Andrew Bollen, Investment Manager, Playford Capital
Andrew has worked in high tech R&D, start-up management, investment banking, portfolio management and venture investing in Australia, the US and Asia. He has played a key role in raising substantial funds for start-ups, serving on their boards, helping to manage their growth, and structuring and negotiating public and private transactions.
www.playford.com.au
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Ivor Frischknecht, Investment Director, Starfish Ventures
Ivor Frischknecht has broad business experience as a company founder, board director, manager, consultant and investor. He joined Starfish Ventures in 2005 after 15 years of hands-on management and investing experience. His focus is on cleantech investments—companies that develop energy, water and environmental technologies.
Prior to joining Starfish, Ivor was a Director of the New Ventures Group at Idealab, a California-based firm that incubates and invests in early stage technology companies. At Idealab, he evaluated and developed business plans and helped the CEOs of existing investments grow and finance their companies. Two of the companies developed clean energy technologies.
Prior to Idealab, Ivor was a senior operating executive, including CEO, of several Silicon Valley startups in the energy technology, enterprise software and the Internet sectors. He was CEO of H2onsite, a hydrogen generation technology company, and COO of DMFCC, a micro fuel cell company. He co-founded a software company, Angara Database Systems, built it from zero to sixty employees over five years, raised US$40MM of top-tier venture capital and debt, and eventually merged it with a public company.
Prior to working in California, Ivor was a strategic management consultant with Bain & Company in Sydney, Boston and San Francisco. He also worked for the law firm Minter Ellison and was a research scholar at the Reserve Bank of Australia and Harvard University.
Ivor serves on the Board of Directors of Senviro and Space-Time Research.
www.starfishventures.com.au
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Mark Gill, Investment Manager, CM Capital
Mark Gill is a part of the CM Capital Telecom & IT investments team. He has 23 years experience in the technology sector, with a strong emphasis on hardware and software engineering. Over the past 16 years Mark has acted in General Management, Chief Executive, and Global Sales/Marketing capacities. With experience in developing, selling and delivering complex systems to over 30 countries and managing globally diverse technology companies, Mark has been involved in the many challenges facing entrepreneurs and managers in this sector, including capital raising in several continents.
In early 1994 Mark became CEO of Telecom Software Products company, Pacific Star Technologies (PST). Under Mark's guidance PST grew to 100 staff in Australia, with major contracts in Europe, Asia, Central America and Australia, before concluding a successful trade sale to fast-growing Nasdaq company Claremont in the US in 1997. That led Mark into key senior executive roles in global US organisations, both public and private, including EVP Worldwide Sales for a telecom software organisation which grew sales globally over 100% per annum during his three year tenure. Mark's return to Australia in 2003 was triggered by his recruitment into the role of CEO at satellite modem developer, DSpace. In this role Mark developed the management team and created strong revenue growth through a top tier industry customer list. He transitioned his role to the team upon reaching profitable and cash positive operations in 2006.
Mark remains on the Board of DSpace Pty Ltd and acts as the CM representative to the Board of Microwave & Materials Designs.
www.cmcapital.com
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David Landers, CEO, Allen & Buckeridge Emerging Technologies Fund
David is responsible for A&B's pre-seed and seed stage investments into discriminated intellectual property arising from R&D efforts within major research universities, government research organisations and corporate research labs in Australia.
His background comprises a blend of senior entrepreneurial, operating, corporate finance and strategic roles across Asia. A proven entrepreneur, he was Executive Vice President of Sales and Chief Financial Officer of AFL Ltd, a manufacturing business he co-created in Shanghai and Beijing from 1995 to 1998. David was the driving force behind the company's successful fund-raising efforts and eventual trade sale to a major UK based multinational.
Prior to that he was the Asia regional head of M&A for Pepsi Cola International; where he completed close to $1 billion in acquisition and joint venture transactions. David began his career with leading global management and technology consulting firm Booz Allen & Hamilton, where he gained over five years experience in technology driven strategy development and implementation for clients throughout Asia.
David has an MBA in International Business from the New York University Stern School of Management and is an honours graduate of the prestigious International Management Program at the Stockholm School of Economics. He received his undergraduate degree with distinction from America's top ranked school of entrepreneurial management, Babson College, in Boston.
www.a-b.com.au
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Remco Marcelis, Investment Director, Paragon Private Equity
Remco joined Paragon in January 2007 and has ten years experience in investment and fast growth businesses.
Remco was Chief Financial Officer with Rising Sun Pictures (RSP), a world-class visual effects company. During his nearly 3 years with them, RSP tripled in size to 120 employees and worked on blockbuster movies including Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Superman Returns.
Before joining Rising Sun Pictures, Remco was Investment Manager at start-up technology investor, Playford Capital. Previously, Remco worked for 12 years in the IT industry in a variety of finance, technology and marketing areas EDS, Andersen Consulting and Coopers & Lybrand.
