David H. Beisel
About Me
I am currently a Vice President at the early stage venture firm Venrock. Although open to investments in any IT-related space, I am currently focused on working with early-stage entrepreneurs looking for additional capital and expertise to help build digital media & internet companies. I currently serve on the boards of portfolio investments Second Rotation (aka Gazelle) and BlogHer, and am actively involved with Appnexus.
I am the founder and organizer of the Web Innovators Group, an organization comprised of people engaged in internet and mobile innovation in the Boston area.
Previously as a Principal at Masthead Venture Partners, I helped lead an investment in Expo TV, and was an integral member of the investment team for Tremor Media, Intercasting, TripConnect, and NewsGator.
Additionally, I co-founded Sombasa Media, an e-mail marketing company best known for its flagship product BargainDog. Sombasa was successfully acquired by About Inc., which was soon after acquired by Primedia (NYSE: PRM). Our group became the About Direct division of Primedia, where I served as Vice President of Marketing. While in that role, I led the marketing team responsible for the company's e-mail newsletter product suite, managed the division's customer relationship operations, and coordinated related business development activities.
I've also worked as a management consultant at The Parthenon Group and in product management at Adobe Systems.
My educational background includes an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an AB in Economics, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Duke University.
On a personal note, in the past ten years I've completed a 1,500mi unsupported solo cycling journey from Land's End to John O'Groats (UK), worked at Vail resort as a children's ski instructor, and served as a volunteer mentor in the wonderful IHAD program.
