Benjamin Bayat

Managing Director

2018 - Current

NextGen Venture Partners is a network-driven venture firm. We hand-select the nation's top next generation of founders, innovation executives, technologists, and serial investors and turn them into part-time Venture Capitalists. We build, fuel, and accelerate our portfolio through our collective resources, connections, and expertise. NextGen's goal is becoming the most powerful network of entrepreneurial investors in the world. NextGenVP.com Select current investments include Aceable, Avizia, Convey, EverlyWell, Hyperloop One, Limbix, Neighborhood Goods, Outbound Works, Qwil, Renoviso, Stoplight, Tape, Urban Stems, Vemo Education, and Visor.gg

Mentor

2014

Member, Deal Review Committee

2013

Partner

2013 - 2018

Illuminate Ventures is an early stage VC firm led by a team of experienced investors with significant operating and investment track records. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the firm targets North American-based high growth, ”lean startups” in the high-tech landscape, with a particular focus on Enterprise cloud computing. We work closely with founders to support them in building truly great companies. We’ve been there ourselves and know that a team-based approach delivers the best results.

Sr. Manager, Engineering and Sales

2008 - 2014

- Director for team of engineers and technical sales representatives responsible for generating new business and silicon solutions for major networking industry clients. Manage profit and loss budget for tactical yearly revenue and target for future design projects over 3-5 year horizon. - Manager for engineering team responsible for development, qualification, and delivery of IBM's ASIC design system and customer applications across four technology nodes (130nm, 90nm, 65nm, and 45nm). Significant customer base including companies such as Cisco, Ericsson, and IBM Server Group.

Engineering Program Manager

2007 - 2008

IBM site executive for Sony PlayStation3 project

Engineering Team Lead

2002 - 2007

Design and development for processors including STI Cell BE for the Sony PlayStation3 and PowerPC for IBM Server Group and Nintendo.

Cofounder & COO

2013 - 2014

Peer-to-peer ridesharing mobile app connecting locals to tourists.

Cofounder & COO

2011 - 2013

Cloud-based transportation fleet management and frontside auto collision detection system.