Chris Onan, Managing Director, Appian Ventures
Chris has extensive venture capital experience and enjoys working with entrepreneurial management teams to help sharpen their product definition and their marketing and financial strategies. Chris represents Appian on the board of directors of Auctionpay , mPayGateway, Skyetek, and Tendril and is a board observer of Thought Equity Motion. Previously, Chris spent five years as an associate with Wolf Ventures and Roser Ventures, where he had the privilege of working with companies such as Broadbus Technologies (acquired by Motorola), NextAction Corporation, and Peregrine Semiconductor. Before locating to Colorado, he worked as an associate with LEK Consulting, an international strategy consulting boutique. Chris speaks frequently on entrepreneurial finance at both Denver University’s Daniels College of Business and the Leeds College of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Chris serves as Chairman for the Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association. In addition, Chris is a member of the Associates Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado; serves on the Advisory Board of the Denver Venture School and works actively with the When I Grow Up Foundation. He is also Northwestern University's alumni admissions council leader for Colorado. Originally from Minnesota, Chris received a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.
Tom Washing, General Partner, Sequel Ventures
Tom is a General Partner for Sequel Ventures Partners in Boulder, Colorado, a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage funding for emerging technology businesses. He has 13 years experience as a corporate and securities lawyer representing technology companies, investment banks, and venture capital firms. Tom was the founding General Partner of venture capital investor Horsley Keogh Associates (now Horsley Bridge). Formerly, Tom was the General Partner of Hill Carman & Washing, one of the leading venture capital firms in the Rocky Mountain region. Tom has a B.A. from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Joseph R. Zell , General Partner, Grotech Capital Group
Joe joined Grotech as a General Partner in 2002. Mr. Zell has an extensive, 20-year operating background in communications and data networking, including nine years with US West Communications (which is now Qwest Communications), where he was instrumental in building US WEST's !NTERPRISE Networking Division and was the president of the division for four years. He was most recently chief executive officer of Convergent Communications. Prior to US WEST, he held a variety of management positions at WilTel, LDXNet, United Technologies Communications, MCI Communications and Xerox Corporation. At Grotech, Mr. Zell focuses on investment opportunities in the communications, networking, software and outsourcing sectors. Mr. Zell currently serves or has served on the following boards: Aztek Networks, BroadSoft, buySAFE, Hatteras Networks, iVivity, SkyeTek, USinternetworking and Ziptronix. Mr. Zell graduated Magna Cum Laude from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing.
Rob Balgley, CEO, SkyeTek