The World’s First
Startup Decelerator

I am currently the Founder of The Makers Nation (themakersnation.com), with the goal of building creative communities through making.

Passionate about community building, story telling, and entrepreneurship – I believe strongly in the power of word of mouth marketing and grassroots initiatives to inspire and incite action. I thrive when leading projects that build, speak, and listen to the stories of a community and bring measurable results back to the relevant stakeholders.

I am currently the Founder of The Makers Nation (themakersnation.com), with the goal of building creative communities through making. Passionate about community building, story telling, and entrepreneurship – I believe strongly in the power of word of mouth marketing and grassroots initiatives to inspire and incite action. I thrive when leading projects that build, speak, and listen to the stories of a community and bring measurable results back to the relevant stakeholders.

Cristina Ventura has been working in Retail for the past 20 years and is currently leading the international business of Joyce based in Hong Kong as Senior Vice President for the Group, managing a portfolio of over 200 luxury brands. Joyce is a famous Luxury Retailer in Greater China, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and part of The Lane Crawford Joyce Group. Cristina has been working in Luxury and Retail for some of the world’s most prestigious brands and brings an international understanding of luxury, strategic planning, creativity and innovation.

Before joining Joyce, Cristina has been leading Apple’s team and high growth expansion in Hong Kong and China, one of the largest growth markets for Apple globally. She grew her team to over 1,500 members covering four large retail stores in Hong Kong and South China, which made an important contribution to Apple’s $8.8 billion revenues in China.Previously, Cristina was Regional Retail Director at Prada Group, where she was responsible for the regional retail network of the Prada, Miu Miu and Car Shoe brands, covering 12 countries and over 100 stores with 1,500 employees throughout the Asia Pacific Region and was involved in the preparation of Prada’s IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Cristina Ventura has been working in Retail for the past 20 years and is currently leading the international business of Joyce based in Hong Kong as Senior Vice President for the Group, managing a portfolio of over 200 luxury brands. Joyce is a famous Luxury Retailer in Greater China, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and part of The Lane Crawford Joyce Group. Cristina has been working in Luxury and Retail for some of the world’s most prestigious brands and brings an international understanding of luxury, strategic planning, creativity and innovation. Before joining Joyce, Cristina has been leading Apple’s team and high growth expansion in Hong Kong and China, one of the largest growth markets for Apple globally. She grew her team to over 1,500 members covering four large retail stores in Hong Kong and South China, which made an important contribution to Apple’s $8.8 billion revenues in China.Previously, Cristina was Regional Retail Director at Prada Group, where she was responsible for the regional retail network of the Prada, Miu Miu and Car Shoe brands, covering 12 countries and over 100 stores with 1,500 employees throughout the Asia Pacific Region and was involved in the preparation of Prada’s IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Product management leader with 10+ years of experience in e-commerce. Experienced in growth stage companies; launched European operations. Strategic planning experience & P&L accountability. Led complex cross-functional teams. Worked in 3 continents.

Product management leader with 10+ years of experience in e-commerce. Experienced in growth stage companies; launched European operations. Strategic planning experience & P&L accountability. Led complex cross-functional teams. Worked in 3 continents.

Professor Engel is an internationally recognized expert in innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, lecturing and advising business and government leaders around the world. He is the co-founder with the well-known serial entrepreneur Steve Blank, of The Lean LaunchPad. After a successful business career, he joined the faculty of University of California at Berkeley in 1991 to found the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship, of which he is a Senior Fellow and the Founding Executive Director Emeritus. He advises major corporations as well as young emerging companies and private equity investors on corporate strategy and innovation.

Professor Engel is an internationally recognized expert in innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, lecturing and advising business and government leaders around the world. He is the co-founder with the well-known serial entrepreneur Steve Blank, of The Lean LaunchPad. After a successful business career, he joined the faculty of University of California at Berkeley in 1991 to found the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship, of which he is a Senior Fellow and the Founding Executive Director Emeritus. He advises major corporations as well as young emerging companies and private equity investors on corporate strategy and innovation.

John is a General Partner and co-founder of BlueRun Ventures, formed in 1998. John’s commitment to entrepreneurs and their market vision is reflected by his thoughtful, passionate and consistent efforts to help founding teams reach the full potential of their endeavors.

John brings global operations and marketing experience into such investment areas as internet services, digital media and mobile broadband services. He has more than 20 years’ experience as an executive, entrepreneur, investor, and director of venture-backed start-ups, and has served on the boards of more than 20 companies. Most notably, he was the first venture investor and board member in Paypal, for which he was named on Forbes’ Midas List of Top Venture Capitalists.

Prior to founding BRV, John served in management and executive roles with Nokia, Go Communications and MCI. He holds a J.D. from George Mason University and B.A. from Boston College.

John is a General Partner and co-founder of BlueRun Ventures, formed in 1998. John's commitment to entrepreneurs and their market vision is reflected by his thoughtful, passionate and consistent efforts to help founding teams reach the full potential of their endeavors. John brings global operations and marketing experience into such investment areas as internet services, digital media and mobile broadband services. He has more than 20 years' experience as an executive, entrepreneur, investor, and director of venture-backed start-ups, and has served on the boards of more than 20 companies. Most notably, he was the first venture investor and board member in Paypal, for which he was named on Forbes' Midas List of Top Venture Capitalists. Prior to founding BRV, John served in management and executive roles with Nokia, Go Communications and MCI. He holds a J.D. from George Mason University and B.A. from Boston College.

