DreamIT Ventures

DreamIT Ventures: Start-up acceleration and de-risking

Located in Philadelphia, DreamIt Ventures is a start-up accelerator program founded by four technology entrepreneurs who wanted to create the same type of opportunities that they were fortunate to have had themselves for the next wave of entrepreneurs. Its goal is to help people with great ideas build great companies. DreamIt’s model is to couple team-building with deep and diverse expertise through a three-month residency immersion program. Entrepreneurs are offered mentoring from world experts on finance, marketing, business models, leadership and management, all culminating in a day where teams have the opportunity to present their companies to investors. Startl will be collaborating with DreamIt to provide incubation and acceleration services for a select number of projects each year as part of its Accelerator program.

David Bookspan

David is an entrepreneur, executive, and angel investor. David currently is Founder, Chairman and Chief Revenue Officer of Monetate, Inc., the post-click marketing platform for online retailers (www.monetate.com). In 1996, David co-founded and was President and CEO of MarketSpan, Inc., whose CaseStream® service aggregated and enhanced court docket information. David sold MarketSpan, and the service under the brand “CourtLInk” is now a successful business unit of LexisNexis. David is an active angel investor and has been Vice-Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Angel Group Fund I, L.P., a past- President of Robin Hood Ventures, and a member of L.O.R.E. (Loosely Organized Retired Executives). David also has served on the Board of Directors or Board of Advisors of several start-ups and early stage companies. David practiced law and was a litigation partner at Wolf, Block Schorr and Solis-Cohen, in Philadelphia, PA. David earned an A.B. degree from Vassar College and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center where he was an Editor of the Law Review.

Michael Levinson

Mike is an entrepreneur, executive and active angel investor. Mike co-founded PTS Learning Systems, a company focused on corporate computer training and electronic performance support tools and software. Mike grew the company into a highly profitable international organization with over 200 employees and revenues of $30 million and sold it in 1999. Since selling PTS, Mike co-founded founded TechWise Group, Inc., an information technology outsourcing firm for small and medium businesses. Mike also was a founder or co-founder of LegalEdge Software, the 3E Institute, and The Academy of Manayunk, where he currently serves on the Board. Mike most recently co-founded WizeHive, an online organization and collaboration tool. Mike has also invested in over a dozen technology companies as an angel investor.
Mike graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an Economics/Accounting degree, obtained his CPA certificate in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Villanova Law School with a JD.

Steven Welch

In July 2007 (at the age of 29), Steven sold the Mitos group of companies that he had started building 6 years earlier to Parker Hannifin (NYSE: PH)— an S&P 500 company. Steven founded Mitos Technologies, Inc. in 2001. At Mitos he engineered and patented the Mitos FREE FLOW® valve—the premier valve for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Under Steven’s guidance Mitos developed six marketable patents all directed at improving biotech companies efficiency in manufacturing. The company developed a worldwide sales channel to promote and sell these products. Steven graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Penn State University. Steven has been an active Angel investor with Robin Hood Ventures. In 2008, Steve was selected as a member of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” and “Entrepreneur of the Year.” Steven was awarded the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship to build bridges internationally in early stage startup communities.

Steven Barsh

Steve is an accomplished CEO, entrepreneur, and senior executive whose expertise is leading world-class teams and companies to deliver superior results. With over 20 years of experience, Steve has the ability to both determine a winning strategic direction and drive its execution. His life-long passion is working with technology companies where he is able to understand quickly the technical underpinnings and the market strategy necessary to maximize revenue. As he was graduating from the University of Michigan, Steve founded and led a software and consulting company. He built it into an industry leader and after maintaining a 60% CAGR for 7 years, he sold it to MCI for 8x revenue. Following that, Steve led an Internet company focusing on the baby boomer space — iGrandparents.com. In less than a year, iGrandparents became the largest and fastest growing website focused exclusively on baby boomers. Recognized as a dynamic, focused, motivating speaker, Steve has delivered presentations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Steve is a founder and active member of The Stop ALD Foundation — a medical research foundation driving research and development of cutting edge therapeutic technologies targeting a neurodegenerative disorder. Steve leads marketing, IT, and helps shape the Foundation’s overall strategy. Steve graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS in computer science.