Rob Rosenberg

Managing Director

2021 - Current

Responsible for fundraising, sourcing deal flow, evaluating opportunities, negotiating investments, and helping the entrepreneurs who lead our portfolio companies succeed. The firm invests in innovative early-stage, fast-growing companies in North America in the healthy living space with a focus on: * healthy nutrition, * sustainability, * infection prevention, * home and body care, * consumer wellness, and * related enabling and delivery technologies.

Partner

2018 - 2020

Venture Partner

2021

Minority-owned venture capital firm investing in underrepresented founders

SVP, Business & Corporate Development

2015 - 2017

Developed and executed key tactical and strategic partnering plans to drive the growth of this spinout from the MIT Media Lab. EyeNetra is commercializing technology that makes getting a vision test and glasses more convenient for busy urban professionals and more accessible for underserved populations world-wide. We shrunk the scientific equipment in an optometrist's office onto a smartphone and offer an on-demand tele-health service that delivers vision tests and glasses anytime, anywhere. Key relationships include technology suppliers, doctor groups, insurance companies, major employers, non-profits, eyewear manufacturers, retailers and pharmacies. • Created leverage points with companies in the eye health ecosystem. • Sourced and executed strategic partnerships. • Developed operational agreements. • Experimented with new businesses and business models. • Key member of executive team.

Managing Partner

2013 - 2017

Advisor to entrepreneurs, corporates, and universities on topics related to commercializing innovation through startups: company formation, business strategy, executive recruitment and team building, technology spinouts, strategic venture investing, fundraising, and business development. Examples include: • National Science Foundation I-Corps (mentor), • Stevens Institute of Technology (Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurial Thinking), • Enterprise software company, • a large Japanese technology company interested in corporate venture capital, • a consultancy seeking to commercialize an internally developed B2B software/big data product, • an ed tech startup, • a green energy startup, • an innovative graduate school of technology and business (joint venture of two of the world's most prestigious universities), and • a med tech startup founded by a post doc from that school

Founding Investor, Lead Director, and CEO

2009 - 2013

Developed opportunity to form and spin this mobile app company out of IDEO when it was a two person project at concept stage. With the world’s first personalized food scores and recommendations based on each user’s specific dietary profile, the ShopWell app helps people make informed decisions about the food they eat and has over a million downloads. Food producers and retailers will be able to use ShopWell to connect with target consumers, motivate trial and reward brand loyalists, as well as gain insights about why consumers buy. Led CEO recruitment, guided business strategy and team building, secured feature PR coverage, led successful syndication, collaborated with CEO on partnership and M&A discussions, stepped in as part-time CEO at the request of the Board. As CEO: • Refactored operating plan, and raised bridge funding while keeping core team together and functioning at a high level. • Focused product development and drove quick release of key features including consumer rewards, gaming dynamics, and user generated content. Resulted in record-setting metrics for acquisition and retention. • Demonstrated monetization potential by generating first revenue. • Identified new and existing relationships for M&A. Quickly initiated discussions and focused on highest potential acquirers. • Led negotiations with HarvestMark management and board as well as ShopWell’s own board and investors. Closed sale seven months after taking over for 2x bridge investors’ money.

Partner

2002 - 2013

Co-founded this independent venture capital firm with unique expertise in creating and spinning startups out of large corporate technology firms to realize value from innovation. Focus primarily on software and systems for consumer and enterprise markets. Launched and serve on boards of several startups including Liquavista B.V. (first spinout from Philips, acquired by Samsung) and Vidus Ltd. (spinout from British Telecom acquired by @Road – ARDI in NVP’s first cross-border exit), ShopWell (spinout from IDEO, acquired by HarvestMark) and TimeSight Systems. Honored by the New Jersey Technology Council as a Finalist for Financier of the Year in 2010.

Advisory Board

2006 - 2012

Collaborate closely with industry leaders and conference producers to steer the growth of the primary annual gathering for executives focused on corporate venturing, innovation, and strategic investing around the world.

Director, New Ventures Group

1998 - 2001

Created and spun out startups based on Bell Labs technology with a primary focus on software including operating systems, middleware, and network management.

Manager

1992 - 1997

Designed business strategies and resolved operational problems for leading high technology, retailing, and industrial companies. Focused primarily on growth opportunities in changing markets.

Product Manager

1989 - 1990