2009 - 2010 BRV Managers
The Fund Managers are second year MBA students at Cornell's Johnson School of Management.
Anna Bruno
Chief Marketing Officer
An entrepreneur and a writer at heart, Anna found her way to the Johnson School via studies in religion and philosophy at Stanford, followed by a stint in public relations, marketing roles for two software start-ups, and a bit of post-acquisition work at IBM. One of seven managers of BRV, Anna is focused on sourcing deals in the high tech space. As Chief Marketing Officer, Anna drives all internal and external marketing initiatives for the Fund and our portfolio companies. In addition to working for BRV, Anna holds leadership roles in the Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Club and the High Tech Club, and is part of the Park Fellowship program. She will be spending the summer at Novell in Boston.
Chief Marketing Officer
An entrepreneur and a writer at heart, Anna found her way to the Johnson School via studies in religion and philosophy at Stanford, followed by a stint in public relations, marketing roles for two software start-ups, and a bit of post-acquisition work at IBM. One of seven managers of BRV, Anna is focused on sourcing deals in the high tech space. As Chief Marketing Officer, Anna drives all internal and external marketing initiatives for the Fund and our portfolio companies. In addition to working for BRV, Anna holds leadership roles in the Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Club and the High Tech Club, and is part of the Park Fellowship program. She will be spending the summer at Novell in Boston.
Hui Hans Dang
Chief Financial Officer
In addition to his responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer of BRV, Hui is the current BRV liaison with the Cornell Center for Technology Enterprise and Commercialization (CCTEC), working to identify investment opportunities founded on patented Cornell technology. Prior to attending the Johnson School, Hui worked for Accenture Consulting in China and acquired intensive experience in Telecommunication industry. Hui also has entrepreneurial experience in an IT startup company before he joined Accenture. This summer, Hui worked for CXC Capital, a joint-ventured private equity firm funded by China Development Bank and Cisco Systems. Hui is also one of the two summer managers for BRV this year. Hui received a BA in Mechanical Engineering from Tsinghua University, and maintains an active role across the Johnson School, as the VP of Finance for the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club and Co-president of Greater China Business Club.
Chief Financial Officer
In addition to his responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer of BRV, Hui is the current BRV liaison with the Cornell Center for Technology Enterprise and Commercialization (CCTEC), working to identify investment opportunities founded on patented Cornell technology. Prior to attending the Johnson School, Hui worked for Accenture Consulting in China and acquired intensive experience in Telecommunication industry. Hui also has entrepreneurial experience in an IT startup company before he joined Accenture. This summer, Hui worked for CXC Capital, a joint-ventured private equity firm funded by China Development Bank and Cisco Systems. Hui is also one of the two summer managers for BRV this year. Hui received a BA in Mechanical Engineering from Tsinghua University, and maintains an active role across the Johnson School, as the VP of Finance for the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club and Co-president of Greater China Business Club.
Shobhit Gupta
Alumni Relations Manager
Shobhit Gupta has completed the summer curriculum of the Accelerated MBA program at the Johnson Graduate School of Management, with a focus on Finance. Prior to business school, Shobhit worked on the computational diagnostics of infectious diseases in the U. S. Department of Defense. Shobhit holds a PhD in Mathematics, applied to Cancer Research, from the Max Planck Institute in Germany. During the Fall 2009 semester, Shobhit has been working with Boston Scientific to help them better understand their business customers. Shobhit currently serves as a Fund Manager in BR Ventures and Vice President of the Consulting Club.
Alumni Relations Manager
Shobhit Gupta has completed the summer curriculum of the Accelerated MBA program at the Johnson Graduate School of Management, with a focus on Finance. Prior to business school, Shobhit worked on the computational diagnostics of infectious diseases in the U. S. Department of Defense. Shobhit holds a PhD in Mathematics, applied to Cancer Research, from the Max Planck Institute in Germany. During the Fall 2009 semester, Shobhit has been working with Boston Scientific to help them better understand their business customers. Shobhit currently serves as a Fund Manager in BR Ventures and Vice President of the Consulting Club.
Danny Hest
Chief Operating Officer
Danny is a graduate of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences '97. Prior to returning to Cornell to attend the Johnson School, he founded and ran an artist management and music marketing company, was a director of business development and a senior product manager at a startup telecommunications company, and a technology and management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. In addition to serving as Chief Operating Officer of Johnson's $1.2M Venture Capital Fund, he is also President of the Johnson School Media & Entertainment Club and VP of Corporate Relations for the Consulting Club. He is a Johnson Leadership Fellow as well as a mentor in the Cornell Alumni-Student Mentoring Program. Danny will be spending the summer at The New York Times in the Strategic Planning group.
