Operations Team
Gene Gable
Vice President, Marketing CommunicationsGene joined VantagePoint in 2009 and is responsible for Firm marketing and communications. He brings over 20 years experience in marketing, writing and public relations for both large and small companies, primarily in the technology space. Gene was the President of Integrated Media Group, a division of the tech-publisher International Data Group, an executive with Ziff-Davis Events, where he ran the Seybold Seminars trade shows, publications and conferences, and an editor for various technology publications, books and Websites. He has spoken at events throughout the world on the technology of publishing, and has written frequently on the graphic arts industry. Gene is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles (BA).
“It is both challenging and exciting to work with so many companies in crafting effective messaging and in getting out such great stories.”
—Gene Gable
Vice President, Marketing Communications
Asia
Feng Li
Venture PartnerFeng joined VantagePoint as a Venture Partner in 2009 with over 15 years of experience in energy system, medical device, IT and media industries as a researcher, entrepreneur and CEO. He is the Chairman of the Board at Universe Media Holdings, Ltd., which he co-founded and served as the Chairman and CEO until 2008. Prior to Universe Media, he co-founded Photonify Technologies, Inc., a silicon valley based medical device company, and served as the chairman and CEO. He also serves as Director of International Affairs and Head of Investment and Financing Committee at China Renewable Energy Society. Feng is a graduate of Tsinghua University (BS, MS) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS,PhD).
CleanTech
Meredith Petrin
Director, CleanTech GroupMeredith joined VantagePoint in 2009 and works closely with Stephan Dolezalek. Most recently, Meredith worked as a management consultant with Katzenbach Partners LLC (which recently combined with Booz & Co.), where she was a Senior Associate. Her consulting projects included both strategic and organizational work with Fortune-100 clients, primarily in the pharmaceutical and enterprise software industries. She has also worked in the social entrepreneurship space with global non-profit Ashoka: Innovators for the Public and is a member of the State Bar of California. She is a graduate of Harvard College (AB) and Harvard Law School (JD).
“VantagePoint understands what it takes to play an active role in shaping the future, and the firm has brought it all together: vision, passion, resources, partnerships, and remarkable team members.”
—Meredith Petrin
Director, CleanTech Group
Healthcare
Boris Lipkin
Venture PartnerBoris brings over 30 years of operating and high technology experience to the Healthcare Group. Previously he served as the President and CEO of Therma-Wave, Inc., a NASDAQ listed semiconductor equipment company. He also served as Executive Vice President of ASML/Silicon Valley Group, Inc. and as Vice President and General Manager of Varian Associates after spending over 15 years in various management and engineering positions at IBM. In 2005 he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Boris has a MS in Electro Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from Stanford University.
““We are well positioned across numerous technologies and markets and continue to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship by working with some of the best and brightest professionals in the world””
—Boris Lipkin
Venture Partner
CleanTech
Mark Platshon
PartnerMark joined VantagePoint after serving as a Venture Partner at Trident Capital and at XSeed Capital. Mark has over 20 years of experience as CEO of several Silicon Valley companies including Idetek, an environmental and food diagnostics company, ELO, the pioneer and leader in touchscreens, Zing, an online photography company, and most recently, Capnia, a specialty pharmaceutical company. Mark earned a B.S.E. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan, did graduate work in Nuclear Engineering at the Westinghouse Naval Reactor School and received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. As a Navy lieutenant, Mark had a joint Navy and Department of Energy appointment to the staff of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover.
“I like the vision VantagePoint has captured, the commitment to doing big things in the CleanTech industry that will really make a difference.”
—Mark Platshon
Partner
CleanTech
Brad Mattson
PartnerBrad is a renowned visionary, entrepreneur and executive in the Semiconductor Industry. He was the Founder, CEO and Chairman of Novellus Systems and Mattson Technology. He has served as a member of the Board of Regents at Santa Clara University and currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of The Center for Science, Technology and Society. He has also served on the Board of Directors of SEMI, the Semiconductor Equipment Industry Association. A graduate of San Jose State and Santa Clara University, Mattson has been named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year, the Distinguished Alumni Award from San Jose State University and the Founders Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Ignatian Award from Santa Clara University. He holds 12 patents in various aspects of semiconductor technologies.
