steven mayer / co-founder / atari computer and activision

Steven Mayer has more than 30 years experience in the computer, television, and electronic entertainment industries. Contributions have been at the individual technical contributor level, as a senior technical and general manager, and on management and oversight boards. He has lectured extensively in the design of user interfaces and the appropriate use of technology.

Mayer was the founder, Chief Technology Officer and Chairman of Digital F/X. He was one of the founders of Atari, the video games and computer company. For the past several years Mayer has also been an advisor to Intel, Nintendo, and other companies regarding business and technical issues. He serves on the board and audits the committee of Activision, a publicly traded company, and several other privately held companies.


greg appelhof / president / technology resource group

Greg Appelhof is currently President and founder of Technology Resource Group, a sales and marketing consultancy serving emerging consumer electronics brands. Previously, he was the CEO of Netdirect, an internet retailer of computer and consumer products. At Netdirect, Mr. Appelhof led the company to achieve $150 million revenues.

Prior to Netdirect, Mr. Appelhof spent ten years with Herold Marketing Associates, the owner of Graphics Technology Inc. an $80 million regional distributor, and successfully represented Apple, Compaq and Sony products to Best Buy, Target and other top-tier distribution channels.



adam devito / co-CEO and Founding Advisor / big BOING Inc.

Adam joined the 90-person brand strategy and integrated marketing firm of Sterling-Rice Group in 1995 and until recently, served as the Managing Partner. Adam led large portfolio strategy, brand innovation and positioning assignments for clients such as Kraft Foods, Kellogg’s, Pepsi, Wendy’s, Horizon Organic Dairy and Quaker Foods. He also established and led proprietary tools such as Sterling-Rice Group’s Brand Experience Modeling and Brand Audit Processes. Adam also is an expert in Futures & Scenario Planning, leading large assignments for several Fortune 100 companies in the consumer packaged-goods, technology and financial categories.

Prior to joining Sterling-Rice Group, Adam served as director of New Concept Development for Kraft Foods for 7 years where his group was responsible for creating $750 million in incremental sales. He began his food career with a classical French cooking apprenticeship. He has owned restaurants, launched and co-authored 11 books on healthy cooking for Time-Life, and helped launch and achieve accreditation for the Professional Cooking Program at L’Academie de Cuisine in Washington, D.C. Adam has served as a board member to several young Technology and food companies, as well as several professional Cooking schools around the country.

Adam will serve as co-CEO of BBI with responsibility for Brand Strategy & Insights, Marketing and Business Planning & Development for big BOING. Remaining time will be devoted to operationalizing the BBI business model and cultivating new revenue opportunities.



bill powar / investment advisor / emerging technology

Bill Powar is an active investor in early stage companies of all sorts. Bill spent over 22 years helping to build Visa into the world's largest branded payment system. At Visa, Bill started-up new businesses (such as travelers cheques and point-of-sale payment processing), opened up new markets (including government, fast food and recurring payments), and negotiated mergers and acquisitions (such as the Plus ATM network and Interlink).

In his last job, which involved the formation of Visa's internal venture capital unit, he co-led the formation of Verisign. Since leaving Visa in 1996, Bill has been active as an investor in, director of and adviser to a wide variety of emerging technology companies.



phil schlein / partner / us venture partners (usvp)
former president / macy's california

Phil Schlein joined US Venture Partners (USVP) in 1985 after a successful 28-year career as an operating executive in the retailing industry. He was President and CEO of Macy's California from 1977 to 1984 and served on the Board of Directors of Apple Computer for eight years from 1979 to 1987.

Since joining USVP, Schlein has originated a number of investments in the consumer/retail sector including PETsMart, Fresh Choice and The House of Blues. Schlein has served on the boards of directors of iVillage, HomeGrocer.com, NBCi, among others. He currently serves on the boards of directors of Catalist, Specialtys, Auction Drop, Oakville Grocery and Visanow.com.



curtis sasaki / vice president / sun web properties

Curtis Sasaki is vice president responsible for Sun’s global web sites. His team is responsible for the strategy, business development, content, and ecommerce. Prior to this role, Sasaki was vice president of engineering for Desktop Software managing the development of Sun’s core desktop software, including the Java Desktop System and StarOffice/OpenOffice. He also held roles in Corporate Development, and started the Java in Consumer devices initiative. Prior to Sun, he worked at Apple, NeXT, and General Magic.



fred forsyth / management consultant high tech, operations, supply chain & distribution

Fred was COO for LeapFrog enterprises, an educational toy company. Prior to LeapFrog, he was; CEO of NewRoads, Inc., President of the Americas for Solectron, and President of the Professional Products Division of Iomega. Fred spent 7 years at Apple Computer where he was first Corporate Sr. VP Worldwide Operations and then General Manager, Macintosh Products Group. He also spent nearly a decade each at Digital Equipment Corporation and General Electric Corporation. Fred has served on the boards of NewRoads, Inc., Genus Corporation, and PowerMarket.

Fred has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and a MBA from Babson College. He also attended the Advanced Management Programme at Insead (Fontainebleau, France) and is a graduate of General Electric’s Manufacturing Management Program and its Tool & Die Apprenticeship Program.