Investing in Hard Tech Solutions Companies.

Dr. Prasad Akella is an engineer and serial entrepreneur who has founded deep tech & AI companies and created billion-dollar markets: cobots in robotics, business social networks, and video analytics. Drishti, his most recent company exit, was acquired by Apple. As an executive, he has held senior roles in corporations large (GM, SAP, TR) and small and served on company boards (Optessa, Drishti).

Dr. Akella holds a Stanford PhD (Meakin Fellow), Michigan MBA (Highest Honors), and IIT BS (HAL Prize). He is a Fellow of the ASME and SME. And holds 10 US patents. Prasad has been recognized with awards for his work including by the World Economic Forum, International Federation of Robotics, IEEE, ASME, General Motors, NSF, Stanford, and IIT. His work continues to shape the future of technology and AI, empowering people and transforming the way we work.

Victor Bian is a second-year MBA student at Columbia Business School with a background in private equity, investment banking, and entrepreneurship. His investment banking experience in the healthcare sector includes managing biotech IPOs and private placements, leading due diligence, and financial modeling. In private equity, he specialized in healthcare and pharmaceutical buyouts, gaining experience in driving product strategies, optimizing talent management, and implementing operational improvements to enhance value.

As the founder of Cerno Labs, Victor led the development and sales of AI-powered tools, including a multilingual search engine tailored for Japanese and Arabic markets, as well as solutions for financial institutions that prioritize explainable AI. He brings expertise in developing strategies and managing cross-functional teams.

Victor holds a BS from the University of Toronto and an MPH from NYU. Outside of his professional pursuits, he enjoys Broadway shows, backpacking, and squash.

David Bernardi is a Canadian technology executive with 40 years of experience in product development, project management, venture capital, and technology company governance. He has headed up large software development teams in Montreal and India in a multi-site, multi-schedule environment before it was commonplace to do so. On the hardware side, in the late 90s, he provided technical and program governance for the world’s then only civilian data satellite constellation (Orbcomm). As a consultant, he helped major telecommunications carriers re-engineer their operations in order to respond to technological change and to gain speed and efficiency. His experience also includes teaching, negotiating complex international joint-venture agreements, project fundraising, providing technical, HR, and commercial guidance to start-ups, and investing in/exiting from technology companies.

In 2022, after 20 years in the role, David retired from his position as CTO of Telesystem, a family holding company that has a history of building technology companies from the ground up.  Joining his first board in 2002, David has since been a director of nearly 20 technology companies including one NASDAQ-listed public company where he was chair of the governance committee (BSFT - sold to Cisco) and an SEC reporting issuer (Telesat).  In terms of technology, David was involved with companies in the areas of telecommunications, machine learning, SaaS, automated testing, satellite infrastructure and services, digital signage, speech processing, nano materials, and semiconductor materials.  He currently is an advisor to companies, governments, and investors. He is also chairman of the board for Centech (independently rated in the top 10 university incubators in the world).

David holds Master’s and Bachelor’s (Honours) Degrees in Electrical Engineering from McGill, a Diplôme ès Arts (History) from Université de Montréal, as well as the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors of Canada.

Kurt Buseck is the Managing Partner at Re^X Capital and has over 35 years’ experience investing in private companies. Kurt has worked on Wall Street with several leading private equity firms, most recently as head of the New York office for Onex Corporation, the largest PE firm based in Canada currently with over $40 Billion in assets. He then formed Full Circle Investments to focus on acquiring and building small to mid-sized industrial businesses. Over 8 years, FCI acquired 14 companies and repositioned them to successful exits.

Kurt has spent several years in civic activities including as chairman of a college, lead director of his city’s Art Museum, and founding director of a regional growth partnership in Pennsylvania. Recognizing that clusters of technology companies are the root of most growing economies, Kurt worked to nurture and build several early-stage companies in his community. Since then, he has invested in 11 early-stage technology companies across the United States and England, assuming board or chairman roles in each.

Over his career, Kurt has directed or overseen the investment of $125 million which has produced over $600 million in returns.

In recent years Kurt’s focus has been toward the repositioning, recapitalization and revitalization of early-stage technology companies. He has so far done this with 7 companies, including ones in terahertz-based test & measurement, CAD-CAM systems, advanced machining, nanomaterials, and wearable robotics, several of which were formed with technologies developed at SRI International (Stanford Research Institute). With the encouragement of SRI leadership, Kurt is now primarily focused on the repositioning and rejuvenating of Deep Tech and Hard Tech early-stage companies.

