Garry Garrettson   |   Robert S. Winter  |   Gary Post

Brian has been providing financing to high technology firms in Silicon Valley and Southern California since 1982. His technical background and engineering management experience have enabled him to quickly share the vision of numerous teams in both information and life sciences.

In 1994, Brian co-founded AVI Capital, a Participating Securities Small Business Investment Company, with resources of $75 million. AVI Capital was a professionally-managed venture capital partnership specializing in seed and early-stage investments in high-technology companies positioned for high growth segments of the Information Technologies market. Active participation in the seed and start-up phases had been a hallmark of the AVI general partners. In addition to capital, the partners brought extensive operating experience and a network of contacts in the financial, business and technical worlds to assist the emerging company to develop its full potential. Performance of AVI Capital was Top-Decile for 1995 Vintage Funds, with net IRR to Limited Partners of 107%. Brian served until recently on the Board of Digimarc Corporation (DMRC) and Prosetta Corporation. Previous board directorships included Apptitude, Intraspect Software, Pointbase, InViso and Vivant!

In 1982, Brian co-founded Alpha Partners, capitalized at $13.5 million and extended in 1985 with a $3.5 million annex fund; Alpha Partners II was capitalized in 1984 with $22.5 million; Alpha Partners III was capitalized in 1988 with $50.5 million. During this period, Brian served on the boards of many Alpha portfolio companies including Analog Design Tools, Quintus Computer Systems, High Yield Technology, Accuwave, Anergen, Answer Computer, Photonics and Network Peripherals.

After graduating from Stanford in 1973, Brian joined Hewlett Packard in the R&D Department of the Opto Electronics Division where he developed opto-electronic lamp product families with commensurate methods and equipment for automated manufacture. He also designed and built electronic packaging for the first prototype fiber optic data link for HP Laboratories. Beginning in 1976, he worked for Stanford Research Institute (SRI) for six years as a Research Engineer and Project Leader where he made significant contributions to many new technology programs in mechanical design, fluid hydrodynamics and heat transfer.

Brian serves as a Fellow of the American Leadership Forum of Silicon Valley and is a past Board Member of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies. He also serves on the board of the non-profit Monterey Bay Stanford Alumni Club.

Brian graduated from Stanford University in 1973 earning a BS with distinction and MS in Mechanical Engineering. Additional honors included a Tau Beta Pi Honeywell Fellowship, election to Phi Beta Kappa and the Terman Award for Engineering Excellence.