Our Team

Mel Shakir

PARTNER

Mel leads Dreamit’s Securetech practice, working with cybersecurity founders on positioning, go-to-market strategy, customer development, and fundraising. He brings more than 25 years of cybersecurity product and operating experience. Mel founded database security company Incache, which was ultimately acquired by McAfee, and later held senior product leadership roles at RSA NetWitness and Securonix. He holds an MS in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Mumbai.

Darren Sandberg

Partner

Darren has more than 25 years of experience developing, executing, and investing in growth strategies for emerging technology companies. Before joining Dreamit, he held operating and board roles at CIML, the holding company for Channel Intelligence, which was acquired by Google. He also spent more than a decade at Actua, where he served as Managing Director and invested in SaaS companies. Darren is particularly passionate about helping promising founders translate ambitious visions into scalable businesses.

Drew Hunt

Director, SECURETECH

Drew leads sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support for Dreamit’s Securetech practice. He works closely with cybersecurity founders, investors, and industry leaders to identify compelling investment opportunities and help portfolio companies accelerate commercial growth. Before joining Dreamit, Drew was one of the first 10 employees at Conceal, formerly NetAbstraction, where he served as Vice President of Business Development and Strategy. He holds an MBA from Georgetown University and a BS in Management from Clemson University.

Brittany Gillow

DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTING

Brittany oversees Dreamit’s accounting, finance, administrative, and human resources operations. She brings broad experience in corporate finance, strategic analysis, process improvement, and operational management. Before joining Dreamit, Brittany served as Controller for a national diversified logistics company and was an early team member at a Philadelphia cleantech startup. She graduated magna cum laude from Drexel University with a BS in Business Administration. Outside Dreamit, Brittany is an active foster parent and volunteer youth soccer coach.

Eric Sayag

Intern, Securetech

Eric is Dreamit’s Webmaster and supports sourcing for the firm’s Securetech practice. He manages Dreamit’s website while helping identify and evaluate emerging cybersecurity startups. Eric is pursuing a Master of Science in Cybersecurity at Rowan University. Before transitioning into cybersecurity, he spent several years in web design, UX, and digital marketing, working with organizations of all sizes to improve their online presence, user experience, and brand visibility. His combination of technical, design, and cybersecurity expertise supports both Dreamit’s operations and investment efforts.

Board Members

Steve Welch

Founder & Board Member

Steve is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Dreamit Ventures. He founded Mitos in 2001, building the biotech manufacturing company without outside capital before selling it to a Fortune 500 company in 2007. He later founded KinderTown, which was acquired by Demme Learning, and Restore Hyper Wellness, a nationwide health and wellness franchise. A 2009 Eisenhower Fellow, Steve has studied entrepreneurship and economic development around the world and is the author of We Are All Born Entrepreneurs.

David Bookspan

Founder & Board Member

David is an entrepreneur, investor, attorney, and co-founder of Dreamit Ventures. He founded Monetate, a leading personalization software company serving global brands, and previously led MarketSpan, whose CaseStream platform was acquired and became LexisNexis CourtLink. David has also served as President of Robin Hood Ventures and Vice Chairman of Mid-Atlantic Angel Group Fund I. He earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a Law Review editor, and graduated with honors from Vassar College.

Mike Levinson

Founder & Chairman

Mike is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and co-founder and Chairman of Dreamit Ventures. He founded WizeHive and previously co-founded PTS Learning Systems, which he grew into an international company with more than 200 employees before its sale. Mike has founded or co-founded several other technology and education businesses and has invested in numerous early-stage companies. He earned an undergraduate degree in Economics and Accounting from the Wharton School and a JD from Villanova University School of Law.

Jeff Vinik

Partner & Board Member

Jeff is an investor, philanthropist, and Partner and Board Member at Dreamit Ventures. He previously managed Fidelity’s Magellan Fund and later founded Vinik Asset Management. As Chairman and Governor of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Jeff helped transform the organization into a championship franchise and invested significantly in its arena and surrounding community. Through the Vinik Family Foundation and Lightning Foundation, he and his family have supported education, healthcare, human services, and other charitable initiatives throughout the Tampa Bay region.

Avi Savar

Partner & Board Member

Avi is an entrepreneur, investor, and Dreamit Board Member with more than two decades of experience in digital transformation, media, and technology. He founded Big Fuel, growing it into a global social media agency before its acquisition by Publicis Groupe, and later served as Dreamit’s CEO and Managing Partner. Avi has also held leadership roles at Suzy and advises companies navigating growth and technological disruption. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of Boardstream.ai and is a founding partner of Velocity Road.

Advisors

Tanuj Gulati

Securetech Advisor

Tanuj is a cybersecurity entrepreneur and technology leader with more than 20 years of experience. He co-founded Securonix, where he served as CTO and helped establish the company as a leader in user and entity behavior analytics and cloud-native SIEM. Earlier, he co-founded identity governance company Vaau, which was acquired by Sun Microsystems, and held leadership positions at Oracle and Sun. Tanuj advises enterprises, government organizations, and cybersecurity startups on security analytics, product strategy, and business growth.

Evelin Biro

Securetech Advisor

Evelin is a cybersecurity risk management executive with more than 20 years of global experience across financial services, manufacturing, energy, nuclear, and retail organizations. She has served as a financial-services CISO, built a cybersecurity risk management program for a Fortune 15 company, and led regulatory, privacy, and security initiatives at major global enterprises. Today, Evelin advises organizations and cybersecurity entrepreneurs on risk management and program development. She holds an MBA from Fairfield University and a BS in Computer Science from Purdue University.

Adam Dakin

Healthtech Advisor

Adam is a healthtech entrepreneur, executive, investor, and advisor who has spent his career building early-stage, venture-backed companies. He has co-founded five healthcare technology businesses that collectively raised more than $60 million and has held leadership roles spanning sales, marketing, product, clinical affairs, operations, and general management. Adam has served as CEO of PhotoSonix Medical, Bioconnect Systems, and X-SITE Medical. He holds a BSE from the Wharton School and an MBA from UCLA and is a named inventor on seven U.S. patents.

Steve Gray

Investor Relations Advisor

Steve advises Dreamit on investor relations and capital formation, drawing on four decades of experience across venture capital and private equity. He previously served as Investor Relations Partner at VantagePoint Capital Partners and has advised emerging venture managers throughout the United States. Steve also spent 16 years on Wall Street at Salomon Brothers and Jefferies, where he led fundraising groups, and served as a general partner at a venture firm in Cambridge, England. He holds degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of Connecticut.

Steve Barsh

Senior Advisor

Steve is an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor with more than 35 years of experience launching and scaling technology companies. He has helped develop more than 100 startups and works closely with entrepreneurs, scientists, and physicians to test critical assumptions, reduce early-stage risk, and prepare companies for financing and growth. Steve founded and sold his first company to MCI and later taught in the Wharton MBA program. He holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Michigan.