Team
Séamus Hatch
Séamus has spent 30 years building businesses around new technology as founder, executive, CEO and board member. He was developing distributed object-oriented securities trading systems in the 1990s, big data and AI systems before they were cool, and one of the first large-scale enterprise SAS systems. He spent several years in China growing venture funded businesses. In 2015 he left Silicon Valley and moved to Ann Arbor where he is a mentor for TechStars, helped develop the SAE Connected Vehicle Professional program, and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. He is a board member/investor/adviser to a number of technology companies, including We Predict, SpinTech MRISpinTech MRI, Pathware, Invision.AI, Rally, and The Next Education. Seamus holds degrees in Computer Science and Accounting from the University of Manchester. Outside work, Séamus can be found racing around the thousands of miles of off-road bike trails in Michigan.
Richard Philpott
Richard has worked across the innovation-to-business spectrum from biotechnology research to product development, marketing and commerce including company formation and leadership in both large and small organizations. Trained at Imperial College, London, his Ph.D. in microbial biochemistry was sponsored by the UK health service, where Richard worked as a senior scientist before transitioning to industry. He progressed to business and company development while maintaining technical leadership. He was a key member of the executive team that transformed Whatman plc, the UK industrial filtration company, into a global healthcare business that became GE Healthcare. During the last ten years he has worked for investors in diligence and turn-around roles, mostly in the United States. Richard provides pro-bona support to exciting start-ups, judges the annual international Katerva Innovation Awards and candidates for the MedTech Innovator program, and supports Level Eight investments as a board member or advisor. Away from business he loves sailing and intends to cross an ocean or two.
Daniel Krausz
Dan has served as a principal, director, and advisor to early-stage and mature companies in the real estate, applied technology, and energy sectors. His areas of focus include green energy and resilient development. With a background in structured finance and complex transactions, Dan works directly with our portfolio companies and prospects to evaluate business opportunities and structure fund investments. A licensed attorney who formerly practiced at the global law firm DLA Piper, Dan received his BA in Economics from Swarthmore College and JD from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. Dan’s professional affiliations include the US Green Building Council and Urban Land Institute. Outside of work, while not spending time with his wife and four children, Dan can be found attempting stupidly uncomfortable and physically demanding challenges in inhospitable parts of the world.