Andrew Van Valer

In a career spanning over 30 years in the business, technology and sales sectors, Andy Van Valer has been a startup team member, founder, leader and key contributor to several highly successful, high growth Silicon Valley startups, including Netflix, Borland, Verisign and numerous others. He is convinced you must have good people around you in order to accomplish great things in business and life. His passion is to lead, mentor and advise those people, allowing them to achieve their goals and dreams through great businesses.

Andy has had key roles in numerous worldwide groundbreaking technology releases, including computer software, internet services, digital photography, and cell phones. He has set up international operations for several market-leading corporations in Germany, Italy, France and Ireland and also acted as an adviser and liaison for government agencies in some of these countries.

In addition to his business activities, Andy has developed a very strong passion for Silicon Valley enterprises, especially the concept of local businesses supporting their local communities and the communities supporting their local business. He currently interested in fostering healthy local business activity through Slingshot SV, a regional coworking and training company focusing on early-stage growth companies, as well as his involvement as a board member and founder of several local non-profit organizations, including Think Local Santa Cruz.

To learn more about Andy, check out his full bio at www.linkedin.com/in/avanvaler.