David Cowan, Bessemer Venture Partners

David joined Bessemer Venture Partners in 1992. He has since made 45 early-stage investments for Bessemer, including 19 that have gone public, and 18 that have been acquired by public companies. The first Forbes Midas List ranked David among the world's top 10 venture investors.

David has invested in network technology (Ciena, P-Com), internet services (PSI-Net, Keynote, Flycast, Netli), and consumer internet (Hotjobs, Blue Nile). In 1995 he cofounded Verisign as a Bessemer-funded spinout of RSA, serving as VeriSign's initial Chairman; his other data security investments have included Counterpane (acq. by BT), Cyota (acquired by RSA), ON (acquired by Symantec), Postini (acquired by Google), Qualys, Tripwire, Tumbleweed, Valicert and Worldtalk (both of which Tumbleweed acquired after they went public). David currently serves on the boards of Billshrink, Delivery Agent, Flock, Lifelock, MashLogic, Nominum, Sonic Mule, Vimo, and Zoosk.

David received both his AB in Math and Computer Science and his MBA degrees from Harvard University.

Michael Fertik, CEO & Founder, ReputationDefender

Michael Fertik is a repeat Internet entrepreneur and CEO with experience in technology and law. He founded ReputationDefender in 2006 with the belief that citizens have the right to control and protect their online reputation and privacy. In his capacity as CEO and position on the advisory board of The Internet Keepsafe Coalition (iKeepSafe), a non-profit that works to protect the health and safety of youth online, Michael is regarded as the pioneer of online reputation management and the foremost expert on issues of online privacy. Michael is a published author and lectures internationally in front of professionals, students, school administrators and parents. Prior to founding ReputationDefender, Michael clerked for Chief Judge Danny J. Boggs of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States. Michael is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, speaks several languages and enjoys sailing, reading and running.

Mike Maples, Maples Investments

Mike Maples, Jr. is the managing partner of Maples Investments, and was recently named as one of "8 Rising VC Stars" by Fortune Magazine for his investments in business and consumer technology companies. Before becoming a full-time investor, Mike was an entrepreneur and operating executive who worked in a variety of senior management roles in high-growth companies. His background spans a variety of markets including consumer technology, small business, and the enterprise, and he has led various functions in product development, marketing, business development, and corporate strategy.

Mike began his technology career in high school, when he started a software company that developed games and educational products for the original IBM PC. He has been passionate about the technology industry ever since.

Before founding Maples Investments, Mike co-founded Motive, Inc., the world's leading broadband software company in 1997, and played key roles in its growth from raw start-up through sales of more than $75 million. Motive was one of the only successful technology IPOs in 2004, and the most successful infrastructure software IPO for the prior three years. At Motive, Mike was General Manager of Motive's Corporate Business Unit, as well as Chief Marketing and Strategy officer.

Prior to Motive, Mike was responsible for worldwide product marketing at Tivoli Systems, where he managed the company's product portfolio from its early-stage development through its 1995 IPO and growth to a $750M line of business within the IBM Software Group. Mike began his professional career at Silicon Graphics, where he served in business development and product marketing roles.

In his spare time Mike is an amateur artist, movie-maker, and calligrapher. He holds an Engineering degree from Stanford University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and a guest-lecturer on entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School, Stanford University, Princeton University, and the University of Texas.

Ted Schlein, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

Ted Schlein is a Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. He joined the firm in 1996 with a focus on early stage technology companies in the enterprise software and infrastructure markets, including ventures within the network and consumer security arena.

While at KPCB, Ted has led the firm’s involvement in a number of successful investments, including:
  • Corio (CRIO), sold to IBM
  • Extensity (EXTN), sold to GEAC
  • Internet Security Systems (ISSX), sold to IBM
  • Oakley Networks, sold to Raytheon
  • ArcSight (ARST), IPO.

Ted was the founding CEO of Fortify Software, a pioneer and market leader in the growing software security market. Now chairman, Ted has been instrumental in establishing Fortify as the provider of choice for detecting and eliminating security breaches threatening to derail Fortune 500 and government agency technical deployments.

In addition to Fortify, Ted serves on the board of directors of 3VR, 41st Parameter, ArcSight (ARST), Chegg, Hara Software, Ketera Technologies, IronPlanet, and Verdiem. He also oversees KPCB’s investments in LifeLock, Bit 9 and Recycle Bank.

Prior to joining KPCB, Ted served as Vice President, Enterprise Solutions at Symantec. He joined the software company as one of its early employees and played an instrumental role in Symantec’s growth and dominance as a global software leader. Ted led Symantec’s successful move into the software utilities market, as well as the launch of its commercial anti-virus solution, an offering that quickly emerged as the industry gold standard.

Ted is the former Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), a national alliance advocating the role of venture investing in job creation, technology innovation, and economic development. He is also the former President of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists and currently serves on the Board of Overseers of the Engineering School at the University of Pennsylvania. Ted frequently participates as an opinion leader in public, private and government forums, providing perspectives on security technology, related investments and market adoption trends.

Ted holds a BA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

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