Brenda is an entrepreneur with 40 years of venture management and tech start-up funding experience in enterprise software, systems and services. She has launched 24 ventures, including Polaris Wireless, the global leader in non-GPS location determination systems, Telerate, the first wireless bond and FX trading system, and Wirelution, the first privately funded mobile data venture for China Mobile’s Internet portal. She was part of the team which built the first global, real time satellite vessel communications and control system for Exxon. She is founder and managing director of TechXel Stamford, LLC, the first B2B accelerator in Fairfield County.
Prior to founding Transactions Marketing, Inc., Brenda spent 15 years in enterprise systems, project management and marketing with Exxon, Marine Management Systems and Howmet Aluminum, a subsidiary of Paris-based Pechiney Ugine Kuhlmann.
A 40 year resident of Stamford, she was co-founder of the 600 member 501(C) 3, Cove-East Side Neighborhood Coalition, which secured the shutdown of Stamford’s incinerator during her tenure as President. She is a past president of the Soundview Drive Neighborhood Association and a current member of the Shippan Point Association. Brenda was a founding member of the steering committee for Innovate Stamford, which won a $2 MM Innovation District grant from CT NEXT in July 2017. She is a founding organizer of One Million Cups Stamford, the Kauffman Foundation program to engage entrepreneurs with their communities. She is a member of the Emerging Companies team for Stamford Innovation Week. Brenda is an active big boat racing sailor, a member of the Storm Trysail Club and a PILOT at Mystic Seaport. She speaks fluent French.
Education:
Smith College BA Cum Laude, Economics Honors
University of Connecticut MBA
Harvard Business School Program for Management Development
New York University Certificate in Telecommunications Management
Partners:
SIS International, Inc. Market Research
Professional Affiliations:
Crossroads Venture Fair Judge
CT Innovation Summit Judge
CT Mobile Summit Founder
Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs Judge
CT New Venture Challenge Mentor, Judge
Mobile Enterprise Magazine Advisory Board, 10 years
TechStars Stamford Startup Weekend Judge
Wireless Data Forum Charter Member
Civic Leadership:
City of Stamford Planning Board Co-Chair, Cove-East Side Planning Task Force
Cove-East Side Neighborhood Coalition Board of Directors, Founding President
Innovate Stamford Steering Committee
One Million Cups/Stamford Founding Organizer
Smith College Director, National Alumnae Admission Committee;
Special Gifts Chair Record, 25th reunion
University of Connecticut Business School Adjunct Professor