David is a founder of several software and web technology companies including Pinpoint Technologies (now ZOLL Data Systems) of Broomfield, Colorado. While at ZOLL Data Systems, David was also the CTO. The company was acquired by ZOLL Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: ZOLL) in 1999. You can read about it in No Vision, All Drive [Amazon].
David was also the founder and CEO of earFeeder.com, which was sold to SonicSwap.com in 2006.
David is also an active startup advocate, advisor, board member, and technology investor who comments on these topics on his blog at ColoradoStartups.com.
David’s hobbies are technology, software/web startups, business history, and tennis. He has two amazing kids who always seem to be teaching him something new.
Topic Synopsis: TechStars: The emerging model of mentorship driven
(very) early stage finance
TechStars is one of a handful of very innovative programs designed to promote entrepreneurship with a mentor driven approach combined with seed capital. Each summer in Boulder, Colorado, TechStars funds ten teams of entrepreneurs who come there for an immersive three month experience. During the summer, each new company builds their prototype, hones their strategy, interacts with many top serial entrepreneurs and advisors from the region, and ultimately gets the chance to pitch their company to angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the summer. Participants get the benefits of long-lasting connections with more experienced entrepreneurs, gain credibility from having gone through the program, and are generally "healthier" after surviving this summer startup experience that has been called "a 3 month MBA in entrepreneurship" and a "startup boot camp". David Cohen, the Executive Director of TechStars will discuss this model and it’s benefits to both entrepreneurs and investors.
