ABOUT US
EnterVentures is a business accelerator that works closely with high-growth
emerging technology companies towards the successful launch of and execution
of their business models. Our talented team provides the guidance and
support technology companies need to execute their business models and meet
strategic objectives quickly and successfully.
With US offices in Palo Alto and San Francisco and an Asia/Pacific base in
Sydney, Australia, EnterVentures is able to leverage its international
network of key resources to work with and develop not only early stage US
start-ups but also companies outside the US, particularly those looking to
ultimately access the US capital markets, including Venture Capital or
NASDAQ listing.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Rob Allan
is a founder and CEO of EnterVentures. Previously, Rob was the Managing
General Partner and CEO of PoleStar Business Development, a venture capital
and advisory firm focused on Internet-related opportunities and e-commerce.
Rob has also been a Partner with the New York venture capital firm, The
Anvil Group, a management consultant with McKinsey and Company, and a
consultant in the Silicon Valley practice of Egon Zehnder International, the
global executive search firm.
Rob holds degrees in Business (MBA), Law (LLM), and Medical Sciences (BSc),
and sits on the Boards of several portfolio companies and non-profit
organizations including Altomak, Ltd (ASX), the advisory and IPO firm,
Avelin Capital and Bright Hope Australia - a non-profit organization
partnering with the extreme poor throughout the world.
Diana Saca
is a founder and COO of EnterVentures. Diana has over ten years experience
in representing both privately held and publicly traded high technology,
retail, entertainment and real estate companies. Diana was a named partner
with the Silicon Valley law firm of Hagan, Saca & Hagan Law Corporation for
seven years.
She served as outside General Counsel to many of her high technology
start-up clients and has advised them through all aspects of formation,
funding, intellectual property protection, securities regulation, licensing,
employment issues and general business structure and strategy. Diana holds
degrees in Political Science and Administration of Justice. She completed
certification with the Hong Kong International & Comparative Law Institute
in 1989 and obtained her law degree from Santa Clara University School of
Law, where she was a Member and Associate Editor of the Santa Clara Law
Review.
John Chaisson
is a founder of EnterVentures. Most recently, John has provided strategic
advice and support to a variety of Internet-based start-up companies, first
as Vice President of Business and Corporate Development at DataMain, a
Milpitas-based Internet incubation firm, and later as President of
Interbiznet Group, an incubator and intellectual venture capital firm based
in Marin.
John has also served as General Counsel for several Bay Area technology
companies, worked extensively with the business development departments of
technology firms, and served as the Vice President of Business Development
while at Resumix Inc. John began his career assisting fast growth technology
firms while at Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich and Rosati. He obtained his law
degree from Stanford University.
Bill Kelsall
is a founder of EnterVentures. Prior to joining EnterVentures, Bill was
responsible for Arthur Andersen's Strategy Practice in Melbourne. He has
also been a strategy consultant with the leading global firm McKinsey and
Company, spending significant time in McKinsey's Global Innovation Practice
in New York. He has also worked for several years as an independent
consultant specializing in innovation and step-out growth for a variety of
companies.
In addition to his consulting work, Bill was the founder and CEO of Fresh
Cosmetics. In that capacity, he covered a wide range of business
operations-from concept development to strategic planning, from raising
venture capital to marketing and promoting products and ideas. Bill began
his professional career as a physical therapist, during which time he opened
8 successful practices, both as a partner and as sole proprietor. Bill holds
an MBA from Cranfield University in the U.K., and a Bachelor's degree in
Physical Therapy from Curtin University in Australia.
Advisory Board
Mario Rosati
Mario has been with the Palo Alto, California, law firm of Wilson, Sonsini,
Goodrich & Rosati since 1971. Since 1978, Mario has specialized in corporate
law, especially as it relates to high-technology companies. In 1981, he
participated in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Task Force of the office
of President-elect Ronald Reagan and in 1982-83 he served as a special
consultant to Secretary of Transportation Drew Lewis and Deputy Secretary of
Transportation Darrel Trent.
Mario is a director of several publicly and privately traded companies,
including C*ATS Software Inc., Genus, Inc., MyPoints, and Aehr Test Systems.
He is also a member of his firm's executive committee, which manages the
company. He has served as judge pro tem in the Superior Court, State of
California, San Mateo County and is an adjunct professor at University of
California at Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Mario has a BA in history
from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a JD from the
University of California at Berkeley's Boalt School of Law.
