Teamwork

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We distinguish ourselves by having a team with a wide range of expertise. We are successful investors, technically savvy, and possess extensive operating experience in marketing and sales. Importantly, we are also entrepreneurs just like you.

The team has a long history of working together. Cumulatively, we have known each other and worked together for decades.

    Ed Olkkola

    Managing Director

    Ed Olkkola [12/13/1959 – 12/15/2022] had a career that spanned a wide range of executive-level positions in marketing, finance, information technology, strategy, product and corporate development, and professional investing. Ed was Chairman of the Board of Hyliion, Inc., an innovative developer and manufacturer of hybrid and alternative-fuel trucks and truck technologies. Previous to that Ed had served as a director of Hyliion Legacy and as Chief Operating Officer of Hyliion. Ed was earlier a Senior Vice President, New Products and Business Development for A. H. Belo Corporation where he focused on strategic investments in media and technology companies. Ed was also a General Partner at Austin Ventures where he focused on communications systems/software and semiconductor investments. His investment exits include Agere Systems, Sychip, Santera Systems, Navini Networks, NexGen, Ramp Networks and Raptor.

        Vinson N. Davidson

        Managing Director, CFO and CCO

        Vinse Davidson, CFO, has over 25 years of business experience, with significant roles in the financial and operational aspects of venture capital, real estate, computer systems management, and infrastructure construction. Previously, as a Partner and CFO with STARTech Early Ventures, he was responsible for the finance, accounting, and administrative functions surrounding their seed funds and early stage business acceleration initiatives in Richardson, Texas. His career includes work for MasTec, Inc., a national construction company, as Division President and for Trammell Crow Company, a commercial real estate developer and manager, as CFO of their Dallas Industrial Division. Between corporate careers, Vinse has provided CFO services for growth-stage companies on a consulting basis that included raising equity and loan capital and supporting mergers, operations and training. He began his career as a computer audit specialist in the Dallas office of what is now Ernst & Young.

        Vinse earned his Bachelor’s degree in accounting, summa cum laude, from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and his Master of Professional Accounting degree (emphasis in Information Systems), with High Honors, from The University of Texas at Austin. A licensed CPA, Vinse resides in Coppell, Texas.

            Laura Kusching

            VP Finance–Fund Operations

            Laura has twenty-five years of experience running the operations of middle market companies, including all accounting, human resources, customer service, general operations, and finance functions. Laura has experience in several different disciplines, including various service industries, import/export and property management. She handles all of the accounting and operations for Teakwood along with contributing to due diligence and portfolio-company support efforts.

            Laura received her AA degree from College of Central Florida.

                Jonathan K. Hustis

                Executive Partner and General Counsel

                Jon Hustis has a legal and executive career extending across national and global technology businesses. His experience includes a diverse range of enterprises, from start-ups seeking seed capital to multi-national Fortune 500 enterprises such as Texas Instruments and Oracle Corporation. Jon joined Teakwood in 2016 as Managing Director-Corporate Development, Chief Compliance Officer, and General Counsel. Since March 2020, his role is Executive Partner and General Counsel to Teakwood, and board member to two Teakwood portfolio companies.

                Jon holds an undergraduate degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, and a law degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is a member of the Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation’s board of directors, and has been active in various local organizations relating to law, technology and business. He lives in Dallas.

                LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-k-hustis-9679609

                    Shawn Kelly

                    Founder

                    Shawn Kelly [Oct. 3, 1972 – Apr. 16, 2018] founded Teakwood Capital in 2005 on the premise of bringing equity capital, strategic advice and marketing expertise to micro-cap, undercapitalized companies, thus launching them to higher growth and profitability.

                    Shawn’s career centered on financing and building growth stage companies. Prior to Teakwood, Shawn was with Austin Ventures, where he co-opened the firm’s Dallas offices. During his tenure, the firm grew from $450 million to $3 billion of capital under management. Shawn invested in and was active with the Boards of 12 growth-stage businesses. He was previously an investment banker with J.C. Bradford in Nashville where he focused on private equity and M&A transactions.

                    Shawn earned a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master in Professional Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration with High Honors from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. Shawn was an active member of the Lone Star Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization.