Message from T.A.

I was previously VP of Product Strategy at Blackberry, focused on BBM (Blackberry Messenger), social applications (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Foursquare…) as well as the native Contacts apps after Blackberry bought my last company, Gist.

I was the founder of Gist.com, a social address book sold to Blackberry in February 2011, as well as Jump2Go and 3 other web-based companies. I am on the board of Full Contact and Guidant and an active advisor to startup companies including Creative Live, Zooppa, EveryMove and Inkwell Media. I also spent 4 years at Microsoft in various roles on Exchange and Mobile Service Delivery Platforms. I like B2B and mobile stuff!

I’m a new, but active angel investor and have made investments in Creative Live, Everpath, Heapsylon (Sensoria), Assist, Innervate as well as Founders Co-op, FG Angels, and SKV. I plan to do more angel investments in marketing tools, education and “quantified health” (bringing data to bear to improve healthcare), so connect with me here.

I like sharing my experience and ideas, so I spend lots of time at Techstars (active mentor), Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington (on the board) and was previously on the board of Lake Washington Girls Middle School. I learn by mentoring, coaching and teaching.

Prior to my startup activity, I was a professional sailor and competed in 2 America’s Cups (won one, lost one) and the Whitbread Round the World race (now called the Volvo Ocean Race). I am married to Teresa, a wonderful and creative woman, and father of Ray, a smart, caring and active daughter! When I am not working, I like to run and bike long distances and swim at 1/2 the pace I did in college.