Principals
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Jake TarrManaging DirectorJake's investment activities focus on power/clean technology, outsourcing, transaction software and customer care/service opportunities. He is a Director of APX and SmartSynch. Before joining Kinetic in 1987, Jake was with the Bank of New York. He received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA degree from Roanoke College. |
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William HeflinManaging DirectorWillie joined Kinetic Ventures in 1990. His investment activities focus on communications and information technologies and software. He has led investments in Altierre, Cerent, NetCore, Corvis, Ciena, Seneca Networks, Calix, and Covega. Previously, Willie was with IBM, Marcam Corporation and Research Investment Advisors. He received his MS in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management and his MS and BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois. |
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Nelson ChuManaging DirectorNelson joined Kinetic Ventures in early 1998. His investment activities focus on IT Infrastructure technologies (e.g., hardware systems and components, enterprise software), Internet software, database-related applications, and other emerging software and hardware technologies. He has led and/or been actively involved with Kinetic investments in BroadWare, VerticalOne, Alereon, and Grande. Prior to joining Kinetic Ventures, Nelson was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and a Development Manager with Oracle Corporation. Nelson received his MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School, his MS in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his BS in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech. |
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Sydney ShepherdVP of FinanceSydney joined Kinetic Ventures in 2002. She leads the internal financial and administrative functions of the firm. Prior to joining Kinetic, she was a director of finance with a start-up company in the technology field. Previously, Sydney was the Director of Finance, Administration and Systems for the law firm of Williams & Jensen, and an accountant with the large regional accounting firm of Beers & Cutler, PLLC. Sydney received her BS in Accountancy from The Pennsylvania State University and her EMBA with honors from The George Washington University. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. |