Techxas Ventures venture investing


Team

Bruce Ezell
Managing Director

Mr. Ezell has been a venture capitalist for over ten years since co-founding Techxas Ventures at the age of 38. At the age of 32 he co-founded and served as the General Manager of Dell Software and Peripherals; at the age of 26 he co-founded and served as CFO of Underwater Technology Corporation (OTC: UTCA); and at the age of 39 he co-founded and served on the executive committee of Trinity Episcopal School (Austin). Mr. Ezell spent his early career at Gulf Oil Corporation and Ernst & Young Management Consulting.

Mr. Ezell is a member of the National Venture Capital Association and Aspen Institute. He has served on the Texas Governor's Science and Biotechnology council, Texas Venture Capital Association founding board, University of Texas leadership council, and chaired E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year advisory board. He graduated with an MBA from Houston Baptist University and BBA from the University of Texas. On a personal note, Mr. Ezell is an Eagle Scout and West Austin Youth Association Golden Whistle coach.

Suzanne Shiflet
Controller

Michael P. LaVigna
Partner Emeritus
2/9/1940 – 4/14/2008

Mike LaVigna was a founder and partner of Techxas Ventures from 1998 until his passing on April 14, 2008. He is commonly referred to as "the grand-uncle of the Internet," which emanates from the important leadership role he played in commercializing the entire data communications industry and his distinctive track record of founding and building successful technology businesses.

At age 26, he co-founded and served as Vice President of On-Line Systems (ASE: ONLS), a venture-backed timesharing company that went public. At age 35, he co-founded and served as CEO of BBN Communications, a subsidiary of Bolt, Beranek and Newman (NYSE: BBN) that grew to over $100 million in three years. At age 39, he became President and COO of BBN, where he directed the commercialization of numerous information technologies. BBN's value increased over 40 times during his tenure before the company was acquired by GTE. Mr. LaVigna also co-founded and served as CEO of EXA, a venture-backed MIT spin-off that is private today; and served as CEO and Vice Chairman of MCK Communications (Nasdaq: MCKC), a venture-backed company that completed its IPO in 2000.

Mr. LaVigna earned a BA in Mathematics from the University of Buffalo and a Masters of Science from Siena College, and he completed National Science Foundation graduate studies in mathematics and physics.