Playbook to be Investor-Ready

Naeem is a seasoned executive who has led several high-tech businesses as the CEO and guided dozens as a Board member or an advisor. Naeem has taught entrepreneurship and innovation at several leading universities in the world. He is an entrepreneur, a teacher, an investor, and a mentor. Having co-founded or worked at seven startup companies, he is steeped in the Silicon Valley culture and promotes the lessons of Silicon Valley to organizations and entrepreneurs all over the world. Naeem's specialties include raising capital for startups, corporate strategy, product positioning, marketing, business development as well as M&A.

I'm passionate about helping individuals, teams, and organizations with meaningful mission to solve real life problems, delight customers and drive business growth through the development of new technology.

Highlights from recent 10 years:

• Led global strategy and product development that enabled profitable business growth for 10 years
• Built global software and hardware engineering teams and installed best practices
• Defined and developed Product Management discipline
• Helped drive due diligence process resulting in highly successful exit for Navman Wireless business
• Driving technology due diligence process for multiple M&A transactions

Core competencies:

• Strategy Planning
• Product Roadmap Planning and Prioritization
• Product architecture and development
• Cross functional collaboration with Sales, Marketing, Finance and Operations leaders and teams to drive results
• Driving continuous improvements using Lean Processes (Fortive/Danaher Business System)
• Developing highly capable product management and engineering teams
• Bringing new technologies to drive step change improvements

Partner at Iron Pillar, a venture growth investor specializing in mid stage technology companies building products from India.

For nearly two decades, I have had the best job in the world working closely with dozens of entrepreneurs who think big and do more than their fair share in changing the world for the better. I cannot think of another profession where one is smarter at the end of the day, everyday. I also believe that entrepreneurs know a lot more about their particular domain than I ever will. My role as a venture investor is one of a guide, a sounding board (sometimes a psychologist on really bad days), and a true partner. Some of my best friends are entrepreneurs with whom I've worked closely for years, regardless whether the venture was a success. My operating experience includes Itek Optical Systems and Mattel, helping launch Viaspace (a JPL affiliated incubator), eight years through multiple incarnations at Garage Technology Ventures and nine years at DFJ, both in India and the US. This experience provides me a unique global perspective which I leverage when working closely with entrepreneurs. I live by the mantra "do the right thing, help others and have fun".

I am a visionary thinker, strategist, and change agent, who has successfully lead IT organizations for several high-tech companies.

Given my deep passion for technology and positive social change, I am working towards finding disruptive and innovative ways to leverage the power of technology to enable social impact. I invest in, mentor, and consult with innovative early-stage social impact ventures. I enjoy and excel at this because I have strong business acumen, a proven ability to build highly effective cross-functional teams, an in-depth analytical thinking process, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

I also judge Social Impact Pitch competitions and help filter and select pitches for various accelerators.

I am interested in effective strategies that empower under-resourced and disenfranchised communities. Having worked in Silicon Valley Tech Sector as an Engineer, Marketer, Product Manager for many years, I am now involved in Impact investing and non-profit grant-making with Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund, Fast Forward as well as independent investing.

SaaS,New Product Launch, Startups, Enterprise Leadership, Entreprenuerial Leadership, Marketing & Sales, Game Theory, AI, Data Management, Integration, Compliance, DataOps, FinTech

Innovative, hands-on technology and business leader with a proven record in rapidly-growing startups as well as global software companies like Amazon and Microsoft. Excels in building and motivating highly focused companies and teams that regularly exceed objectives. Solid experience in the full product lifecycle from conceptualization, design, development and operations.

Expertise in Leadership, Operational and Engineering Excellence in cloud and mobile technologies.

Jason Schneiderman is a second-generation Silicon Valley corporate startup attorney, who represents fast growing emerging companies in formation, venture capital fundraising, convertible debt, SAFEs and equity financings. He advises clients on business plans, founders' stock, employee equity plans, intellectual property protection and licensing, as well mergers and acquisitions. Jason is a trusted advisor and is a deeply committed and passionate contributor to his clients' success. He brings a pragmatic, business-minded approach to his counseling. A keen listener, he guides entrepreneurs, officers and directors through complex legal issues while explaining them in simple and actionable terms.

