Our Team

Mike Agron

Mike Agron launched Agron Business Development, a California-based consultancy, to address a need in the technology sector to improve sales execution through proven business development and partnering strategies. With a 25-year history at top technology hardware and software firms (Apple, Oracle, MapInfo and deCarta), he has been recognized for his best practices in both the private and public sectors across multiple enterprise segments.

Mike has worked in the trenches and as an executive, where he led global business development, channel, and partner sales teams that managed VARs, SIs, ISVs and OEMs. He is also an accomplished speaker and producer of executive forums, partner conferences, and webinars.

Pete Ballotta

Pete Ballotta is the founder of Teknominds, which provides tactical recruiting and product strategy to technology startups. He has secured relationships with dozens of successful startups and public companies to hire key executive and engineering leadership. Pete worked prior in the core R&D team at RichFX.com, recently acquired by ChannelAdvisor, on crucial early-stage development of two flagship products.

Pete received a BA in Anthropology from Cornell University, and lives in San Francisco.

Gopan Madathil

Gopan Madathil helps high-tech companies overcome their marketing and product development challenges by providing coaching and/or interim leadership in the areas of marketing, product management, fund raising and strategic business development. He provides a strong combination of strategic vision and operational expertise to high technology businesses.

His 18 years of high tech marketing and product management experience includes working with leading software vendors – from startups to F-500 businesses. He’s a frequent speaker at telecom industry events and is well-recognized and well-connected in the mobile/wireless industry.

He’s also the President of TechCoire, a leading network of 3000+ investors and technology executives in Northern California.

Josh Morgan

Josh Morgan is the founder and principal of Morgan/Dorado Public Relations. He has been a vice president in the public affairs and technology practices with Edelman, the world's largest independent public relations agency, worked with the team that brought Skype to market, and was part of the award-winning communications team at Apple that helped turn the iPod from an MP3 player into an icon.

Josh received a BA in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations from the University of the Pacific. Josh is a strategic member of the Sacramento Angels, and advisor to many startups through Golden Capital Network. Josh contributes his time to the Entrepreneurs Foundation, SARTA and the Sacramento Ballet.

Saurin Pandya

Saurin Pandya is the founder and CEO of MarketGuru, a San Francisco-based consulting firm that has helped over 20 technology startups define their product, marketing, business development, and funding strategies. Saurin has over 23 years of experience in the technology markets. Prior to founding MarketGuru, Saurin was Executive Director of Business Development for America Online, where he helped form distribution partnerships with large internet and technology companies. Earlier, Saurin had founded and managed Hoppin.com, an early online party-planning service, and served as product marketing and technology lead for Compaq, Phoenix, Adaptec, and IBM.

Saurin is passionate about helping startups think through their value propositions, positioning, and consumer acquisition strategies clearly. Saurin also serves on the board of several healthcare related nonprofit organizations.

Saurin holds an MBA from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Mathematics.

Adam Tope

Adam Tope is a serial entrepreneur who has been an active participant in the Internet and technology startup space for over 10 years. Adam has started several successful startup companies in the past, including PennyHost.com. Adam has also participated in several mergers and acquisitions of startup companies over the past few years.

In addition to starting companies on his own, Adam also serves as a strategic advisor for numerous startup companies, primarily advising them on product development, marketing and legal issues. He is also an attorney at the global law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP, where he advises private equity and hedge fund sponsors and investors on a variety of legal issues.

Adam currently resides in Washington, DC where he is active in several non profit organizations and serves as Treasurer of the Phi Delta Sigma fraternal organization.

Adam Tope holds a JD, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Cornell University.

Rod Underhill

Rod Underhill made his initial splash in the technology sector when he cofounded MP3.com, an Internet business that became worth more than six billion dollars. He is the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Millions on the Internet" and other technology books. In 2008 he received a Webby Award, honoring his work in mobile technology relating to Podlinez.com. Attorney, law professor and technologist, Professor Underhill serves as an advisor to technology startups.

He works with software companies and web based businesses as well as providing pro-bono advisory services to noted cancer research scientists and medical research driven universities. His help spans venture capital expertise to technology development as well as legal issues and business modeling and has two significant patents pending before the US Patent Office. Recently, the New York Times praised his Podlinez.com project by making it a "Tech Tip of the Week." Underhill is currently assisting several new start ups to reach their goals. He has appeared on the Geraldo Show and NPR and was profiled in Rolling Stone Magazine.

Rod has served as an adjunct professor of law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, where he has taught technology/internet law and music law. He resides in the remote mountain village of Julian, California with his wife and two children.