Kurt resides in Pennsylvania. He received a BA from Boston College and an MBA from The Tuck School at Dartmouth College. He enjoys biking and golf. He is an avid skier, regularly chasing powder throughout the northern Rockies.

CEO of the Hartz Group with over 40 years of strategy, technology consulting and senior leadership management experience. 

Former Global CEO of PwC Consulting, consulting arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers, where Mr. Hartz led business growth from a revenue base of $900M to over $6.7B operating in 70 countries with 33,000 employees. Current and former board member at Erie Indemnity Company, Alien Technology, Satmetrix, Nexant and Siebel Systems. Previously member of the Wharton Graduate Executive Board and Lehigh University Business Advisory Board;
CPA, with a BSc from Lehigh University and MBA from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania.

Ashok Kanagal is a semiconductor executive with over 3 decades of experience. His background covers many aspects of semiconductors including manufacturing, supply-chain management, quality, business process optimization, product development, marketing and business strategy. A larger part of his career was spent at Intel, where Ashok led and grew multiple businesses in the areas of storage, networking, mobile client products, and software and services. Ashok also led the acquisition and integration of multiple companies into Intel, as well as the spinoff and sale of a few of them.

Ashok was on an extended assignment from Intel to a semiconductor consortium (SEMATECH) that was formed to address the competitive challenges to the US based suppliers from overseas competitors. This venture, jointly funded by DARPA and semiconductor manufacturers, was instrumental in keeping the US companies competitive. Ashok led several efforts in the areas of equipment improvement and supplier development, which were crucial to SEMATECH’s charter, and was recognized for his efforts by industry bodies.

Ashok has also led a small startup in the digital video networking area, during the early stages of the emergence of that technology.

Ashok is a certified leadership and executive coach and has helped multiple executives and senior managers achieve more of their potential and grow in their careers and lives.

Ravi Karra has extensive experience as an investor managing large institutional funds. He has served as an investment advisor and Chief Investment Officer for a number of endowments, foundations, family groups and pension funds while at Cambridge Associates, a leading investment firm. During his 26 years at the firm, he helped establish the firm’s presence on the west coast and marketed the firm’s services across the western United States leading to significant growth.

Before joining IBM, Maine was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of MCI (now part of Verizon) from 1991-1998 and prior to that, he held a variety of sales, operating, and financial leadership roles during his 20-year career. Maine is a former two-term member of the Standing Advisory Group of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board which is the Federal Regulator of the Auditing profession.  He has a BS from Temple University and an MBA from Hofstra University where he is Chairman of the Dean's Advisory Council.   Maine is also a Columbia Business School Executive in Residence with his areas of interest: entrepreneurship, private equity, international business, corporate governance and strategy, and family-owned businesses.

Dr. Robert Mehalso has over 25 years experience in academia and industry in research, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing with emphasis on materials/fabrication process development and commercialization of microsystems. Dr. Mehalso has served as President at MicroTech Associates, Inc. Dr. Mehalso previously served as the Chief Technology Officer at Ardesta, LLC. He is currently Chairman at TeraView Ltd.

His many roles through the years have included the Vice President of Technology and Business Development, and the Chief Technical Officer at DT Industries, an Executive Vice President and General Manager for AMTX, a General Manager of Advanced Microtechnology for Xerox, and an Engineering Manager at RCA Sarnoff Research Center and Consumer Electronics Divisions. He was also the Vice President at Kionix. Dr. Mehalso is widely respected throughout the world for his pioneering and innovative approaches to the micro manufacturing of small precision parts and assemblies.

He is an active participant in academic planning and industrial support projects at the Pennsylvania State University and is a Staff Member at the Center for Automation Technology at Rensselaer and has academic appointment at Rochester Institute of Technology. Dr. Mehalso holds five patents and has received numerous honors and awards. Besides his professional endeavors, he serves on the Boards of several academic and financial institutions.

Dr. Mehalso received a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and holds a B.S. in Ceramic Science from the Pennsylvania State University. He is currently a Fellow of both these institutions.

Jamie O'Brion is an experienced administrative and accounting professional with a diverse background in business management, construction, and industrial services. She is currently an Accounting and Administrative Assistant at Full Circle Investment, Inc. and Lakeview Insulation, LLC in Erie, PA, where she handles a broad range of accounting and administrative duties while working directly with business owners.

