Since the late 90’s, Blair Garrou has focused on operating, investing in and/or advising startup companies, particularly in the software industry. Currently, Blair is a co-founder and Managing Director of Mercury Fund, a venture capital firm headquartered in Houston, Texas. Mercury invests in software and science-based startup opportunities, focusing on entrepreneurs and innovation originating in the U.S. Midcontinent. Blair is also a co-founder and mentor of SURGE Accelerator (Houston), and an active mentor with accelerators The Brandery (Cincinnati) and TechStars. Prior to Mercury, Blair was the CEO of Intermat (acq. by IHS), a Principal with Houston-based private equity firm Genesis Park, and the Director of Operations for the Houston Technology Center, where he led the formation of the Houston Angel Network. Previously, Blair was an investment banker with BMO Nesbitt Burns, and started his career with Deloitte.  He received a B.S. in Management with special attainments in Commerce from Washington & Lee University. Blair’s current investments include Alert Logic, Apto, Koupon Media, Label Insight, LISNR, ShareThis, and TrendKite. His previous investments include BlackLocus (acq. by The Home Depot), FuelQuest (acq. by Saracen Energy Partners), Infochimps (acq. by CSC), Intermat (acq. by IHS), Phurnace Software (acq. by BMC), and SAT Corp. (acq. by Invensys). Outside of Mercury, Blair serves in board and/or advisory roles for UTHealth, the Post Oak School, the Rice Alliance for Technology & Entrepreneurship, and YPO Gulf States Chapter.  Blair is an Adjunct Professor at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University where he teaches a course on venture capital.  Blair also was named to the Houston Business Journal’s inaugural “40 under 40,” a recognition of outstanding business and community leaders under the age of 40.