Remco is president of the SA Chapter of the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) and also sits on AIMIAs national board.
In his spare time, Remco advises a number of companies including a TV production company on growth strategies.
He has also authored a paper on 'Raising Money - 10 Tips for Securing Investment' that has been presented to a number of audiences.
www.paragonadvisory.com.au
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Nicholas McDonagh, Founding General Partner, Accede Capital Venture Partners
Nick is a Founding General Partner of Accede Capital. Prior to co-founding Accede Capital, Nick was a senior member in the Australian venture capital business of Deutsche Bank Capital Partners, where he led a number of investments and has served as a Director on both Sensory Networks and RedSheriff (acquired by NASDAQ: NTRT) and as an Alternate Director on several other portfolio companies. Prior to joining the venture capital industry, Nick worked in a number of Deutsche Bank's other business divisions including Private Equity, Funds Management, Global Corporate Strategy and IT/Operations in London, New York, Singapore and Sydney. Nick worked on many of Deutsche Bank's larger strategic acquisitions, investments and joint ventures in the US, UK, Europe and Asia and in particular focusing on the technology / eCommerce space with the bank's internal venture capital arm.
Nick received his Bachelor of Business Studies with honours from Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland. Nick spent the third year of his degree studies at Solvay Business School, University of Brussels, Belgium.
www.accedecapital.com
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Matthew Michalewicz, Founder/Managing Director, SolveIT Software
Matthew Michalewicz is a Founder and Managing Director of SolveIT Software. He has more than a decade of experience in starting, running, and exiting high-growth companies.
Prior to co-founding SolveIT Software Pty Ltd, Matthew served as Chairman and CEO of a high-tech company he founded in the United States in 1999. By raising US$15 million in venture capital and completing 4 multi-million dollar acquisitions, he grew the company to more than 150 employees in 6 international offices. In 2003 he left the company and sold his ownership stake for a profit of several thousand percent.
Matthew was named to Charlotte's "40 under 40" list of accomplished business leaders by the Business Journal, "Alumnus of the Year" by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and "Entrepreneur of the Year" finalist by Ernst and Young.
Matthew currently serves on many boards and committees, including the Independent Panel of Experts for the Intelligent Island Project, the Board of Directors of the Australian Dance Theatre, and the Business Development Board of the Polish-Japanese Institute of Information Technology. He is also a Business Ambassador for the state of South Australia, a national judge for the Secrets of Australian IT Innovation contest, and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Adelaide.
He is the co-author of several books and publications, including Winning Credibility: A guide for building a business from rags to riches and Adaptive Business Intelligence.
Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Corporate Finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; and a Company Directors Course Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
SolveIT Software is a premier provider of Profit Optimisation solutions for Global 1000 companies and government organisations. The company was founded on cutting edge research of several world renowned computer scientists, and offers comprehensive solutions for logistics, marketing and other areas.
www.solveitsoftware.com
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Roger Price, General Partner, Innovation Capital
Roger joined Innovation Capital in 2006. He brings a depth of operational experience including senior engineering, manufacturing, IT services and international business development roles for a number of technology based companies across a range of industries.
Prior to joining Innovation Capital Roger was the Chief Executive Officer of Reino International, an Australian venture backed start up providing innovative and technically advanced parking solutions to the global market. Whilst at Reino he oversaw the growth of the business from 30 to 300 people, relocated the headquarters to the US and led an aggressive M&A program which resulted in the acquisition and integration of 4 companies in 2 years
Roger has worked for both multinationals and start-up organisations. He commenced his career at Alcatel, has held senior positions with a number of Australian owned technology businesses and run the Aust/NZ businesses of NASDAQ listed software companies. He has held board positions for a number of these and other technology companies.
He has a broad interest in Australian based technology, with direct experience within the areas of IT services, software, telecommunications, mobile services and electronic device manufacturing.
www.innovationcapital.net
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Dr Deborah Rathjen, CEO and Managing Director, Bionomics
Deborah joined Bionomics in June 2000 from Peptech Limited, where she was General Manager of Business Development and Licensing. She was a co-inventor of Peptech's TNF technology and leader of the company's successful defence of its key TNF patents against a legal challenge by BASF; providing Peptech with a strong commercial basis for licensing negotiations with BASF, Centocor and other companies with anti-TNF products. Deborah has significant experience in research, business development and licensing and is an expert in the field of cell biology with specific expertise in inflammation and cancer. She is a member of the Federal Government's Australian Biotechnology Advisory Council, Prime Minister's Science Engineering and Innovation Council and Industry Research and Development Board.