With over two decades of experience, Amie has worked in various industries, including construction, architecture, and equipment sales. She held roles such as Accounting Manager at Crenshaw Brothers Construction, where she managed financials, payroll, accounts payable/receivable, and tenant relations for several companies, and was a temporary employee for a variety of businesses through Advance Placement Employment Agency.

Amie has a strong foundation in office management and accounting, having worked as an Office Manager at Nicholson Industrial Equipment and The Sky Group, as well as an Accounting Coordinator for Tal, Inc. and Evans Strickland Best, Inc. Her roles have involved handling all aspects of accounting, vendor and client relations, and administrative tasks. 

Amie is highly proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, and has experience with specialized accounting and payroll software. She is working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Management Information Systems from Gannon University, holding senior standing with 109 credits and a GPA of 3.3. She also holds an Associate degree in Business Administration with a specialization in accounting from Erie Business Center.

Anuradha Parthasarathy (Anu) is the chief executive officer and founder of AnuPartha, a retained executive search firm exclusively focused on transformational leadership searches across multiple geographies, including the US, Europe, and Asia. Over the last 30+ years, Anu has built an extensive network and robust expertise spanning geographies, industries, and a broad range of functional roles.

The past decade has seen AnuPartha at the forefront of the ever-evolving talent search landscape as the world transitioned to a global economy. Anu brings a systematic approach to the executive search process, working closely with her clients on their transformational journeys—whether they are startups or large corporations, from board searches to co-founders. Central to AnuPartha’s success is Anu’s philosophy, which emphasizes building partnerships over mere transactions with clients. Today, amidst the massive workforce shifts triggered by the Covid-19 crisis, Anu continues to pioneer in the executive search domain.

Anu began her career in sales and marketing at Wipro when it was still a startup. She also spent a significant six years as a venture capitalist in the Silicon Valley during the 90s, gaining firsthand experience of the challenges associated with building and scaling high-growth startups. In a world flush with capital and brimming with innovative ideas, the true need is for leaders who can deliver on these promises. Anu has made it her lifelong mission to match the right individuals to the perfect roles for hyper-growth companies. She is an alumnus of BITS, Pilani, a leading tech school in India.

Sagar Pushpala is a highly accomplished leader in the semiconductor and technology industries with a career spanning over three decades. He currently serves as board advisor and investor for several innovative companies, including Destination 2D, where he helps drive breakthroughs in nanotechnology by integrating graphene into mainstream CMOS, and Rune Energy, which focuses on transforming clean energy into valuable computation through its world-first DC data centers. 

Previously, Sagar Pushpala has held significant leadership roles, including his long-term position as a Board Member at Orca Systems, a company known for its low-power digital RF transceiver technology for Satellite & IoT markets, and as an investor and advisor for Ather Energy, an electric vehicle manufacturer revolutionizing urban mobility. He also serves on the advisory board of ATREG, a company specializing in the disposal of advanced technology manufacturing assets.

Sagar’s career includes notable roles in high-performance analog and logic silicon product companies, particularly during his time at Nuvia, which was later acquired by Qualcomm, and his leadership as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Specialty Technologies at TSMC North America. His strategic expertise extends into investment, where he was an Operating Partner at Khosla Ventures, contributing to its efforts in venture capital for technology startups.

He holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Kansas and a B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, solidifying his strong technical foundation. With his vast industry experience, Sagar continues to contribute significantly to the advancement of semiconductor technologies, medical devices and clean energy solutions.

John Rodney Esq. is a seasoned attorney with over four decades of experience in law. He has been a Partner at Clark Hill PLC since 2000, where he has played a pivotal role in providing legal counsel and guidance across a range of practice areas. Prior to joining Clark Hill, John spent 20 years as a Partner at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, honing his expertise in business law, litigation, and tax-related matters.

John earned his Juris Doctor from Penn State Dickinson Law in 1979, where he served as the Law Review Editor and graduated with honors in Tax Law. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Duke University, where he was a varsity golfer from 1973 to 1976.

With his extensive experience and academic background, John continues to offer strategic legal insight and representation to his clients, delivering results that reflect his deep understanding of complex legal issues.

Parminder Singh is a General Partner at Re^X Capital.  with over 30 years of technical, operational, and international business management experience, gained through working with both public and private corporations. He is an active investor who has personally invested in or managed investments for more than 30 pre-Series B stage companies. His extensive background includes hands-on industry experience in satellite design, robotics, software development, cybersecurity, AI, wearables, intellectual property, innovation sourcing, video gaming, and medical devices. Parminder brings more than 15 years of experience in Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Corporate Venture to the table, specializing in helping companies of various sizes grow and create value by transforming select technologies into commercially viable products and services and taking them to market through strategic global partnerships.

