Vecker Ventures
Vecker Ventures provides entrepreneurs and CEOs with capital, tools, and support.
Our Team
Erik Jansen, Managing Partner
Erik Jansen brings more than fifteen years of venture capital investment success and operational experience to VECKER. Mr. Jansen founded RockRidge Capital, LLC after many successful years as General Partner with Pequot Ventures, the direct venture investment arm of Pequot Capital Management, with close to $2.0 billion under management across five technology funds, and one early stage healthcare fund. At Pequot Ventures, Mr. Jansen co-founded the firm's venture funds, was a member of the Operating/Investment Committee and focused primarily on making investments in the software and services sectors. He was involved in a variety of software and services companies such as Accruent Software, Asiademand, Authoria, Nitorum, Outerforce, OutlookSoft, Service Metrics, Syncra Software, Tian Software (subsequently merged into Outlooksoft), and Vcommerce. Prior to his tenure at Pequot, Mr. Jansen co-founded and managed Digital Media Capital, LLC, alongside Marco Arese (co-founder of Hyperion Solutions) and Art Samberg, the founder and CEO of Pequot Capital. As Managing Partner of Digital Media Capital, he invested in seed and early stage software and telecommunications companies including Critical Path (CPTH), Sandpiper Networks/Digital Island (CWP.N), Foundation Technologies (now Authoria), Globalcast Communications (sold to Talarian (TALR)), and Mediaplex (MPLX, now VCLK). Mr. Jansen is a native Dutchman with deep relationships in the U.S. and throughout Europe and Asia. Before his permanent move to the U.S. from the Netherlands, Mr. Jansen held sales and marketing positions with Procter & Gamble and Philips. Mr. Jansen received a B.B.A. from the Netherlands School of Business at Nijenrode, and a M.B.A. from the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. While at SMU, Mr. Jansen received the distinction of being selected the Outstanding MBA by the Financial Executive Institute. Mr. Jansen has been a regular speaker at various Venture Conferences including Internet Outlook, TIE of New York, New York New Media, NY Angel Zone Conference, Connecticut Venture Group, IBF and several European based private equity conferences. Mr. Jansen serves on the Eli Whitney Investment Advisory Committee of Connecticut Innovations, Inc., the State of Connecticut venture fund and resides in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Les Brun
Les Brun is a Member of the Board of Fortune Management, Inc. (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:FM11), and is Chairman of the firm's Private Equity Management Group. He is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sarr Group, LLC ("SARR"), an investment holding company. Mr. Brun is the founder of Hamilton Lane, the world's leading Private Equity advisory and management firm with over $40 billion in assets under advisement and management, and, prior to SARR, was Chairman Emeritus of the Hamilton Lane board of directors, focusing on the firm's strategic initiatives and direction, as well as its investment decision-making through his participation on the firm's Investment Committee. Les was also a member of the board of directors of the Richcourt Group, a Hamilton Lane company specializing in hedge fund of funds management. Les has 26 years of investment banking, commercial banking and financial advisory experience. Mr. Brun received a B.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus, and he is a Trustee of the University of Buffalo Foundation, Inc. In addition to serving on Fortune's Board, he is also a Trustee of The Episcopal Academy in Merion, PA. Les also serves on the boards of directors of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (BR), and Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC. In addition, Les is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and was Chairman of the U.S. Small Business Administration's S.B.I.C. Advisory Council, and a member of the Committee for the Reinvention of the S.B.A.
Thomas Cowan
Thomas Cowan is Chairman and CEO of Vecker, which helps entrepreneurs, executives, CEOs, and investors develop, build, and grow businesses through effective strategy management and execution. Vecker consists of:
• Vecker Labs, which researches and develops tools, information, and resources used to build and manage successful businesses
• Vecker Ventures, which provides entrepreneurs and CEOs with capital, tools, and support
Mr. Cowan has worked in the technology industry for over 20 years at both large and small companies, public and private alike. During his time at IBM, he served as Controller of IBM’s mainframe hardware and software development and manufacturing site in Poughkeepsie NY, and then as CFO of the mainframe division. During the early phase of Lou Gerstner’s and Jerry York’s leadership, he led the re-design and implementation of a delegated model for pricing all of IBM’s hardware, software, and services, and he became head of pricing worldwide.
Mr. Cowan has an extensive background in strategy and its execution—from developing businesses to downsizing IBM’s development site in Southbury CT. When IBM acquired Tivoli Systems (a systems management company), he became the senior executive responsible for the transition of Tivoli from an independent public company to a subsidiary.
Mr. Cowan has built companies of all sizes—from OutlookSoft (approx. $100M), to Tivoli Systems ($100-500M), to the Communications, Media & Entertainment Sector of IBM (over $1B). During his three-year tenure as Chairman, President, and CEO of OutlookSoft Corporation, he built the company into a significant competitor in the business performance management marketplace, with revenue growth of 10 times. OutlookSoft was acquired by SAP in May 2007.
In addition to his role with Vecker, Mr. Cowan serves as Chairman of The Stables (a private services company), Chairman of Decisyon (a private technology company), and Chairman of Tagetik North America (a private software company). He has served as Chairman of the Board of Visitors of Wake Forest University’s Graduate School of Management, and on the boards of SMTC (a publicly held technology manufacturer), OutlookSoft, Tivoli Systems, NHL.com, and PGA.com. Mr. Cowan holds a BA from Wake Forest University in Economics and Philosophy and an MBA from the University of South Carolina.
Vecker Ventures provides entrepreneurs and CEOs with capital, tools, and support.