“The chance to help entrepreneurs make their dreams come true while doing something good for the planet is just too good an opportunity to miss.”
—Brad Mattson
Partner
Asia
Alan E. Salzman, CEO
Chief Executive Officer and Managing PartnerAlan co-founded VantagePoint Venture Partners in 1996 and serves as CEO and Chair of the Investment Committee. As a leading venture investor for over 20 years, Salzman has had hands-on involvement in more than 300 companies and has held overall management responsibilities for a dozen venture funds with over $5 billion of committed capital. As CEO of VantagePoint, he oversees the country’s largest CleanTech investment team, a portfolio of innovative CleanTech companies, and strategic partnerships with a dozen leading companies focused on CleanTech commercialization. Salzman is a frequent contributor and speaker on CleanTech, innovation and global competiveness. He has served as Finance Chair of the World Business Summit on Climate Change, on the BP Alternative Energy Advisory Board, and held a decade-long faculty appointment as Adjunct Professor for Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Companies at Stanford University. He currently serves on the Leadership Council of The Climate Group, the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Selection and Green Investment Committees, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He is a graduate (G.C., B.A., J.D., LLM) of the London School of Economics, the University of Toronto, Stanford Law School and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
“Entrepreneurs are the engine of innovation in this country. CleanTech and the technology at the heart of CleanTech will transform the current century.”
—Alan E. Salzman, CEO
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner
CleanTech
Alan E. Salzman, CEO
Chief Executive Officer and Managing PartnerAlan co-founded VantagePoint Venture Partners in 1996 and serves as CEO and Chair of the Investment Committee. As a leading venture investor for over 20 years, Salzman has had hands-on involvement in more than 300 companies and has held overall management responsibilities for a dozen venture funds with over $5 billion of committed capital. As CEO of VantagePoint, he oversees the country’s largest CleanTech investment team, a portfolio of innovative CleanTech companies, and strategic partnerships with a dozen leading companies focused on CleanTech commercialization. Salzman is a frequent contributor and speaker on CleanTech, innovation and global competiveness. He has served as Finance Chair of the World Business Summit on Climate Change, on the BP Alternative Energy Advisory Board, and held a decade-long faculty appointment as Adjunct Professor for Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Companies at Stanford University. He currently serves on the Leadership Council of The Climate Group, the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Selection and Green Investment Committees, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He is a graduate (G.C., B.A., J.D., LLM) of the London School of Economics, the University of Toronto, Stanford Law School and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
“Entrepreneurs are the engine of innovation in this country. CleanTech and the technology at the heart of CleanTech will transform the current century.”
—Alan E. Salzman, CEO
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner
CleanTech
Lee Burrows
PartnerLee joined VantagePoint in 2002, bringing with him 15 years of broad semiconductor technology expertise, specifically in the areas of semiconductor processing, advanced materials, power storage and management, and battery, lighting, and smart grid technologies. Previously, he founded an optical component company that was subsequently acquired by New Focus, a leading photonics solutions provider. Lee holds six patents, with two additional patents pending in optical networking and device manufacturing. He graduated with honors from the California Institute of Technology (BS, MS) and is also a candidate for a PhD in Applied Physics.
“VantagePoint's team orientation helps us make better investment decisions and is a real value-add to our portfolio companies.”
—Lee Burrows
Partner
Asia
Kathy Shang
AssociateKathy joined VantagePoint from China Mobile Communications Corporation and Huawei Technologies. Previously, she was an engineer in the Huwei's Research and Development Center, then worked as Key Account Manager at China Mobile. Kathy is a graduate of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BS), Tsinghua University, and the HEC School of Management (MBA).
“My dream is to help transform the world through a collaborative team effort with creative entrepreneurs. At VantagePoint, when I help someone realize his dream, my own dream is realized.”
—Kathy Shang
Associate