Jason's clients come from a variety of industries, including augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), blockchain, computer software, hardware, communications, software as a service (SaaS), interactive entertainment, financial services technology, internet of things (IOT), artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned vehicles. He also works with consumer goods and media/publishing companies, as well as consumer facing websites, including those focused on travel, real estate and social networking.

Working closely with international clients, Jason is the co-chair of the Perkins Coie Australian Corporate practice advising Australian companies that want to "flip" into the United States or otherwise establish a U.S. presence. He has also served as local U.S. corporate counsel for startups from several other countries. As an associate, Jason also started the firm's Search Fund practice and has worked with more than 60 search funds in all stages, including formation, acquisition of targets, debt financing, general corporate matters and follow on investments, as well as liquidation of search funds.

In addition, Jason is the co-chair of the Perkins Coie AR/VR industry group. As the firm's Corporate Training Partner, he oversees firmwide training, mentoring and attorney development programs for attorneys in the corporate practice. Jason has also served as the chair of the Palo Alto Attorney Development Committee for more than four years. He is the former chair of the Summer Associate Committee in Palo Alto and is still an active participant in the Summer Associate program and other firm recruiting efforts. Jason has participated in the Perkins Coie Strategic Leadership Program and the Perkins Coie Advance Leadership Program hosted by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern.

George Colindres is partner with the Corporate practice and Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice in the firm's Los Angeles and San Diego offices.

George acts as outside general counsel for clients in a diverse array of industries, including food, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, digital health, internet of things, social networking, e-commerce, online advertising, online gaming, software, hardware, telecommunications, and real estate. His work for these clients includes:

Corporate governance, including entity formation and capital structuring and equity incentive plan matters

• Commercial agreements
• Employment and compensation matters
• Preferred Stock and other equity financings
• Convertible promissory note (bridge) financings
• M&A transactions

George also represents venture capital firms, strategic investors, angels, and other investors in connection with making investments in portfolio companies and liquidity events related to such portfolio companies.

Naeem is a seasoned executive who has led several high-tech businesses as the CEO and guided dozens as a Board member or an advisor. Naeem has taught entrepreneurship and innovation at several leading universities in the world. He is an entrepreneur, a teacher, an investor, and a mentor. Having co-founded or worked at seven startup companies, he is steeped in the Silicon Valley culture and promotes the lessons of Silicon Valley to organizations and entrepreneurs all over the world. Naeem's specialties include raising capital for startups, corporate strategy, product positioning, marketing, business development as well as M&A.

Jay Ruparel is a serial entrepreneur with experience of building and scaling technology products and tech enabled enterprises. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of VoicePlug, an AI product company that helps companies build Voice AI interfaces for voice commerce transactions. He is also the Co-Founder and Director of Azure Knowledge Corporation, a global provider of Market Research, Insights & Digital Transformation services. Jay has been awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2018. In 2019 as well as 2018, under Jay's leadership Azure was ranked among the 500 Fastest Growing Companies in America by Inc. Magazine. For both the years, Azure was also ranked in the Top 100 on the Deloitte Fast 500 companies of America list.

Jay worked with Infosys in Bangalore and Bell Labs in Boston before starting his entrepreneurial journey in 2003. He earned his Post Graduate Management degree from IIM Bangalore in 2001.

Jay is currently a Board member and Finance Chair of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) SF Bay. He has held several leadership positions in industry organizations in the past including being the Chairman of GESIA, Chairman of CII-Young Indians, Chairman of CII Gujarat ICT Committee, Co-Chairperson of ASSOCHAM Western Region. He has been a member of the Academic Council at Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) and on the Board of Advisors of the Entrepreneurship Development Center at MICA.