Our Team
Erik Jansen, Managing Partner
Erik Jansen brings more than fifteen years of venture capital investment success and operational experience to VECKER. Mr. Jansen founded RockRidge Capital, LLC after many successful years as General Partner with Pequot Ventures, the direct venture investment arm of Pequot Capital Management, with close to $2.0 billion under management across five technology funds, and one early stage healthcare fund. At Pequot Ventures, Mr. Jansen co-founded the firm's venture funds, was a member of the Operating/Investment Committee and focused primarily on making investments in the software and services sectors. He was involved in a variety of software and services companies such as Accruent Software, Asiademand, Authoria, Nitorum, Outerforce, OutlookSoft, Service Metrics, Syncra Software, Tian Software (subsequently merged into Outlooksoft), and Vcommerce. Prior to his tenure at Pequot, Mr. Jansen co-founded and managed Digital Media Capital, LLC, alongside Marco Arese (co-founder of Hyperion Solutions) and Art Samberg, the founder and CEO of Pequot Capital. As Managing Partner of Digital Media Capital, he invested in seed and early stage software and telecommunications companies including Critical Path (CPTH), Sandpiper Networks/Digital Island (CWP.N), Foundation Technologies (now Authoria), Globalcast Communications (sold to Talarian (TALR)), and Mediaplex (MPLX, now VCLK). Mr. Jansen is a native Dutchman with deep relationships in the U.S. and throughout Europe and Asia. Before his permanent move to the U.S. from the Netherlands, Mr. Jansen held sales and marketing positions with Procter & Gamble and Philips. Mr. Jansen received a B.B.A. from the Netherlands School of Business at Nijenrode, and a M.B.A. from the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. While at SMU, Mr. Jansen received the distinction of being selected the Outstanding MBA by the Financial Executive Institute. Mr. Jansen has been a regular speaker at various Venture Conferences including Internet Outlook, TIE of New York, New York New Media, NY Angel Zone Conference, Connecticut Venture Group, IBF and several European based private equity conferences. Mr. Jansen serves on the Eli Whitney Investment Advisory Committee of Connecticut Innovations, Inc., the State of Connecticut venture fund and resides in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Les Brun
Les Brun is a Member of the Board of Fortune Management, Inc. (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:FM11), and is Chairman of the firm's Private Equity Management Group. He is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sarr Group, LLC ("SARR"), an investment holding company. Mr. Brun is the founder of Hamilton Lane, the world's leading Private Equity advisory and management firm with over $40 billion in assets under advisement and management, and, prior to SARR, was Chairman Emeritus of the Hamilton Lane board of directors, focusing on the firm's strategic initiatives and direction, as well as its investment decision-making through his participation on the firm's Investment Committee. Les was also a member of the board of directors of the Richcourt Group, a Hamilton Lane company specializing in hedge fund of funds management. Les has 26 years of investment banking, commercial banking and financial advisory experience. Mr. Brun received a B.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus, and he is a Trustee of the University of Buffalo Foundation, Inc. In addition to serving on Fortune's Board, he is also a Trustee of The Episcopal Academy in Merion, PA. Les also serves on the boards of directors of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (BR), and Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC. In addition, Les is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and was Chairman of the U.S. Small Business Administration's S.B.I.C. Advisory Council, and a member of the Committee for the Reinvention of the S.B.A.
Thomas Cowan
Thomas Cowan is Chairman and CEO of Vecker, which helps entrepreneurs, executives, CEOs, and investors develop, build, and grow businesses through effective strategy management and execution. Vecker consists of:
• Vecker Labs, which researches and develops tools, information, and resources used to build and manage successful businesses
• Vecker Ventures, which provides entrepreneurs and CEOs with capital, tools, and support
Mr. Cowan has worked in the technology industry for over 20 years at both large and small companies, public and private alike. During his time at IBM, he served as Controller of IBM’s mainframe hardware and software development and manufacturing site in Poughkeepsie NY, and then as CFO of the mainframe division. During the early phase of Lou Gerstner’s and Jerry York’s leadership, he led the re-design and implementation of a delegated model for pricing all of IBM’s hardware, software, and services, and he became head of pricing worldwide.
Mr. Cowan has an extensive background in strategy and its execution—from developing businesses to downsizing IBM’s development site in Southbury CT. When IBM acquired Tivoli Systems (a systems management company), he became the senior executive responsible for the transition of Tivoli from an independent public company to a subsidiary.
Mr. Cowan has built companies of all sizes—from OutlookSoft (approx. $100M), to Tivoli Systems ($100-500M), to the Communications, Media & Entertainment Sector of IBM (over $1B). During his three-year tenure as Chairman, President, and CEO of OutlookSoft Corporation, he built the company into a significant competitor in the business performance management marketplace, with revenue growth of 10 times. OutlookSoft was acquired by SAP in May 2007.
In addition to his role with Vecker, Mr. Cowan serves as Chairman of The Stables (a private services company), Chairman of Decisyon (a private technology company), and Chairman of Tagetik North America (a private software company). He has served as Chairman of the Board of Visitors of Wake Forest University’s Graduate School of Management, and on the boards of SMTC (a publicly held technology manufacturer), OutlookSoft, Tivoli Systems, NHL.com, and PGA.com. Mr. Cowan holds a BA from Wake Forest University in Economics and Philosophy and an MBA from the University of South Carolina.
For further
information about Vecker Labs, Vecker Capital, and the
Vecker Tools,
contact Erik Jansen at ejansen@vecker.com.