Bionomics Limited is a biotechnology company creating novel, small-molecule drugs to treat cancer and disorders of the central nervous system. Founded on a deep base of expertise in genomics, the company has grown rapidly since its founding in 1999, and is now Australia's first fully integrated drug discovery company. Bionomics has proprietary platforms in target identification, high throughput screening, medical chemistry, and preclinical development.
www.bionomics.com.au
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Dr Leanna Read, Managing Director & CEO, TGR BioSciences
Leanna Read conceived and managed the Company's spin-out from the CRC for Tissue Growth and Repair in 2001. She is a physiologist by training, with 90 scientific papers and adjunct professorial appointments at Flinders University and the University of SA. Leanna has over 15 years' experience in research and commercialisation of bioactives from natural products. This has included discovery of the protective effects of TGR's milk bioactive extract in mucositis and inventorship on two of the patents that underpin this opportunity. She has been CEO of successful research and commercial ventures, including the Child Health Research Institute and the CRC for Tissue Growth and Repair and she currently serves on the boards of Novogen Ltd and the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility. Leanna's industry contributions have been recognized by the appointment to the boards of national bodies, such as Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council and the Industry R&D Board, and by awards such as the inaugural Industry Service Award by the Australian Biotechnology Association, and the 2006 SA Premier's Science Excellence Award for Science, Technology and Innovation Management.
www.tgr-biosciences.com.au
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Elaine Saunders, CEO, Dynamic Hearing
Elaine is CEO of Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd and has a background in management of research and technology. Originally from the UK, Elaine is a Churchill Fellow, a founding member of the audiology profession in the UK, and she held senior roles in the development and management of hearing services in the British hospital system. She moved into an academic role, first at Southampton University and then at the University of London, where she co-authored a University textbook on the effect of hearing loss on children's language. For fun, she shared her early career with sport, and was a British 400m Junior International Champion. She was a research manager in the CRC for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation, she led the CRC team that developed the award winning Contour electrode of Cochlear Ltd. She then became the CRC's Assistant Director in 2000 and took on a commercialisation role. It was at this point that she became involved in the commercialisation of the ADRO"! technology. Elaine became Dynamic Hearing's first CEO in February 2002. Elaine was awarded the State and National Prizes at the 2004 Telstra Business Women on the Year Awards in the Australian Government Private and Corporate Sector.
Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd is an innovative company specialising in digital solutions for the aural world. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Dynamic Hearing is a spin-off company from the highly regarded Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation. Dynamic Hearing shares the same heritage as Cochlear Ltd, developing from the world renowned research group lead by Professor Graeme Clark at Melbourne University. This centre has a world class reputation in research and development by providing digital solutions for better hearing.
www.dynamichearing.com.au
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Indrani Tharmanason, CFO & Company Secretary, Ceram Polymerik Pty Ltd
Indrani Tharmanason has more than fifteen years experience as chief financial officer of internationally focussed start-up companies. As a member of the senior management team, and working closely with the board, Indrani has been involved with the strategic and business planning to support the direction, initiatives, and execution of these high-growth companies. During this period, Indrani has been involved with a number of successful capital raisings both locally and with international investors.
Currently, Indrani is chief financial officer and company secretary of Ceram Polymerik, a venture-backed spin-off of the CRC for Polymers, which is commercializing novel ceramifying polymer technology for passive fire protection. The company is targeting the construction, manufacturing, transport and infrastructure market segments.
Before Ceram Polymerik, Indrani was chief financial officer of ManageSoft Corporation, an international software company providing software management & compliance solutions.
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Dr Meera Verma, Chief Operating Officer, Bresagen
After obtaining her PhD in Adelaide, Meera joined BresaGen two years later in 1987. Managing the company's Gene Technology Group, Meera was involved in technical marketing and sales. She was appointed General Manager of the Protein Pharmaceuticals division in 1995 before becoming Chief Operating Officer of BresaGen in November 2000.
BresaGen is based in Adelaide, South Australia and operates a cGMP facility with the capacity to manufacture recombinant proteins and peptides. The Company has human therapeutic API candidates and offers contract process development and manufacturing services. BresaGen has commercialised its first product, EquiGen, a horse growth hormone, and executed its first contract for supply of human growth hormone API. In the last 12 months the Company's protEcol Services has signed several contracts for process development and supply of material for pre-clinical and clinical studies.
www.bresagen.com.au
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Mike Zimmerman, Principal, Technology Venture Partners
Mike joined the TVP management team in March 2002 from the US and is responsible for TVP's investments in Eurekster, Threatmetrix, Optium, Project Goth/ MIG33 and Xelor Software. Prior to joining TVP, Mike was an entrepreneur-in-residence at Altos Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm in Silicon Valley. Before this, Mike ran business and corporate development at iOwn , a venture-backed technology company which he helped to grow from 9 to 320 people, raise US$100m, file for an IPO and sell to Citibank. Mike has additional work experience in strategy consulting and investment banking with Bain & Co. and Goldman Sachs and holds an Honours degree from Amherst College and an MBA from Stanford University.
www.tvp.com.au
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