Les Schmidt

Executive Director

2016 - Current

BRIIA believes that innovators - startup and corporate alike - are the lifeblood of human progress. Entrepreneurial success is the heartbeat of progress and essential to how we shape the future. BRIIA accelerates entrepreneurial success! BRIIA's The Intelligent Accelerator Foundation and Advanced Programs meet founders where they are in their journey and accelerate their progress. The Intelligent Accelerator Foundation Program is open to ALL entrepreneurs - from idea to first revenue. There is no application, there is no waiting for a cohort to start. When a Founder uses our intelligent software, we automatically create a custom "accelerator of one" that guides them on their expedited journey. The Intelligent Accelerator Advanced Programs take the founder through the final stages of preparing to raise capital. And finally, BRIIA's bespoke Corporate Entrepreneurship Accelerator empowers corporate product development teams to conquer new markets and launch bold new products with higher confidence and lower risk using proven entrepreneurial methods

Project Partner

2019

When your normal mindset is corporate research engineer or protector of a legacy business, taking entrepreneurial leaps are likely not your forte. Navigating the journey from new technology to product fit is exciting, but also fraught with risks. Who's the customer? What's the best application? From the lab to the business plan, Qanopy is your guide!

Project Partner

2016

Blue Dots Partners, LLC helps companies build sustainable revenue growth and capture new business opportunities with a unique and effective methodology called "A4". It applies precise, fact-based discovery to identify customer-facing and internal misalignments that create roadblocks to growth and success. Through rigorous analysis, in-depth work with clients, and broad experience creating and executing winning strategies, Blue Dots helps clients regain the growth initiative.

Financial Advisor/Investor

2013 - 2017

Looking for legendary CEOs and companies.

Executive Director

2014 - 2016

Co-Founder

2012 - 2014

Creating a simpler way for Certifying Bodies to engage with members, process recertifications and generate revenue while helping professionals succeed as they pursue their learning goals! This was a startup founder by me and two co-founders. We ultimately determined there was not a viable market for our product...a great learning experiment!

Member, Board of Trustees

2004 - 2013

During my 9-year tenure on the Board of this non-profit adult education institution, served as Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair of the Executive Committee, member of the Committee on Trustees, member of the Academic Policy Committee and member of the Presidential Search Committee. 9-year term limit reached February 2013.

Chair, Board of Trustees

2007 - 2011

Served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for four years (maximum allowed) during my 9 year term on the Board. As Chair of the Board, worked collaboratively with board members and the organization's management team to significantly improve the institution's finances, enrollment and governance.

Chief Operating Officer

2008 - 2010

GlobalEnglish provides software to Global 2000 companies who need their employees to speak, read and write English. I lead a significant transformation and modernization of a 10-year old SaaS product. Re-energized the development team, supplemented it with new talent. Implemented Net Promoter Score feedback, Synchronous Development process, agile/scrum practices. GlobalEnglish was sold to Pearson.

Mentor

2008 - 2008

A volunteer role mentoring program participants as they improved their business acumen and evaluated new career directions.

VP, WW Custom Solutions, Mobile and Devices / COO

2003 - 2008

Working with the world's largest mobile operators, OEMs and content providers to bring rich experiences to mobile phones and other devices. Licensed Adobe Flash to handset manufacturers and lead a team of 40 consulting and technical professionals across Asia, North America and Europe to implement compelling applications on early mobile handsets.