Michael Fränkle, Telefónica O2, VP of Network Access and Transport
As VP of Network Access and Transport at Telefónica O2 in Germany, Michael is responsible for leading over 1000 employees driving all Access and Transport Technology Planning and Engineering for the mobile and fixed networks. Over the last fifteen years, Michael held various roles in Planning, Engineering and R&D mainly in the telecommunications sector. Over the course of more than ten years at Telefónica O2 (previously Viag Interkom), he held various positions in technology management mainly in the radio access planning for GSM and UMTS networks but also in the core, service and portal development. His latest role was CTO of the fixed broadband business of Telefónica in Germany. Michael started his career at Siemens AG in the public communications unit (now mainly Nokia Siemens Networks) where he was involved in international network planning projects. Michael holds a Dipl. Ing. (MSc) in Electrical Engineering from TU Darmstadt, Germany. Michael is fluent in German and English.

Ken Hawk, Ubidyne CEO
Ken is a successful entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience building businesses related to mobile computing, wireless communications, software and semiconductors. Prior to Ubidyne, Ken was CEO of NemeriX SA (Acquired by Qualcomm), where his team set the world record for low power GPS chipsets. Ken also founded iGo, an electronic device accessory firm, and led the company through seven consecutive years of more than 100% annual sales growth. iGo completed a successful NASDAQ IPO in 1999 and was later sold to Mobility Electronics (NASDAQ). Ken’s high-tech career also includes senior management positions at Venture Manufacturing Singapore (IPO on the SESDAQ in 1992), and Silicon Systems, Inc., the market leader in disk drive semiconductors (acquired by TDK). He recently served on the advisory boards of Transactional Smartware (successfully sold to Commercialware in 2002) and Artis Systems, Inc. (Acquired by Marposs in 2008). Ken earned an MBA from Stanford University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Michael Hochholzer, BayTech Venture Capital, Investment Partner
Michael joined BayTech Venture Capital in 2007 as an Investment Partner. His focus is on companies in the communications and cleantech markets. Michael has more than 15 years of Venture Capital as well as operational experience in the communications and microelectronics industries. Prior to joining BayTech, Michael was a Partner with Siemens Venture Capital’ CommunicationsFund and, before, with Infineon Ventures. He managed more than 10 investments in Europe, Israel and on the US east coast, among others Followap Ltd. (acqu. by NeuStar, Inc.), Jungo Ltd. (acqu by NDS Group Plc), Plastic Logic Ltd. and Saifun Semiconductors (NASDAQ).

Michael gained professional experience in operations with Siemens and Infineon Technologies. He held several positions in marketing, product line management and R&D. In his responsibility as VP and General Manager of a corporate-internal start-up, he launched Infineon’s RFID business.

Educated at the Technical University of Munich, Michael graduated with a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering. His subsequent Ph.D. thesis focused on research in optical communications.

Dr. Herbert May, Dr. May Consulting & Investment Services, Chairman of the Board
Dr. May has had a distinguished career with senior management roles in major global technology companies, including Alcatel, Deutsche Telekom AG, DeTeSystems (now T-Systems), ACNielsen Germany and gate5. At Deutsche Telekom, Dr. May served on the Board of Management, where he was responsible for business customers, multimedia and systems solutions. Most recently, as Chairman of the Board, Dr. May played a major role in the sale of gate5 to Nokia. Dr. May also serves on the boards of InfoVista S.A., and Versant Corporation.

Hansjörg Sage, Gimv
Before joining Gimv in 2008, Hansjörg Sage was a Director in 3i’s global Venture Capital team where he focused on hardware-related early- and late-stage investments in European technology start-ups, mainly in the electronics, semiconductor and cleantech sectors. He managed investments in u-blox, h t e and Dialog Imaging Systems. Prior to this, Hansjörg Sage worked on technology investments in Europe and Israel at Lehman Brothers. He started his career as a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in 1997. Hansjörg Sage holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe and a PhD from the University of Strasbourg in control theory and robotics. He also obtained an MBA from Insead.

Hans G. Schreck, TVM Capital, General Partner
Hans G. Schreck joined TVM Capital in 1999 and is a General Partner in the firm’s technology investment practice. He specializes in investments in semiconductors, networking, communications and software. Mr. Schreck currently represents TVM Capital on the boards of Axxom Software AG, Bitwave Semiconductor Inc., Cambridge Broadband Ltd., Enigma Semiconductor Inc., Hymite A/S, Revolt Technology A/S, Streaming21 Inc., TravelTainment AG and Ubidyne Inc. Earlier investments include Comstock Systems Inc. (acquired by Hitachi) and Neolinear Inc. (acquired by Cadence). Prior to joining TVM Capital, Hans was a founding member and vice president of Mustang Ventures, the corporate venture resource of Siemens' Information and Communication Networks group. During his 10-year career with Siemens, he was also a Director of Product Planning and Technical Sales for Transmission Networks, as well as a project leader in R&D and advanced development in the fields of optical interconnect technology and ATM packet network technology, areas in which he holds several patents. Hans earned a M.Sc. degree from the Cranfield Institute of Technology (UK) and a Dipl.Ing. degree from Fachhochschule (Darmstadt, Germany).

Stefan Tirtey, Doughty Hanson Technology Ventures
Stefan is passionate about building early stage technology businesses and about working with ambitious technology entrepreneurs. Given Stefan’s background in telecommunications, he has a particular interest in technology investments in areas such as wireline, wireless, VoIP, or IPTV, for example, but will also invest in content, consumer and internet related businesses.

In addition to Ubidyne, Stefan’s current investments include Plazes (CH), Adaptive Mobile (Irl), and Odersun (Germany). Previously he also invested in Actionality (acquired by Yahoo! in 2007) and Azure Solutions (acquired by Subex, India in 2006), and Citel (UK, AIM listed).

Stefan started his career at o.tel.o communications, now part of Vodafone, where he was deeply involved with the launch of the first competitive consumer long-distance service in Germany. Later he joined Lucent Technologies, working with a number of pan-European carriers in a sales and business development role. Prior to joining Doughty Hanson Technology Ventures in 2002, Stefan worked at Earlybird Venture Capital, the early stage venture capital fund.

Stefan holds a Dipl. Eng. (MSc) in Electrical engineering from RWTH-Aachen, Germany, and an MBA from Insead, France. Stefan is fluent in German and English.