Arthur J. Marks
Managing General Partner, Valhalla Partners
Art Marks has worked with new technologies and entrepreneurs in the mid-Atlantic region for over 30 years, with various senior leadership roles with companies that include NEA and General Electric. In 2002, he co-founded Valhalla Partners, a group of strategic venture investors that has extensive experience in helping entrepreneurs develop world-class companies at critical stages. His current responsibilities include involvement in media, Internet marketing and security related companies, working with Enterprise DB, SafeNet, Sepaton, SolidFire, Videology, and Vubiquity.
He is a member of the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors as well as the University of Michigan Engineering Advisory Council. He is also currently serving as the Chairman Emeritus of the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association. Additionally he serves on the board of the Venture Philanthropy Partners.
Art received a Master in Business Administration with high distinction (Baker Scholar) from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan.
John Ferber
Co-Founder and Chairman, Domain Holdings Group
John Ferber is a serial entrepreneur and domainer who, while always an active domainer, became heavily involved in the industry in 2010. John and his brother Scott were the founders of Advertising.com, which was acquired by AOL for $500 million in 2004. Leaving Advertising.com in 2006, John established an incubator to develop a number of companies, including: USONetworks/Car-Mercial, the leading provider of Video Search Engine Optimization solutions to advertisers and agencies, MyMojo – a celebrity digital brand management company, and the Microgiving Foundation – the world’s largest charitable crowdfunding platform. John also serves on the board of TidalTV – the fastest growing Internet video advertising solutions provider, as well as DoublePositive – the world’s leading Hot-Transfer service provider.
Chad Folkening
Co-Founder, Domain Holdings, Founder and CEO, eCorp.com and Global Ventures LLC
Chad is the Founder of eCorp.com and Global Ventures LLC, which has amassed over 15,000 premium Internet domains. Folkening has successfully acquired, developed and sold domain properties, leading to partnerships with leading tech and Fortune 500 companies. His domain platform, Rapid Domain Builder – now named DomainPower – is the flagship technology platform offered by Domain Holdings. He pitched the platform at DOMAINfest Global 2010, where it was awarded “Best Service Innovator.” Folkening continues to pursue new venture opportunities, while also pursuing philanthropic endeavors in his native Indianapolis.
Matias de Tezanos
Chief Executive Officer, BrokersWeb
In 2000, Matias de Tezanos founded the largest Spanish hotel reservation site – Hoteles.com – which was acquired by Expedia in 2002. Following the acquisition, he founded ClickDiario.com, a worldwide advertising network targeting Spanish speaking users, where Comscore named the site the leading Spanish ad network. ClickDiario.com was acquired in 2006 by Fox International Channels, a division of News Corporation.
De Tezanos currently serves as the CEO and Founder of BrokersWeb, which was recently named the fastest growing insurance company by Inc.com, and was 20th in its annual Inc. 500 | 5000 list. In 2009, De Tezanos was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
Jason Ellin
Jason has worked as a financial and investment advisor for the past three years, assisting individuals and businesses. Previously, Jason worked for Advertising.com, heading up the company’s Northeast operations. Jason began his career in finance at Bessemer Trust, a company engaged in wealth management.
