Founded and led by operators and investors
Jarett Rodriguez
25+ years launching and building privately funded companies and public organizations. Developed LSU's self-sustaining Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute, served as instructor of LSU's first course on Innovation & Creativity, built collaborations with NFL and MLB, co-created the LSU100, taught innovation and entrepreneurship through executive education, and built businesses in multiple states and on 2 continents as a serial entrepreneur. Recognized by the White House as a "catalyst for change."
Philip Sanger, M.D.
Physician-entrepreneur with 25+ years as a pulmonary and critical care specialist. Founded a Medicare Advantage health plan (taken public), built a PPO to 50K+ subscribers, and grew Intercede Health from 3 people into a medical management company serving 1M+ patients. Helped launch HealthSpring through its 2006 IPO. Board member of Intercede Health, Televero Health, and Wenzel Spine; advisor to Santé Ventures.
Rudy Garza
Investor and board member across 20+ companies, with several sold to publicly traded firms including SAP, ADP, Prudential, and Cisco Systems. Longtime NVCA and Texas Venture Capital Association member. Former Chairman of the UT Alumni Association (Texas Exes); lifetime honorary trustee of the Dell Children's Medical Center Foundation. St. Edward's University and UT Austin.
Scott Holstead
Named FT 400 Top Financial Adviser in 2014–15 and ranked among Barron's America's Top 1000 Financial Advisors. Former U.S. Treasury Office of Tax Policy and George H.W. Bush White House. Washington & Lee and University of Michigan.
Kerry Hall
Second employee and later President of Texas Capital Bank's Austin Region. Built TCB's Private Wealth Advisors division. Former chair, Austin Chapter of the American Heart Association. Appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to Texas One, the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board (2005–2011).
Brent Iverson, Ph.D.
Distinguished Teaching Professor in the College of Natural Sciences at UT Austin. Stanford and Caltech trained. Raised in Silicon Valley, Brent brings a deep belief in how supportive environments unlock innovation—focusing on student success and new approaches to education inside and outside the classroom.
Jeff Nash
30+ year career in finance, banking, consulting, and database management. UT Austin BBA & MBA. Active civic leader—board service includes the UT Alumni Association, Texas Bankers Association, Rodeo Austin, and the American Heart Association, which honored him with a research grant in his name.
John T. Rippel
40+ years and 100,000+ multifamily units. Founding Partner of Alliance Residential; former President/COO of Gables Residential following its 1994 IPO. Earlier led south Texas for Trammell Crow Residential and was a CPA at Ernst & Young. UT Austin BBA.
Joe Milam
30+ years in investment and fintech. Pioneered angel investing infrastructure including cap-table management and investor relations tools. Featured in Barron's and Forbes. Dedicated to improving funding experiences for entrepreneurs and investors.
Raleigh Dewan
Entrepreneur and investor who has founded and exited three companies across CPG, SaaS, and MedTech. Manages the venture portfolio at Greenwood & Cavalier and advises family offices on private-market strategy. Creator of SteadiSpoon, a patented assistive device featured on Fox News, NBC, and The Dallas Morning News. National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholar, Coca-Cola Scholar, and Texas Business Hall of Fame Future Business Legend.
