STRONG NETWORK. DIVERSE EXPERIENCES.
We fund, connect, and immerse you with mentoring and knowledge to help you achieve MVP. Through massive action and iteration, this team helps you gain traction to kick ass.
Taylor is an accomplished sales professional, consultant and connector with a deep passion for entrepreneurial success. His expertise includes providing strategic guidance to entrepreneurs and making the right connections in an increasingly competitive business world.
Starting his career at a communications company, Cbeyond (CBEY), he was a highly valued team builder placed on multiple sales teams in order to drive organization culture and productivity. In this role, Taylor gained a great deal of experience in communications and technology infrastructure for small business needs.
Originally from Dallas/Ft. Worth, his adventurous character and desire for challenge led him to Atlanta, GA where he joined TriNet (TNET) as a Sales Development Representative. Beginning this new chapter, Taylor swiftly moved into an outside consultant role. Through the transition, he developed and piloted a company-wide metrics driven sales program. Circling back to Texas, he continues his TriNet career as a sales professional establishing a reputable presence and trust within the Austin technology community.
Taylor is also the Cofounder of BS Emergent Fund LLC, where he deploys his industry experience and knowledge to support new business growth and success. He earned his BA in Business Administration Marketing from Texas Tech University and currently resides in Austin, TX where he continues to be an influential professional and leader in the community.
Terrell, along with his wife Penny, took a college project for keeping track of the family’s cattle and grew it in to the leading cattle management software used by farmers and ranchers in over 70 countries. In 2011, the company expanded in to niche e-commerce stores serving the livestock industry.
Terrell has a strong software development and marketing background. He is passionate about entrepreneurship including helping others find their way to entrepreneurship. When not working behind the desk, he enjoys spending time outside on his ranch.
From Seed Sumo:“Terrell has valuable experience scaling a software company. He has been there and knows what it takes to grow your company.”
Marketer, Communicator, Leadership Trainer & Entrepreneur
Chris Lyon currently leads the marketing department and is the training director of leadership development at the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s ESTI division. His background is seated in downstream oil and gas, starting business in logistical services and emergency response consulting. Chris likes to present himself as being scraped up and not brought up, his success and failures have been hard fought. His current position allows him to use his business background to bridge the gap between the service industries specifically consulting and training services, and the business needs of both the public and private sectors.
From Seed Sumo:“Chris is a skilled leader and marketing guru.”
Since the late 90’s, Blair Garrou has focused on funding, operating and incubating startup software companies. Blair is a co-founder and Managing Director of Mercury Fund, a seed and early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Houston, Texas. With over $250 million under management, Mercury invests in compelling and novel software and science-based start-up opportunities, focusing on entrepreneurs and innovation originating in the U.S. Midcontinent.
Blair is also a co-founder and mentor of SURGE Accelerator (Houston), and an active mentor with Brandery (Cincinnati) and TechStars (Austin, Boulder, Chicago).
Prior to Mercury, Blair was the CEO of Intermat (NYSE: IHS), a leader in product information management software; a Principal with Genesis Park, a Houston-based private equity firm; helped launch and was the Director of Operations for the Houston Technology Center, where he led the formation of the Houston Angel Network; was an investment banker with BMO Nesbitt Burns; and began his career with Deloitte & Touche. Blair received a B.S. in Management from Washington & Lee University.
From Seed Sumo:“Blair is an experienced entrepreneur, innovator, and investor on the forefront of things happening in Texas.”
Casey is the founder of Oldham Goodwin Group, LLC and currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Casey is rooted in every aspect of Oldham Goodwin’s business. He oversees corporate strategic planning, analysis of corporate positioning and overall corporate initiatives. Casey is also responsible for establishing and monitoring operational and financial key performance indicators and implementing company-wide strategic goals. He is tasked with helping to develop operational procedures, overseeing efficient resource allocation of personnel and capital, and ensuring best business practices are being utilized.
Casey has extensive experience in transaction management, valuation, finance and deal structures for various real estate genres and businesses. In addition to his management abilities, Casey has managed and negotiated a number of real estate work-outs for distressed properties and turn-around situations.
Casey is also a managing member and/or partner of multiple real estate and business partnerships. Casey enjoys golfing, fishing, hunting, and diving, and lives in College Station, Texas, with his wife, Sarah.
From Seed Sumo:“Casey is a big time connector who works hard and seams to know everyone.”
For over sixteen years Jim has been the director of the local Brazos Valley Small Business Development Center (BV SBDC).
As a member of the national ASBDC association with over 1000 centers, the SBDC program is recognized as the most comprehensive small business assistance program in the country. The mission of the SBDC is to help new entrepreneurs realize their dreams, and assist existing businesses to grow and remain competitive in a complex marketplace. The BV SBDC offers a free and confidential advising service to over 300 business owners who are potential entrepreneurs each year.
Jim received his BA and MBA degrees from North Texas State University and prior to becoming Director of the BV SBDC served as the vice president and general manager of a beverage distribution company in the local area with over $6,000,000 in annual sales. Jim also served as an area sales representative for two Fortune 100 companies in the consumer products business.
From Seed Sumo:“Jim is a master of small business development and selflessly serves his community.”
John Hanks is an industry veteran with more than 24 years of corporate experience leading teams at National Instruments and is now a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M.
At National Instruments Hanks was a catalyst that brought together teams to start several successful software and hardware product lines. In roles as VP of Product Marketing and VP of Life Sciences, his efforts contributed to National Instruments being named 12 times best places to work for by Fortune Magazine and to delivering consistent, profitable growth from $40M to $1.2B.
As an entrepreneur at National Instruments, Hanks led and managed a broad array of business responsibilities including product management, system engineering, business development, IP licensing, mergers and acquisitions, ecosystem development, reseller agreements, and partner relationships.
In addition, Hanks is a wearable tech, health care, and big data thought leader as Executive Director of the Center for Remote Healthcare Technology at Texas A&M University. His expertise and interest include low-power, wearable sensor technology for fitness, medical, and point-of-care applications and software development for smart phones, smart watches, and fitness bands.
Other interests include affordable prototyping and design, technology market validation, FDA regulations, and disruptive technology innovation.
From Seed Sumo:“John is an innovator and has been for several years. He brings invaluable advice for all of our startups.”
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