Before his role at Re^X Capital, Parminder held key positions such as President of Intellectual Ventures Canada ($6B PE Fund), Managing Director of the Microsoft Canada Development Center (MCDC), and the General Manager of Microsoft Xbox Japan. He also served as Head of Satellite Design at Teledesic and as a Program Manager at Motorola-Iridium (Space Group). 

 Parminder is deeply passionate about supporting innovations and technologies that have the potential to significantly disrupt existing solutions. He currently serves as a technology and business advisor to numerous pre-Series A companies and sits on the boards of 4 to 6 companies at any given time. His career encompasses a range of senior management roles in organizations of different sizes, spanning from under-capitalized start-ups to Fortune 50 multinational corporations. Parminder is a sought-after speaker on technology and innovation and its intersection with sustained business growth.    

 In addition to his impressive career, Parminder has founded several successful startup companies, including Evenio Media, EquineX, SportsShare, and ProofKeep (as of late). He has also held executive positions and operating roles at numerous Fortune 500 companies, including Motorola, Microsoft, American Express, Flextronics, AT&T, Boeing, Flextronics, AON Space, Hughes Aircraft Company, Space Systems Loral, and the Government of Canada. Parminder is an active investor in disruptive technologies and serves as an advisor to young entrepreneurs with ambitious ideas.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in computational systems and optimal control from the Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalhousie University). Outside of his professional life, Parminder enjoys participating in team sports and resides in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, where he lives with his wife, three children, a dog that refuses to listen, and the occasional goldfish.

G. Craig Vachon is a seasoned executive with extensive leadership experience in start-ups and high-tech companies worldwide. He has raised $1.6 billion in venture capital for 36 companies across eight countries and has expertise in P&L management, product development, corporate strategy, M&A, and marketing. As a founder and investor, he has backed multiple unicorns and companies with scalable, human-impacting technologies. Vachon is also a TEDx speaker and had the most popular TED Talk in 2012.

As CEO of AI Redefined (AIR), Vachon led efforts in developing human-AI collaboration technology through dynamic orchestration platforms. AIR's Cogment platform enables continuous learning and trust between humans and AI, setting AIR apart in the AI industry. AIR is now owned by Bentley Systems. Additionally, he formerly headed US operations for NextStage AM, a €9.9 B PE firm based in Paris, overseeing investments and strategy, while chairing Yseop, an AI-driven natural language generation company for the Pharmaceutical industry. 

Vachon founded Chowdahead Growth Fund, which invests in start-ups aiming to positively impact over a billion people. His fund has supported companies like AnchorFree/Aura, Proteus Digital Health, and SupplyShift/Sphera. He also played a key role in scaling AnchorFree’s Hotspot Shield app, driving user growth to over 700 million installs and raising significant funding from Goldman Sachs.

His career includes senior leadership roles at Immersion Corporation, where he achieved profitability for the first time, and strategic positions at companies like McCaw Cellular, Sirenic and Varatouch. Vachon holds an MA in Business Communications and a BS in Communication Studies from Emerson College.

Mark P.  Zukowski, CPA, is a hands-on senior leader in finance and accounting management functions. He has been an executive, as well as consultant, with 33 years of experience. He has had operational roles and has provided strategic, financial and tax planning advice for privately held companies ranging from start-up organizations through $250 million+ companies. He has helped companies in biotechnology, manufacturing, construction, transportation, health care, and service industries.

He has served as a fractional Chief Financial Officer and/or controller for multiple businesses. He has directed preparation of due diligence private debt offerings, asset purchase and sale agreements, and establishing lines of credit with financial institutions.

On behalf of his clients, he researched, applied for, and received $50 million+ in grants from various U.S. government programs. Recently he helped clients deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic by managing cash flow and maximizing funding from government grant and loan programs.

Mark has demonstrated a strong ability to improve efficiencies and drive growth through optimization of existing facilities, strategic acquisitions, and development and implementation of financial controls.  Mark is proud of his ability to establish rapport with all levels in an organization, from staff to management and owners.

Mark graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Accounting with Distinction. He is a member of Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs and American Institute of CPAs. Mark is Kidney Transplant Champion.