A. Craig Asher
Craig Asher has had a successful track record of developing software companies. Over the past ten years he has been a key team member in three successful software startups: Commerce One; Trigo Technologies; and the internal IBM startup for InfoSphere Traceability Server. He has guided major software implementations at over 50 customers in markets including retail, medical products, pharmaceuticals, and general distribution.
At Trigo Technologies Craig’s position was director of product management. He played a broad role as company strategist for marketing, sales, product development, and professional services, and he also drove implementation of much of the strategy. During Craig’s tenure at Trigo, annual revenue grew from under $1 million to nearly $40 million and the firm attained profitability. Trigo was successfully sold to IBM for over $140 million in April, 2004, thereby generating significant profits for venture capital and individual investors.
Following Trigo’s sale to IBM, Craig formed a new startup group within IBM to build a new product for information management software for sensor data. Craig’s role in the new venture was the product strategist, product manager, and implementation manager. In 2005 the venture signed its first customer, Glaxo Smith Kline, and Craig led the delivery to that customer in 2006. He Co-chaired the international EPCglobal EPCIS standard which was the core for the broad adoption of similar information management software, and attained ratification of the standard in 2007. Craig significantly helped sign and implement 7 additional customers until his departure from IBM to join Vital Venture Capital. In 2008 the IBM product’s customer base grew to 15 customers, annual sales were approximately $9 million and gross margin was approximately $6 million.
Craig has enjoyed co-chairing several working groups in international standards bodies. He has one issued US patent - 7,866,543. He also has extensive experience in marketing strategy, product management, product development, services delivery, business development, and technical sales for growing software companies.
Before moving into software startups, Craig was a consultant with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) in the supply chain strategy practice, and helped drive the turnaround of a distressed packaging manufacturer. Craig did his undergraduate work at Stanford University, and completed his MBA and Masters in Industrial Engineering at Northwestern University.
Nathaniel C. Brinn, CFA
Nat Brinn has a 25-year successful track record of private investments, acquisitions and business management. The most recent example is HSA Bank, the largest specialty bank in the United States focused on health savings accounts. Nat has successful management experience in growth companies, including his role as CEO of HSA Bank, where accounts and revenues grew four-fold and the firm developed a significant profit margin from an initial loss position.
Nat’s private equity investments have achieved positive returns, with many returning 4-5x initial investment within several years. In aggregate, he has completed more than 80 transactions with positive results, including the avoidance of any defaults during his tenure as a private placement bond investor.
While he was Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Webster Bank, Nat was responsible for mergers and acquisitions as well as strategic initiatives. He also oversaw management of Budget Installment Company, a premium finance company that Webster acquired and grew three-fold in outstanding balances, revenues and profits over three years under his supervision.
Upon acquiring HSA Bank for Webster, he was appointed to become CEO of HSA Bank. HSA Bank was purchased in early 2005 for a net premium of $12 million and was valued at nearly $100 million upon his departure at CEO in July 2007 to join Vital Venture Capital. Both the Budget Installment and HSA Bank situations involved upgrading IT, financial, compliance and operating systems as well as building national sales organizations.
Prior to his tenure at Webster Bank, Nat held positions in corporate development (M&A and strategic investing) and private placement investments at Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance and Inspection Company, Phoenix Home Life, Canadian Imperial Bank and Metropolitan Life.
Nat has an MBA in finance and accounting from The Fuqua School of Business (Duke University), where he was a Fuqua Scholar and his class graduation speaker. He did his undergraduate work in economics, with additional focus in mathematics and statistics, at University of Delaware where he was in the honors program.
Norman L. Norris
Mr. Norris was a co-founder and principal investor in Trident International, a company purchased as a division of Johnson Worldwide and then taken public on the NASDAQ. Mr. Norris served as a member of the board of directors of Trident International until its successful sale to a larger competitor. Trident’s value increased 20-fold over 5 years. He also invested in and was on the board of Foxjet, Inc., an inkjet cartridge manufacturer, providing a 5-fold return over 2 years.
As a practicing attorney, Mr. Norris has been active in patent litigation and intellectual property law involving various technical subjects. He is the chairman of, and he and his family are majority shareholders of, eTool Development Inc. which owns significant patent rights relating to on-line product development tools used in the electronics and specialty chemical industries.
From 1968 through his retirement in 2000 Mr. Norris was an attorney in the intellectual property law firm of Woodcock Washburn LLC. While at Woodcock Washburn he rose to the level of a named partner (1980 – 2000) and served for many years as a member of its executive committee. Mr. Norris received his JD degree from George Washington University and has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University.