Tim Draper
Founder and Managing Director,
Draper Fisher Jurvetson

Timothy Draper is the Founder and a Managing Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, one of the nation’s premier early stage venture firms. Since its inception in 1985, Silicon Valley-based Draper Fisher Jurvetson has backed over 500 companies including such industry changing successes such as Hotmail (acquired by MSFT), Baidu (BIDU), Skype (acquired by EBAY) and Overture (acquired by YHOO). Tim is a regular on Forbes Midas List (ranking of the most successful investors) coming in at #7 and is ranked as one of the most influential Harvard Alumni in the school’s history.

Tim’s original suggestion to use "viral marketing" in web-based e-mail to geometrically spread an Internet product to its market was instrumental to the successes of Hotmail and YahooMail, and has been adopted as a standard marketing technique today.

Tim, one of the world’s most active advocates for entrepreneurs, launched the DFJ Global Network, an international network of early-stage venture capital funds with offices in over 30 cities around the globe. Tim is also the course creator and Chairman of BizWorld, a 501c3 organization built around simulated teaching of entrepreneurship and business to children. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Chip Perry
President and CEO, AutoTrader.com

Perry is President and CEO of AutoTrader.com. With over $500 million in revenue and more than 2,000 employees, AutoTrader.com is the largest online automotive advertising company in America. With over 3.5 million new and used vehicle listings from over 40,000 dealers, AutoTrader.com aggregates by far the largest number of vehicles in any medium. And with over 14 million unique monthly visitors, AutoTrader.com attracts the largest audience of car buyers on the Internet. Perry was the company’s first employee in 1997 when he was asked by Manheim Auctions, a unit of Cox Enterprises, to launch the company. Since then, AutoTrader.com has grown to become the world’s largest automotive marketplace and Perry has become widely recognized as a pioneer of the online automotive industry.

Mark Barry
Venture Partner, OpenView Venture Partners

The Founder and former Managing Director of Microsoft's Emerging Business Unit, Barry now focuses on expansion stage capital for high-growth software, internet, and technology-enabled companies with OpenView Venture Partners. A 25-year IT veteran, Mark brings extensive operating and business development experience to his work with venture capital backed businesses.

John Huntz
Executive Director, Arcapita Ventures

Huntz heads the venture capital arm of Arcapita, a dedicated fund focusing on growth stage enterprises primarily in the US. With over 28 years of private equity, venture capital and operational experience, Huntz previously spent time with Fuqua Ventures, Fuqua Enterprises, Noble Ventures International and Harrison Capital. A leader in the southeast's venture community, Huntz is the founder and chairman of the Atlanta Venture Forum.

Greg Ager
Partner, Updata Advisors

Ager brings 18 years of investment banking experience, having completed approximately 60 transactions aggregating over $7 billion in value for emerging and middle market technology companies. Prior to Updata, Ager spent time as the senior east coast technology investment banker for Wachovia Securities and managing director and head of East Coast Software.

Tino Mantella
President Technology Association of Georgia

Mantella joined the Technology Association of Georgia in 2004, an association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of the state's technology industry and provides leadership in driving initiatives in the areas of policy, capital, education and giving. TAG also brings the technology community together through events, initiative programs and networking opportunities.

Dr. Shan Nair
Co-founder, Nair & Co.

Dr. Nair is an Oxford University Ph.D. nuclear physicist who started his career as a research scientist in the U.K. nuclear industry. He decided to leave to work for himself and set up Nair & Co. in 1994. Nair & Co. now operates in over 40 countries and has over 700 client operations globally. Dr. Nair has lived in 13 countries and has won the top 50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business and Gullands Excellence Award.

Glen Whitley
Executive Director, AeA Southeast Council

Whitley was appointed as Executive Director of the AeA Southeast Council in April 2008. The AeA, formerly American Electronics Association, is the leading national technology trade association in the US. He manages the southeast region to increase the value opportunities for technology members in the region. He brings a strong technology background and international technology economic development experience to the position.