Our Team
Darren Sandberg
Darren brings over 25 years of experience in developing, executing, and investing in growth strategies for emerging technology companies. Prior to joining Dreamit, Darren was a Board Member and held various operating positions at CIML LLC, a holding company for Channel Intelligence (acquired by Google). Darren also spent over 10 years as a private equity and venture investor at Actua, an investment and holding company for SaaS-based technology companies, where he served as a Managing Director. Darren’s passion and unique strength is identifying promising companies, technologies and people, and helping them develop strategies to achieve their vision.
MANAGING PARTNER
Mel Shakir
As the Partner leading Dreamit’s Securetech Vertical Mel’s job involves working with cybersecurity startups from around the world to realize their full potential - refining their positioning and go-to-market strategy, scaling their sales operations and mapping out their capital needs. Mel is a recognized leader in cybersecurity and SIEM technology. Prior to joining Dreamit, Mel spent the prior 15 years developing and bringing innovative cybersecurity solutions to market. Mel started his career in cybersecurity as CTO of Incache, a database security solution, which he founded in 2004 that culminated in an acquisition first by RippleTech and later by NitroSecurity (where he served as CTO) and finally McAfee. More recently, Mel served as Director of Product Management at RSA Netwitness and at Securonix as the SVP of Product Development where he was responsible for development and go-to-market strategy for the Next Generation Cloud SIEM solution. Mel received a MS in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Mumbai.
PARTNER, SECURETECH
Drew Hunt
Drew assists in Securetech vertical operations and works alongside the Securetech Partner to improve program outcomes. As a Director, Drew speaks incessantly with cybersecurity, physical security, governance/risk/compliance, and anti/counter fraud startups and industry leaders to curate great Dreamit investment opportunities and derive where Dreamit can drive material startup impact. Prior to Dreamit, Drew, as one of the first 10 employees, worked for Conceal (formerly NetAbstraction), as Vice President of Business Development and Strategy where he led global business development and go-to-market strategy across commercial and government markets. He holds an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a BS in Management from Clemson University.
DIRECTOR, SECURETECH
Brittany Gillow
Brittany is responsible for overseeing all components of Dreamit’s Accounting, Finance, and Administrative operations. She also serves as the focal point for human resource management. Prior to joining Dreamit Brittany was the Controller at a national diversified logistics company, and before that she was a ground-floor team member of a Philadelphia Cleantech startup. Throughout her career she has been involved in all aspects of corporate accounting and finance and has focused her efforts on process improvement and driving changes based on strategic financial analysis. Brittany graduated magna cum laude from Drexel University with a BS in Business Administration and she is pursuing an additional degree in Economics. Outside of work she is an active foster parent in the Philadelphia community, and is a volunteer youth soccer coach.
DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTING
Brandon Lee
Brandon supports sourcing for Dreamit’s Securetech vertical. As an Associate, Brandon works closely with our team to drive effective deal flow and maximize fund outcomes. While constantly searching for the next best securetech innovation, Brandon plays a critical role in helping drive Dreamit’s front-office diligence process. Prior to Dreamit, Brandon co-founded a startup in the secondary collectibles market and worked in product at Sotheby's. He recently graduated from NYU where he majored in Data Science and worked closely with the entrepreneurship lab.
ASSOCIATE
Board Members
Steve Welch
Steve started his first big entrepreneurial success, Mitos, in 2001 with hardly a cent to his name. Without ever raising outside money Steve built Mitos into a global company in the biotech manufacturing field prior to selling it in 2007 at the age of 29 to a Fortune 500 company. Under Steve’s guidance Mitos developed several critical innovations and patents which transformed the manufacturing process of biological drugs and vaccines and allowed Mitos to develop a global sales and distribution network. Following the sale of Mitos, Steve co-founded DreamIt Ventures, a new business accelerator model. As a 2009 Eisenhower Fellow, Steve has spent time around the world studying all aspects of economic development. Throughout Asia, Europe and North America Steve has examined how economic development is impacted through 1) government policy 2) technology transfer institutions 3) funding sources and 4) culture. In 2010 Steve published “We are all Born Entrepreneurs” in which he uses his story and those of over a dozen other entrepreneurs to explain what drives entrepreneurs, while at the same time sharing lessons learned from the success -- and failures -- of entrepreneurs. In 2011 Steve started KinderTown as an educational app store for parents with children ages 3-8. KinderTown helps parents become their child’s best teacher by utilizing game-based learning on the tablet with learning in the physical world. In 2013 with almost 400,000 users Steve sold KinderTown to Demme Learning. In 2015 Steve founded Restore Cryotherapy to revolutionize the anti-pain and recovery industries by providing a unique consumer experience. Restore has dozens of locations spread throughout the US. Steve lives in Austin, TX.
