder & CEO
2008 - 2011
Launched SaaS platform powering “do-it-yourself cinema,” empowering public venue operators (schools, community centers, cafes, etc.) to create and monetize theatrical movie screenings, including studio licensing, “demand this film” crowd-sourced event marketing, electronic ticket sales and fulfillment, workflow automation, and concessions cross-sales. “Movie Night” pilots with Bay Area schools generated average of $1,200 net income per event, achieving better profitability than traditional megaplex screen, with 600% ROI.
2004 - 2007
Vice President, Product Management & Online Marketing
2004 - 2007
Managed all aspects of product management for General Catalyst-funded startup TotalMove, Inc., with oversight of TotalMove.com (Acquired by MostHome) and EscapeHomes.com (acquired by HomeAway) properties. Launched call center CRM and lead validation, scoring, and incubation system, improving lead quality by 40%. Oversaw search engine marketing (SEM) and search engine optimization (SEO) of websites, with annual marketing budget of $1MM. Reduced cost per lead by 68%.