About Avansis
Overview
Our Philosophy
Our Team
Investment Committee
 
 
Investment Committee

Avansis's investment committee has gained experience and knowledge from years of business success. They are seasoned serial entrepreneurs as well as veteran technology venture capitalists.

Betsy A. Atkins
Special Limited Partner
Frank Bonsal
Lisa Losito
John Spirtos
   


Betsy A. Atkins

Special Limited Partner

Betsy Atkins is a former co-founder of Ascend Communications. As an independent venture capitalist focusing on investments in early stage high tech companies, Betsy is referred to by industry observers as a leading "tech angel". Her career includes several entrepreneurial startups such as Amplitude and operational management experience with a variety of high tech companies. Betsy also sits on the board of directors of Laurel Networks, Polycom, Inc., UTStarCom and the Florida International University ("FIU"). She is a guest lecturer at Stanford University and FIU. Her educational background includes scholarships to Oxford University and the University of Copenhagen and a BA from the University of Massachusetts.

Betsy can be reached at 703.796.0222.


Frank Bonsal

Frank Bonsal is a well-known and highly regarded venture capitalist with significant experience in helping start-up companies become successful. Frank is a founding partner of New Enterprise Associates ("NEA"), one of the largest venture capital firms in the United States. Since founding NEA in 1978, he has focused on the development of its early stage companies. His activities range from initial evaluation to investment decisions and follow-through work with investee companies.

Frank's current board memberships include Advertising.com and AWS Convergent Technologies. In addition, he is a special limited partner of Amadeus Capital Partners, Avansis Ventures, Boulder Ventures, Novak Biddle, Trellis Ventures and Windward Ventures. Previously, he was a director of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc.; Biopure Corporation; Corvis; GeneScreen, Inc.; Synaptic Pharmaceuticals; Torrent Network Technology and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Frank has played a significant role in helping these companies with business development issues. Frank launched his career as a partner at Alex. Brown & Sons. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Princeton University.

Back to top


Lisa Losito

Lisa Losito began her Internet career at Internet start-ups Digex and Enews before co-founding Cidera, Inc. (formally Skycashe). She also founded and remains the Director of Phase 1, a Laurel, Maryland-based business incubator which launched iAltas (later acquired by Alta Vista), Digital Addiction, Ikimbo, and The Sync. Past President of Colocation Corporation and President of Laurel Telecommunications Corp. ("LTC"), and a board advisor at Telezoo.com, Lisa's advice and guidance is frequently sought after by startup and early stage companies. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Lisa is active in local Laurel, Maryland affairs and currently serving on the board of the Laurel Historic Society.


John Spirtos

John B. Spirtos is Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, of Neustar, Inc a third party provider of mission-critical services to telecommunications and internet service providers around the world. From May 2003 to September 2004, John served as Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Strategy at Corvis Corporation, a manufacturer of communications switching and transport equipment, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Broadwing Communications, LLC, an integrated CSP. From October 1998 to April 2003, John was a general partner at OCG Ventures, LLC and HRLD Ventures, LP, where he focused on investments in cable and telecommunications components manufacturers, systems integrators and service providers. Mr. Spirtos holds a bachelor of science degree from University of California, a master of business administration degree from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, a law degree from Southwestern University, and an LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center

Back to top

© AVANSIS VENTURES 2008 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DESIGN: ROUND2