Founder & Board Member
David Bookspan
David is the founder of Monetate, the global leader in providing multi-channel personalization to the world’s best brands. The Monetate platform is built for speed, with an easy-to-use interface that allows markets to create, test and deploy real-time personalized experiences – linked across web, email, and mobile channels – with little or no IT support. Prior to founding Monetate, David served as President and CEO of MarketSpan, Inc., whose CaseStream® service aggregated and enhanced court docket information and created new research tools and marketing opportunities for legal professionals. He sold MarketSpan, and CaseStream was rebranded LexisNexis CourtLink. In previous roles, David has served as Vice Chairman of Mid-Atlantic Angel Group Fund I (“MAG”), President of Robin Hood Ventures, and worked as a partner at Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen, LLP. He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., Editor, Law Review) and Vassar College (A.B. with honors).
Founder & Board Member
Mike Levinson
Mike is an entrepreneur and angel investor. He founded and serves as CEO of WizeHive, an online collaboration tool. Previously, Mike co-founded PTS Learning Systems, a company focused on corporate computer training and electronic performance support tools and software. Mike grew the company into a highly profitable international organization with over 200 employees and revenues of $30 million and sold it in 1999. Since selling PTS, Mike co-founded founded TechWise Group, Inc., an information technology outsourcing firm for small and medium businesses. Mike also was a founder or co-founder of LegalEdge Software, the 3E Institute, and The Academy of Manayunk, where he currently serves on the Board. Mike has also invested in over a dozen technology companies as an angel investor. Mike graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an Economics/Accounting degree, obtained his CPA certificate in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Villanova Law School with a JD.
Founder & Chairman
Jeff Vinik
Jeff Vinik is the current owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vinik managed the Fidelity Magellan Fund from 1992 to 1996. After leaving Fidelity, he started hedge fund Vinik Asset Management with partners including Michael Gordon (now President of Fenway Sports Group). In 2010, he purchased a distressed Tampa Bay Lightning franchise and subsequently brought a world-class franchise to life in Tampa Bay. Vinik has invested more than $70 million in private funding into the publicly-owned Amalie Arena to create a guest-first facility recognized as one of the finest in the NHL. Additionally, under the umbrellas of the Vinik Family Foundation and the Lightning Foundation, Jeff and his wife Penny, have invested more than $25 million in Tampa Bay area charities through a variety of programs and donations, the most notable being the Lightning Community Heroes program.
Partner & Board Member
Avi Savar
Avi was Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of digital advertising agency Big Fuel. Founded in 2004, Big Fuel grew to become the largest pure-play social media agency globally -- with over 120 employees and clients that included Walmart, Budweiser, GM, Samsung, Ally Bank, Bridgestone, AFLAC, T-Mobile, Carnival Cruises, and more. In June 2011, Avi led Big Fuel to a successful acquisition by French media giant Publicis Groupe, giving Big Fuel a global footprint and making it the most dominant social media agency worldwide. In addition to being the author of Content to Commerce: Engaging Consumers Across Paid, Earned & Owned Channels, in 2012 Avi was named President of the Cannes Lions Branded Content Jury. He also sits on the board of the Social Media Advertising Consortium (SMAC), the American Express Digital Advisory Board, 4A's Social Media Committee and serves as an advisor to several non-profit's, including UJA Federation and Grameen America. Additionally, Avi is an active investor and advisor to several media and technology companies, including Domino, Promoboxx, Proclivity Media, CMP.LY, Hyphen Lab, DietBet, Wellcaster, Seedfeed, NailSnaps, Trap.it, Plyfe, Magnesis, Know Your Crew, among others.
Partner & Board Member
Advisors
Tanuj Gulati
Tanuj Gulati, with over 20 years of experience, has successfully started and run multiple cybersecurity companies. He co-founded Securonix, a company that led the way in User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) and is a recognized leader in the Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) sector. As Securonix's CTO, Tanuj launched several market-leading products and spearheaded the company's growth to an annual recurring revenue of over 100 million and a valuation exceeding one billion dollars.
