ABOUT US | Team
TDF is made up of a diverse group of investment professionals with venture capital and communications and technology backgrounds. The team brings over 60 years of experience from previous assignments at AT&T Ventures, JPMorgan Capital, NEA, Spectrum Equity, Crosspoint Ventures, AT&T, Bell Labs, Nextel, and McCaw. This combination of domain expertise and operational knowledge coupled with our dedication to working closely with management has proven to be invaluable to our portfolio companies.
Jim Pastoriza
Managing Partner
Jim joined TDF early in 2004 and is the Managing Partner at the Fund. Jim was a Partner of J.P. Morgan Communications Partners, L.P. in San Francisco, CA. He was previously a Partner at AT&T Ventures, leading Fund investments in Internet Security Systems (ISSX), WNP Communications (sold to Nextlink). Prior to AT&T Ventures, Jim held operational positions at AT&T and Lucent Technologies. He was the Product Manager for AT&T's Consumer Long Distance Service which generated $13 billion in revenue from 60 million customers. Jim also served as the Executive Assistant to AT&T's Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development. Previously, Mr. Pastoriza was a Lucent Technologies Account Executive ranking in the top 1% of national sales. He received a B.S. from Columbia University and earned his M.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Neal Douglas
Venture Partner
Neal has been a Venture Partner at TDF since 2005. From December 1999 to October 2003, Neal served as the Managing General Partner of Spectrum Equity Investors, L.P., a venture capital firm investing exclusively in the communications industry. Neal was a co-founder of AT&T Ventures, the venture capital affiliate of AT&T Corporation, and has served as a General Partner since January 1993. From May 1989 to January 1993, Neal was a partner of New Enterprise Associates. Prior to this, he was an investment professional with Crosspoint Venture Partners and was a member of the technical staff at Bell Laboratories. Neal has been involved in financing many communications companies, including Juniper Networks, VeriSign, Covad Communications, Ascend Communications, Software.com, TUT Systems, and Netro. Neal holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, an M.S. from Stanford University, and an M.B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Randall Brouckman
Entrepreneur in Residence
Randy has been an EIR at TDF since 2005 and has over 20 years experience in telecommunications and software. He is currently the CEO of EdgeConneX, a TDF portfolio Company. Prior to EdgeConneX, Randy founded Wade Capital Group, a private equity sponsored firm focused on consolidation opportunities in the telecommunications and payments marketplace. Previously Randy was with BSG and served as its CTO, COO and CEO during his tenure. At BSG he was instrumental in successfully acquiring and integrating acquisitions, an IPO on the London Exchange and multiple debt financings. Prior to joining BSG, Mr. Brouckman was CEO of Telispark, a venture backed company that he successfully led through its M&A transaction. Randy is also the Founder of Wireless World Solutions, served as COO of Iridium and worked with Nextel in establishing Nextel Ventures, a venture fund focused on wireless data investments. Randy started his career at Bellcore (currently Telcordia) and quickly progressed to managing a number of strategic and profitable product lines and was Executive Director of the Network Operations Systems. He received a B.S. from the University of Michigan and earned his MSEE from Stanford University.
Joe Harar
Principal
Joe joined TDF in 2007 and is a Principal at the Fund. He focuses on investments in fixed and wireless communications, software, and technology services companies. Previously, Joe was with BSG, a publically-traded global communications service provider, where he was involved in all aspects of global M&A and corporate finance. While at BSG, Joe was instrumental in successfully acquiring and integrating acquisitions in the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom, an IPO on the London Exchange and multiple debt refinancings. Joe has also served in the Investment Banking group at Morgan Joseph & Co. and as an Analyst for The Thurston Group, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on internet-based services, telecommunications and healthcare. He graduated from The University of Virginia with a B.S. in Finance and Management.
Linda Nickell
Foundation Director
Ms. Nickell brings over 20 years of business building experience to TDF. As an entrepreneur, she has partnered to start and grow several companies in the government consulting, direct marketing, public affairs and lobbying fields. Her extensive experience in management, operations and finance brings first-hand knowledge to the entrepreneur. As Foundation Director, Ms. Nickell seeks innovative avenues to reach the entrepreneur, with emphasis on those in underserved rural and urban areas, educating the entrepreneur on potential funding sources, including whether venture capital funding is right for their company. Partnering with established organizations in these regions to identify the needs of the entrepreneur, then developing programs/training to address these areas, insures program sustainability by providing support to the entrepreneur as their business grows or encounters problems.
