Jim Jen

Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship

2023 - Current

I teach MBA and undergraduate courses include Commercialization and Innovation: Strategy, Innovation & Entrepreneurial Mindset and the Corporate Startup Lab capstone course. In addition to teaching, I am also the Director of the Corporate Startup Lab (CSL), a Tepper-Swartz Center initiative that helps companies adapt and integrate entrepreneurial best practices into their own innovation practices.

Board Member

2023

Chief Operating Officer

2018 - 2023

Lead Innovation Works' programs to fund and support startup technology companies across three sectors: software, hardware and life sciences, working closely with the Managing Directors and portfolio teams in each sector.

Executive Director, AlphaLab

2008 - 2018

Founding Executive Director of AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear, nationally ranked accelerator programs of Innovation Works, aimed at launching startup tech companies in Internet-based sectors including web, mobile, gaming and physical. Launched in 2008, AlphaLab is a charter member of the Global Accelerator Network and has seeded 120 companies through nineteen cohorts of the program. In 2013, AlphaLab spun off AlphaLab Gear as a hardware and robotics accelerator. AlphaLab alumni companies include The Resumator (now JazzHR), Shoefitr (acquired by Amazon), NoWait (acquired by Yelp), Black Locus (acquired by Home Depot), Skill-Life (acquired by BancView), The Zebra, Sole Power, Treatspace, Jetpack Workflow, Ikos, Gridwise, Flexable.

Portfolio Executive

2002 - 2008

Innovation Works invests in seed-stage startup technology companies across a variety of sectors. I am responsible for identifying high potential investments, primarily Internet and software companies, and leading our investments in those companies. Post-investment, I work closely with the management teams on strategy and execution issues and represent IW as a board observer for portfolio companies including ShowClix, Wombat Security, mSpoke, Immunetrics, Landslide, Hyperactive Technologies and ClickCadence.

Managing Director

2018 - 2023

One of three managing directors of Riverfront Ventures, a early-stage venture capital investment fund located in Pittsburgh, PA. Responsible for selecting investments, overseeing portfolio company performance and fundraising.

Member Advisory Board

2014 - 2015

The Global Accelerator Network (GAN) Member Advisory Board brings together leaders of the network to provide ongoing support and advice to the GAN management team. The Advisory Board helps steer the direction and focus of the GAN and help provide vision around products, services and support the GAN offers.

Director of Product Management

2001 - 2002

Director, E-Procurement and Supply Chain Solutions

1998 - 2001

Associate, Marketing Intensive Group

1995 - 1998

Product Manager, Software Technology Division (now OpenView)

1989 - 1993

Marketing Analyst

1988 - 1988