Before Securonix, Tanuj co-founded Vaau, a trailblazer in the Identity and Access Governance arena. He served from its inception until its acquisition by Sun Microsystems. Additionally, he held significant management roles at Oracle and Sun Microsystems.
Tanuj is a distinguished authority in applying big data analytics in security. He offers advice to Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, think tanks, and on Capitol Hill. He is also a member of governance boards for information security programs at several large organizations, helping guide the implementation of security policies and governance initiatives. The SVUS 2016 Golden Bridge Awards recognized Tanuj as the "Executive of the Year" and the "Most Innovative Executive of the Year."
Securetech Advisor
Evelin Biro
Evelin is a cybersecurity risk management executive with over 20 years of global, cross-industry experience including finance, manufacturing, utility, nuclear, and retail.
Most recently, Evelin held the position of CISO for a financial institution where she substantially expanded the cybersecurity team and the program's capabilities. This amplified consumer trust, brand reputation, and operational agility. Prior to this, Evelin set a precedent in the evolution of cyber risk when she created a robust cybersecurity risk management program for a Fortune 15 company. This company was the first non-bank financial institution to be designated as a systemically important financial institution (SIFI), i.e., "too big to fail". In addition, Evelin led cybersecurity regulatory and privacy compliance for a global Fortune 10 company. She also facilitated smooth and secure spin-offs and subsequent merger of two Fortune 500 manufacturing organizations.
Today, Evelin works as a cybersecurity advisor for organizations looking to optimize their risk management strategies and entrepreneurs who are turning their innovative ideas into practical solutions.
Evelin holds an MBA in international business from Fairfield University, a BS in computer science from Purdue University and several industry certifications. She completed the Cybersecurity Leadership Program from Georgia Institute of Technology and the Information Management Leadership Program from General Electric.
Securetech Advisor
Adam Dakin
Adam serves as an Advisor for Dreamit Healthtech. His career has focused on building early stage venture-backed healthtech companies. Adam has held various senior management roles in sales, marketing, product development, clinical affairs, operations, and general management. He co-founded five health technology companies which have collectively raised over $60M in early stage capital. Prior to Dreamit, Adam served as CEO of PhotoSonix Medical, a venture-backed company he co-founded that is developing a consumer device for acne. Previously, he served as the CEO of Bioconnect Systems and X-SITE Medical (acquired by Maquet Getinge Group). Adam serves on the boards of Safkan Ear and ZSX Medical. He is an active angel investor and has served on the boards of several early stage health companies. He is the co-chair of the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technology (PACT) medical technology advisory board and serves as a Mentor in Residence for the Penn Center for Innovation. Adam was awarded the PACT MedTech Leadership Award in 2014. He is a named inventor on seven U.S. patents. Adam holds a BSE from the Wharton School and an MBA from UCLA.
Healthtech Advisor
Steve Gray
Steve heads up Investor Relations and has spent four decades in all aspects of capital formation across the private equity and venture capital markets. Most recently, he was the IR Partner at VantagePoint Capital Partners in California and has been a capital formation advisor to several emerging venture managers across the US. Steve spent a combined 16 years on Wall Street at Salomon Brothers and Jefferies & Co. ultimately managing their respective fund-raising groups. He has also been a GP at a small venture firm in Cambridge, UK and began his career at Aetna Life & Casualty investing in corporate debt, private equity funds and Aetna's first efforts in venture capital. Steve graduated from Dartmouth College and has an MBA from the University of Connecticut.
Investor Relations Advisor
Steve Barsh
Steve has over 35 years of experience starting, leading, launching, and building multinational companies as well as early stage venture work. He has helped launch over 100 companies and has extensive experience working with entrepreneurs, scientists and physicians on rapid identification and de-risking of critical make-or-break assumptions as well as shaping those companies along with guiding their early stage venture rounds. Steve started his first company while he was graduating college and sold that company seven years later to MCI where he went on to lead the combined division. He is a special advisor to NASA for their annual NASA Cross Industry Innovation Summit. Steve taught in the Wharton MBA program at the University of Pennsylvania and has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Michigan. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children.
Senior Advisor