Dr. Ganesh Sundaram
Steven Spencer
Co-Founder, Chief Financial Officer
David Span
Joseph Hammer
Vijay Rajamani
Neel Venkatraman
Eduardo (Duda) Gouvea Vieira
Board Members
Our Board is comprised of some of the worlds greatest innovators with a past of bringing disruptive and transformative ideas to life!
Mike Mulica
Dr Ganesh Sundaram
Jim Bennett
Vineet Chadha
Philip Erdoes
David Kiger
Mike Mulica, Executive Chairman of the Board
Mr. Mulica has long been intrigued with the nexus of mobile communications, the internet and globally scaled industry solutions. Mike is a mobile and internet industry veteran, playing a foundational role in pioneering the Mobile Internet and has led many highly successful companies and product introductions across the globe.
Mike’s stewardship of companies in emerging technologies has ushered in new large global markets that have changed the way the world works. Mike’s public and private company experience includes Synchronoss, Openwave, Phone.com, RealNetworks, Actility and most recently DSX.
Currently Mike spends his time as an active angel investor and board member to both private companies and public companies.
Dr. Ganesh Sundaram, Founder and
Chief Executive Officer, Board Member
Dr. Sundaram is a leader in wireless technology with over 20 years of rich experience in technology creation, and has worked extensively with operators globally. Prior to founding the Company, he was a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff and lead multiple secure wireless solutions initiatives at Bell Labs, New Jersey. He has developed several foundational technologies, leading to new standards, products and deployments, and has authored over 50 patents relating to mobile data networking, architecture, security, cryptography, resource management and mobility management. He was named a Bell Labs Fellow in 2012, inducted in to the Alcatel-Lucent technical academy 2009, and is a recipient of two Bell Labs president’s awards.
PhD in Mathematics from Purdue University and Master of Science degrees in Applied Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University.
Mr. Steven Spencer, Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Spencer manages financial strategy and oversees all global financial functions. To this role, he brings extensive executive experience in the financial and business management of entrepreneurial companies. Prior to the co-founding of Alef, Steve served in numerous executive management positions including CEO at UPOC Networks, leading their merger and integration with Dada, Head of the Mobile Business Unit at Pinnacor Financial Group, successfully creating and implementing a profitable new business segment, and CFO and Business Head at Beezag, implementing a leading-edge advertising monetization business. In addition, Steve served in a variety of technical business leadership positions at Lucent Technologies in network infrastructure, mobile applications, consumer products and corporate development.
His education includes an MBA with highest honors and membership in Beta Gamma Sigma from the NYU Stern School of Business, an MSEE from Cornell University, and a BSEE from Union College.
Mr. David Span, Chief Marketing Officer
Mr. Span is an innovative marketing leader with diverse and strong expertise in technology-driven companies. David has had success in working across companies from startups to large corporations. Most recently, David was Head of Marketing for LifeStation. In this role he was responsible for all aspects of marketing, including Search Engine Marketing, eCommerce and customer acquisition. Prior to LifeStation, David has had senior level roles in marketing, product management and sales at companies focused on Telecommunications, Video Conferencing, and Mobile Applications, including AT&T, Vidyo, Arkadin and Net2Phone/IDT.
David holds an MBA from University of Dayton, and a BBS in Finance from University of Massachusetts,
Mr. Joseph Hammer, Executive Vice President, Business Development
Mr. Hammer is an innovative leader with over 20 years of sales and business development experience in the cloud, telecommunications, and electronics industries. He has managed key customers and partners including Microsoft, Intel, IBM, HPE, Verizon, US Cellular, Vodafone, and AT&T. Prior to joining Alef, Joe directed global alliances at Nokia, successfully launching joint solutions in several areas including Cognitive Analytics, 5G, AR/VR, Sports & Entertainment, Advertising, Edge Computing and IoT.
Joe is a decorated combat veteran and Brigadier General who served over 23 years in the USAF and Connecticut Air National Guard. He has extensive leadership and operations experience commanding hundreds of airmen in deployments all over the world including Afghanistan, Iraq, Ecuador and Italy.
Joe earned an MBA from Yale University and has an Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Mr. Vijay Rajamani, Executive Vice President, Products
Vijay runs Products at Alef. In this role he is responsible for Product Strategy, New Product introductions, Product Management, Pricing, APIs, Solutions, and Digital Edge showcases. He has spent most of his career quantifying, creating and extracting value out of new product cycles, innovation and technology transitions. In his former roles as a Product Manager at Digital Equipment Corp, Tech Equity Research Analyst at Cowen & Co, Venture Capitalist and Board member of various technology companies at Wasserstein Ventures, finance entrepreneur, and a senior executive in two healthcare analytics startups, Vijay has been a visionary leader in how technology products are funded, positioned, developed, launched and managed.