Chief Operating Officer
Danny is a graduate of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences '97. Prior to returning to Cornell to attend the Johnson School, he founded and ran an artist management and music marketing company, was a director of business development and a senior product manager at a startup telecommunications company, and a technology and management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. In addition to serving as Chief Operating Officer of Johnson's $1.2M Venture Capital Fund, he is also President of the Johnson School Media & Entertainment Club and VP of Corporate Relations for the Consulting Club. He is a Johnson Leadership Fellow as well as a mentor in the Cornell Alumni-Student Mentoring Program. Danny will be spending the summer at The New York Times in the Strategic Planning group.
Uma Kakde
Human Capital Manager
Uma has spent several years working with global private and public sector organizations in Africa and East Asia. She has a deep interest in the clean tech industry and has engaged several renewable energy management initiatives in her previous experience in asset management, consulting, and business development. At BRV, Uma will be focusing on investments in early stage clean tech, agriculture and sustainable consumer products. She is also a member of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, Johnson Japan Club and the Sustainable Global Enterprise Club. Uma will also spearheading the Investing panels for the 2009 Net Impact Conference, hosted by Cornell University.
Human Capital Manager
Uma has spent several years working with global private and public sector organizations in Africa and East Asia. She has a deep interest in the clean tech industry and has engaged several renewable energy management initiatives in her previous experience in asset management, consulting, and business development. At BRV, Uma will be focusing on investments in early stage clean tech, agriculture and sustainable consumer products. She is also a member of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, Johnson Japan Club and the Sustainable Global Enterprise Club. Uma will also spearheading the Investing panels for the 2009 Net Impact Conference, hosted by Cornell University.
Kelly Seoyoun Kim
External Relations Manager - Fund Raising & VC Partnerships
Kelly is responsible for fundraising and developing relations with the Venture Capital community for BR Ventures. Prior to attending the Johnson School, Kelly spent four and a half years at Samsung Electronics, marketing digital media products, researching the consumer electronics market and developing the US field marketing process. Most recently, she worked at a venture capital firm, investing in startups in the digital media and entertainment industry and fundraising. In addition to serving as a manager for BRV, Kelly is the VP of the Entertainment and Media Club. She holds a degree in Communication from Yonsei University in Korea.
External Relations Manager - Fund Raising & VC Partnerships
Kelly is responsible for fundraising and developing relations with the Venture Capital community for BR Ventures. Prior to attending the Johnson School, Kelly spent four and a half years at Samsung Electronics, marketing digital media products, researching the consumer electronics market and developing the US field marketing process. Most recently, she worked at a venture capital firm, investing in startups in the digital media and entertainment industry and fundraising. In addition to serving as a manager for BRV, Kelly is the VP of the Entertainment and Media Club. She holds a degree in Communication from Yonsei University in Korea.
Tamara Nazzal
Deal Sourcing Manager
Tamara is responsible for deal sourcing and managing the BR Ventures pipeline. She has several years of experience in the healthcare industry and is passionate about solutions that improve patient care. Tamara spent her summer internship at Covidien in surgical device marketing. Prior to attending the Johnson School, Tamara was a business development associate at CIMIT, the Center for Integration of Medicine & Innovative Technology. She also has experience as a research analyst in an alternative investment consulting firm, developing fund of hedge fund products. Tamara also holds a degree in Business & Psychology from the University of Massachusetts.
Deal Sourcing Manager
Tamara is responsible for deal sourcing and managing the BR Ventures pipeline. She has several years of experience in the healthcare industry and is passionate about solutions that improve patient care. Tamara spent her summer internship at Covidien in surgical device marketing. Prior to attending the Johnson School, Tamara was a business development associate at CIMIT, the Center for Integration of Medicine & Innovative Technology. She also has experience as a research analyst in an alternative investment consulting firm, developing fund of hedge fund products. Tamara also holds a degree in Business & Psychology from the University of Massachusetts.
James Tseng
Special Events Manager
James is responsible for organizing BRV-sponsored events, which include the annual Cornell Venture Challenge. Prior to the Johnson School, James was a consultant at Intel Capital's New Business Initiatives, Intel's internal venture arm. With over 8 years of experience in technology, James has worked at both established firms and startups in the semiconductors and wireless communications industries. James received BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. In addition to his role as a BRV manager, James is a Vice-President of the High Tech Club and a member of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club. James spent his summer as a Corporate Entrepreneurship Intern for Qualcomm's Venture Fest.
Special Events Manager
James is responsible for organizing BRV-sponsored events, which include the annual Cornell Venture Challenge. Prior to the Johnson School, James was a consultant at Intel Capital's New Business Initiatives, Intel's internal venture arm. With over 8 years of experience in technology, James has worked at both established firms and startups in the semiconductors and wireless communications industries. James received BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. In addition to his role as a BRV manager, James is a Vice-President of the High Tech Club and a member of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club. James spent his summer as a Corporate Entrepreneurship Intern for Qualcomm's Venture Fest.
© 2009 The Johnson School