Goal oriented risk taker.

Specialties: Business Strategy and International Business Development, Partnership Development, International Market Development, Accredited Business Angel and Venture Capital ecosystem, Business Process Management, Project Management, Sales and Marketing, Cross-cultural teaming, Relationship Management, People Management, Technology Transfer, US federal research strategies, higher education strategic planning, Due Diligence

Goal oriented risk taker. Specialties: Business Strategy and International Business Development, Partnership Development, International Market Development, Accredited Business Angel and Venture Capital ecosystem, Business Process Management, Project Management, Sales and Marketing, Cross-cultural teaming, Relationship Management, People Management, Technology Transfer, US federal research strategies, higher education strategic planning, Due Diligence

Verne Harnish is founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), with over 12,000 members worldwide, and chaired for fifteen years EO’s premiere CEO program, the “Birthing of Giants” held at MIT, a program in which he still teaches today. Founder and CEO of Gazelles, a global executive education and coaching company with over 210 partners on six continents, Verne has spent the past three decades helping companies scaleup. The “Growth Guy” syndicated columnist, he’s also the Venture columnist for FORTUNE magazine. He’s the author of the bestseller Mastering the Rockefeller Habits which is translated into 9 languages; and along with the editors of Fortune, authored The Greatest Business Decisions of All Times,” for which Jim Collins wrote the foreword.

His latest book Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) has won seven major international book awards including the prestigious 2015 International Book Award for Best General Business book. Verne also chairs FORTUNE Magazine’s annual ScaleUp and Growth Summits and serves on several boards including chairman of The Riordan Clinic and the newly launched Geoversity.

A private investor in many scaleups, Verne resides in Barcelona, Spain, with his wife and four children and enjoys piano, tennis, and magic as a card-carrying member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Verne Harnish is founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), with over 12,000 members worldwide, and chaired for fifteen years EO’s premiere CEO program, the “Birthing of Giants” held at MIT, a program in which he still teaches today. Founder and CEO of Gazelles, a global executive education and coaching company with over 210 partners on six continents, Verne has spent the past three decades helping companies scaleup. The “Growth Guy” syndicated columnist, he’s also the Venture columnist for FORTUNE magazine. He’s the author of the bestseller Mastering the Rockefeller Habits which is translated into 9 languages; and along with the editors of Fortune, authored The Greatest Business Decisions of All Times," for which Jim Collins wrote the foreword. His latest book Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) has won seven major international book awards including the prestigious 2015 International Book Award for Best General Business book. Verne also chairs FORTUNE Magazine’s annual ScaleUp and Growth Summits and serves on several boards including chairman of The Riordan Clinic and the newly launched Geoversity. A private investor in many scaleups, Verne resides in Barcelona, Spain, with his wife and four children and enjoys piano, tennis, and magic as a card-carrying member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Professional with more than 20 years of international experience in FMCG market and since 2009 in Biotech, Pharma, Private Equity, M&A, Quantum computing and Startups

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Professional with more than 30 years of international experience in FMCG market and since 2009 in Biotech sector, M&A, Startups, Private Equity, Investment Management and Pharmaceutical.
International Management positions in Spain, France, Germany, China, Mexico, Brazil and Italy.
Languages: Spanish, English, French, Italian and Catalan.
Specialties: General Management, International Development, Growth Projects, Strategic Alliances, Startups.

Professional with more than 20 years of international experience in FMCG market and since 2009 in Biotech, Pharma, Private Equity, M&A, Quantum computing and Startups _ Professional with more than 30 years of international experience in FMCG market and since 2009 in Biotech sector, M&A, Startups, Private Equity, Investment Management and Pharmaceutical. International Management positions in Spain, France, Germany, China, Mexico, Brazil and Italy. Languages: Spanish, English, French, Italian and Catalan. Specialties: General Management, International Development, Growth Projects, Strategic Alliances, Startups.

Seasoned entrepreneur, early-stage business angel and entrepreneurship lecturer in 3 languages and 4 continents; Mathieu joined Nero Ventures early 2016 as a General Partner; focuses on deal-flow generation and value creation.

Mathieu is one of the 3 founding partners of Venture Hub, a consulting firm supporting the scale of high growth start-ups and the development of entrepreneurial skills in the society at large. He is a Business Angel investing in early stage new ventures (holding board seats) such as MBA&CO, a world leading internet Marketplace disrupting the recruiting industry on a global scale.

After completing his MBA, Mathieu took the helm of the IESE Business School Center for Entrepreneurship where he coordinated teaching, research and outreach activities related to Entrepreneurship and innovation during 6 years.

Seasoned entrepreneur, early-stage business angel and entrepreneurship lecturer in 3 languages and 4 continents; Mathieu joined Nero Ventures early 2016 as a General Partner; focuses on deal-flow generation and value creation. Mathieu is one of the 3 founding partners of Venture Hub, a consulting firm supporting the scale of high growth start-ups and the development of entrepreneurial skills in the society at large. He is a Business Angel investing in early stage new ventures (holding board seats) such as MBA&CO, a world leading internet Marketplace disrupting the recruiting industry on a global scale. After completing his MBA, Mathieu took the helm of the IESE Business School Center for Entrepreneurship where he coordinated teaching, research and outreach activities related to Entrepreneurship and innovation during 6 years.