Angel Investing Overview #SmartMoneySV

Gwen Edwards, Managing Director of Golden Seeds is an accomplished executive with 30 plus years of experience from the technology/telecommunications industry.  From  Stanford Research Institute to operating executive running a $400M business unit of SBC/now AT&T, to CEO of a venture backed company.  The constant thread in her career – from R&D to Sales VP and General manager, is one of commercializing innovation, and turning customer needs into revenue opportunities.   Gwen now consults and advises both early stage and F500 companies on the art of innovation, and relishes opportunities to engage key customers, front line employees, and other stakeholders in defining next stage opportunities.   She is an avid supporter of engaging women in the angel and venture investment community, and in associated leadership opportunities with new ventures.  You can find Gwen on Twitter  @GwenEdwards

Marya Stark is a Co-Founder of The Angel Fund, which brings key women in technology together to invest in Bay Area technology companies.  She is also a Co-Founder and the Founding Executive Director of Emerge America, the premier national leadership program for women who want to run for public office.  Emerge America, which now serves twelve states, is known as a “game-changer” on the national political scene.  Marya began her career in corporate finance with Smith Barney and continued doing M&A transactions for a French telecom company in Paris and for a small boutique that she started with a colleague.  Subsequently, she was the SVP of Marketing and Strategy for Urban Box Office Networks. She is a Board member of UC Berkeley’s Alumni Association.  Marya holds a finance degree from UC Berkeley and a Masters in Applied Statistics from Georgetown University.  You can find Marya on Twitter @maryastark