Montgomery Kersten serves development-stage companies as an independent board member, investor and advisor. Mr. Kersten was the co-founder & CEO of VitalSigns Software (later acquired), and serves as the independent board member of Silicon Valley private companies. He has worked for 35 years as an executive in sales, marketing, business development, legal affairs and M&A at large high technology companies as well as at start-ups. Mr. Kersten has served for over a decade as a board member of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, which oversees five charities.

Today, Mr. Kersten acts as a board member for high technology companies and has led the initial and follow-on financings for many ventures. Mr. Kersten serves as a mentor and advisor to founders and CEO’s in order to accelerate their success and assist in overcoming the many challenges ventures face, from founding, throughout the company life cycle to an acquisition or IPO. His expertise focuses on organizing, financing and developing young companies, advising founders on strategies and tactics for successfully collaborating with all parties, building business models that succeed, creating effective sales and marketing and channel strategies, advising on strategic plans, operational issues, and the crisis of the day, while guiding founders in forging strategic relationships, building strong intellectual property protection, safeguarding founders and fiduciary board members, rapidly building value, and accomplishing successful mergers & acquisitions or IPO’s. As the independent board member, advising founders and their team, and working with investors and the board, Mr. Kersten provides independent operational advice to propel the company to success, while providing founders with “air cover” as they interact with their board, investors and customers.