Vijay has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Delhi University, a Masters in Industrial Engineering and Management from Oklahoma State University, and an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
Mr. Neel Venkatraman, Chief Business Officer APAC
Mr. Venkatraman is Chief Business Officer, joined Alef in 2014 and is responsible for developing new business models and drive revenue growth working with Enterprises, Digital Media, Content & Gaming providers, Digital Commerce companies and Telecom service providers across Asia Pacific. Neel has more than 17 years of rich executive and senior management experience. From 2011-through 2014 he was Country Leader and VP for Manufacturing and Resources at IBM India. He was General Manager of Sales at IBM India from 2008 through 2011. Prior to 2008, Neel was a Lead Sales Account Manager at IBM, and early in his career worked as a consultant.
Chemical Engineering Degree from IIT Delhi and an MBA from S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai. He has attended executive management programs at INSEAD School of Business, Singapore and China Europe International Business School, Shanghai.
Mr. Eduardo (Duda) Gouvea Vieira, Head of Brazil
Mr. Vieira has 20+ years in Brazilian tech, general corporate and financial situations. He has focused almost exclusively on tech start-ups over the past 10 years, and founded Bunker, a tech start-up assembler, that has led 4 successful exits in Brazil. Prior to Bunker, Eduardo founded Corcovado Capital, where he led club deals and advised private equity funds. He was director at Microsoft, HP and LNCC joint tech center in Rio de Janeiro. He also managed Internet products at Oi Telcom. Eduardo started his career in Icatu Investment Bank in the early 90s.
BA degree in Economics from Candido Mendes University – Rio de Janeiro.
Jim Bennett, Board Member
Mr. Bennett is a self made career entrepreneur who has spent the last three decades building multiple businesses in advertising, cannabis, infrastructure, logistics and technology. Mr. Bennett’s experiences in building and selling successful companies has given him a keen insight and a hands-on philosophy that enables him to immerse himself with senior leadership, identifying problem areas and strategic shortfalls. This approach results in improved decision making, execution, and increased profits. Jim is in high demand and sits on multiple boards of privately held companies. Jim is a frequent contributor to popular podcasts and a speaker at industry conferences. He earned his B.S. from Ithaca College and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Vineet Chadha, Board Member
Mr. Chadha joined Tata Capital in December 2009 and has successfully raised and managed investments relating to TCIF. Mr. Chadha’s experience is across private equity, investment banking and manufacturing sectors. Mr. Chadha is a member of the Investment Committee of TCIF and is a nominee director on Boards of portfolio companies such as Vaultize Technologies. Prior to joining Tata Capital, Mr. Chadha was a Vice President at Old Lane Private Equity and was responsible for investments in the Indian infrastructure sector. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Chadha was an Assistant Vice President at Ernst & Young in their investment banking division. From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Chadha was a Manager of Investment Banking at SBI Capital Markets in their investment banking division. Mr. Chadha received a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Rourkela and a Masters Degree in Finance from Delhi University. He is also a CFA Charter holder.
Philip Erdoes, Board Member
Mr. Erdoes is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Bear Ventures LLC. As a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in developing new enterprises, Philip is an experienced member of various boards, and works closely with senior management to meet strategic and operational objectives. He has been involved in companies at various stages, including early-stage, growth, buyout, and distressed situations. As a principal, he has been active in various sectors, including technology, media, consumer, manufacturing, transportation / logistics and energy. Among other activities, he sits on the Dean’s Advisory Board of Harvard Business School. He holds a BS in Biology and Biomedicine from Oklahoma State University, a JD, with honors, from the University of Oklahoma, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
David Kiger, Board Member
David Kiger founded Worldwide Express in 1995, a global shipping logistics company for small-to mid-size businesses, turning the company into one of the largest in the United States, serving over 100,000 customers. David led the company’s private equity transactions in 2007, 2013 and 2017, and now serves as a board member. In addition to his role at Worldwide Express, David has stakes in several companies across multiple industries, including technology, transportation, lifestyle, entertainment and more. This includes being a majority shareholder and board member of beGlammed.com and serving on the on the board of advisors for TEDx, XPRIZE and the American Film Institute. In 2017 and 2018, Kiger was named to the D CEO Magazine 500 list, recognizing him as one of Dallas’ most influential business leaders.