Dave Berkus's Profile

Dave Berkus is a much in-demand speaker, with a proven track record of over fifty years as an entrepreneur and successful angel investor. As an entrepreneur, he has formed, managed and sold successful businesses in the entertainment and software arenas. As an investor, he has obtained healthy returns from over twenty liquidity events in early-stage ventures. As a mentor, he was named ?Early Stage Director of the Year? by Forum for Corporate Directors for his efforts as chairman or board member of over 40 companies since 1993. As a speaker, he has been rated the highest of any previous speaker in numerous business and entrepreneur venues.
Mr. Berkus was the founder of an early computer software company, which he guided as CEO for over a decade that included two consecutive years on the Inc.500 list of America's fastest growing companies. For his accomplishments in advancing technology in the hospitality industry, in 1998 he was inducted into the Hospitality (HFTP) "International Hall of Fame", one of only twenty-eight so honored worldwide over the years.
In the last ten years he has made 71 investments in early stage ventures, for which he has an IRR of 97%, which includes capital contributions to his two funds (Berkus Technology Ventures, LLC and Kodiak Ventures, L.P., for which he is the managing partner). He is a past Chairman of the Tech Coast Angels, one of the largest angel networks in the United States, and currently serves as chairman of six companies, participating on a total of fourteen boards, including four non-profit boards. In recognition for his adding significant shareholder value for emerging technology companies over the past decade, he was named ?Director of the Year? by the Forum for Corporate Directors of Orange County, California. His latest book, ?Extending the Runway?, published by Aspatore Press, addresses the complexities of growing young technology companies, providing sage advice to entrepreneurs, board members and professional managers regarding the use of available resources to promote growth and protect against failure. His ?Berkus Method? for valuing young companies is widely quoted and used by angel investors and groups worldwide.
Mr. Berkus is much in demand as a speaker and story-teller, often addressing both current and future trends in technology as well as observations and stories of companies he?s participated in that have succeeded and some that have not.
A graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Berkus has long been a trustee of the College and is responsible for its current fifty year master plan.

Angel, VC investing, public keynote and workshop speaking worldwide, "futurist" in technology, expert in corporate governance issues for small to medium sized businesses. Deep knowledge of hospitality technology and complex electronic distribution, pricing and marketing issues relating to services and products.