Advisors

Todd Warren
Todd Warren served as Microsoft’s corporate vice president of the Mobile Communications Product Group. Todd oversaw research and development of mobile communications software, including the Windows Mobile operating system, Mobile Office applications and server products for mobile device management. Warren was also responsible for the Operator and OEM Response Team, which worked closely with mobile operators and device manufacturers to commercialize devices based on the Windows Mobile platform.

Warren first joined Microsoft 20 years ago and drove the development of new products, initiatives and technologies that created or reinvigorated software categories. These efforts included the creation of Microsoft Project Server, Microsoft Small Business Server, and the product plan and initial marketing for Microsoft Exchange Server, as well as key initiatives in systems management for Windows Server and professional integrated development environments.

Mike Marasco LinkedIn
Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation & Clinical Associate Professor, Northwestern University

After 20+ years as an intrapreneur and entrepreneur, Marasco joined the full-time faculty of the Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (FCEI) in January 2007. Marasco founded FCEI to help evolve engineering beyond the application of the sciences to the creation of businesses that capitalize on innovations.

Marasco continues to be a zero and early stage investor through his venture capital company, Solesde. He currently sits on the boards of Sportiqe, Zone Medical, and Context Media. The majority of these companies involve Northwestern alums.

Fabian Bustamante LinkedIn
Associate Professor, EECS, Northwestern University
Prof. Fabian Bustamante is a research leader in the peering technology field and published numerous research papers addressing the limitations of large-scale distributed systems. His research interests include distributed systems and networks, and operating systems support for massively distributed systems, including Internet and vehicular network services. One of his research project (Ono) aimed at improving the peering behavior of BitTorrent clients has currently more than 530,000 subscribers. Prof. Bustamante is the recipient of an NSF CAREER Award (2007). He is a member of the IEEE Computer Society, the ACM, and USENIX.

Marc Levin
Private Investor
Marc Levin has 19 years experience in institutional fixed incomes. He began his career at Salomon Brothers Inc. in Chicago, later becoming a Vice President in the institutional high grade team. In 1995, Levin joined UBS as Managing Director responsible for building the Midwest fixed income distribution business. In 2004, Levin was promoted to Co-Head of National Sales with responsibility for distribution of all fixed income products throughout North America. In addition, Levin was elected to the UBS Investment Bank Board of Directors in 2005.

Martin Plonus
Professor, EECS, Northwestern University
Prof. Martin Plonus is a research leader in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science field. He has published 88 papers and 2 books. Prof. Plonus is an IEEE Fellow.