Blair Garrou - Managing Partner, DFJ Mercury - Blair has significant experience in operating, investing and advisory roles with start-up companies, particularly in the software industry. Prior to co-founding DFJ Mercury, Blair was the CEO of Intermat, Inc., a leader in the product information management software sector, where he led the sale of the company to IHS, Inc. (NYSE: IHS).  Prior to Intermat, he was a Principal of Genesis Park LP, a Houston-based venture capital and private equity firm, where he focused on the firm’s software investments, including Intermat, FuelQuest (acquired by Saracen Energy Advisors), and SAT Corporation.  Prior to Genesis Park, he assisted in the launch of and was the Director of Operations for the Houston Technology Center, a non-profit business accelerator and incubator that assists in the rapid commercialization of Houston-based emerging technology companies. During Blair’s tenure with the Houston Technology Center, he led the formation of the Houston Angel Network, Houston's first angel investment organization. Previously, he was an investment banker with BMO Nesbitt Burns, and he provided audit and assurance services with Deloitte & Touche. Blair received a BS in Management with Special Attainments in Commerce from Washington & Lee University. He is a licensed CPA in the state of Texas. Blair is currently an Adjunct Professor of Management at the Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University where he teaches a course on venture capital, and he is a frequent lecturer at Texas A&M University and the University of Houston.

Jay Gardner - Executive Mentor and Investor - Jay is a 29-year veteran of the technology industry with executive positions at market leaders IBM Corp. and BMC Software. Today, his work consists of executive management consulting and venture capital business development. Jay held several executive roles at BMC, where he worked from 1988 through the end of 2006. Before joining BMC, Jay worked for 10 years at IBM in various sales and sales management positions. With BMC, Jay held positions as vice president of sales of North America, vice president of Global Field Operations, vice president of Corporate Operations and Chief Information Officer. He also launched the company's On Demand business, which focused on delivering "software as a service". He has also been recognized within the information technology community for his team's successful initiatives and has served as a featured speaker for leading industry conferences. He was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Gartner Group CIO Choice Award and honored as a 2003 Premier 100 IT Leader by IDG's Computerworld. Jay has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Texas Christian University. In addition to board roles at several community service organizations, he is a member of the Advisory Board at Texas Christian University's e-business school and the TCU Regional Council.

Larry Warnock - President & CEO, Phurnace Software, Inc. - Larry serves as President & Chief Executive Officer of Phurnace Software. He provides strategic guidance and operational expertise to the company. Larry has over 23 years of experience working with start-up and established technology companies. Most recently he was CMO of Vignette, a publicly traded enterprise content management software company. As a Venture Partner at AV Labs (Austin Ventures), Larry assisted with the incubation of several early-stage software companies. Previously, he was an executive at start-up OnLink Technologies which was acquired by CRM market-leader Siebel Systems. Earlier in his career, Larry was a VP at Documentum, a publicly traded content-management software company (acquired by EMC) from its start-up phase through a successful IPO and into the market leader. Larry holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University where he was a Cadet Lt. Colonel in the Corps of Cadets. He is currently a guest lecturer at McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, and the Acton MBA program of Hardin-Simmons University.