COUNCIL TRUSTEES
Mr. James Geshwiler
Managing Director, Common Angels
As Managing Director of CommonAngels, James runs one of the first formal venture capital investing networks and the largest in the Northeast. He joined CommonAngels in 1999 when it was an informal group of private investors, and since that time has grown it into a structured network that has invested $44 million from individual investors and two $10 million co-investment funds in 39 companies and worked with them through over 100 rounds of financing totaling over $270 million. Day-to-day, James manages deal flow, due diligence and the investment process.
James also was the founding chairman of the Angel Capital Association, the professional alliance of angel groups that has grown from 46 groups as charter members to now over 130, representing over 6,500 investors. He also was the founding chairman of ACA’s sister organization, the Angel Capital Education Foundation, in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation. AECF works with angel investors, venture capitalists, academic leaders and entrepreneurs around the country to provide research and educational programs on angel investing. He is a contributing author to Cutting-Edge Practices in American Angel Investing, published in October 2003 by Darden Business Publishing of the University of Virginia, has written papers and various articles on angel investment processes, and regularly speaks on entrepreneurship and private investing.
Prior to CommonAngels, James worked at Cambridge Energy Research Associates, the premier strategic advisory consultancy for the oil, natural gas, electric power and refined products sectors. Prior to CERA, James worked for the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department State—both in Washington DC—in a variety of roles covering global technology analysis, assessment and policy.
He holds a bachelor's degree with highest honors from the Liberal Arts Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin, a master's degree in political science from UCLA, and an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management. James also is an avid rower and a member of Cambridge Boat Club.
