Dallas Startup Week

David Matthews has a background as an entrepreneur, a lead investor in emerging alternative investment funds, a venture capitalist, and as a venture philanthropist. As an entrepreneur, David launched several successful start-ups including Intelecon, Green Mountain Dallas, and The Exchange. Intelecon was a Dallas-based audio-visual services company that he and two co-founders grew from $0 to $22 million of annual revenue between 1991 and 1998. In... Read More →

Retailer, Business strategist and Corporate VC | | Current areas of focus: Mobile/Digital, Payments, On Demand Economy, Financial Services for the Underbanked. | | Successfully started new lines of multi-channel businesses by putting together compelling customer experience through powerful partnerships. | | Leader of the digital products and omnichannel teams at 7-Eleven, Inc and founder of 7-Ventures, LLC, 7-Eleven's Corporate Ventures... Read More →

Joel has brought to Trailblazer Capital unique insights built on his many years of banking, investing and early-stage technology company operating experience. Prior to joining Trailblazer Capital, Mr. Fontenot worked for Cisco Systems, Inc. He joined Cisco through the acquisition of Metreos Corporation in June 2006. Joel was a Director of Business Development in the Voice Technology Group and managed the partnerships and strategic alliances... Read More →

Kevin Vela is a founding partner at Vela | Keller P.C. He focuses his practice in the areas of startups, corporate law, capital raises, and real estate investment activities. Kevin serves as general counsel for a number of small and mid-sized businesses, providing representation for business transactions, as well as day-to-day guidance on legal and operational issues. Kevin has performed hundreds of corporate formations and regularly handles... Read More →