John Harbison (CEO)

• Before co-founding Tech-Spin, John served as CEO and turned around (then successfully sold) SilentRunner, a network security software start-up. SilentRunner won many awards including PC Magazine's Editor's Choice award for Event Monitoring and 2002 Best of Year in Networking Software, as well as Computerworld Honors 21st Century Award. Cumulative revenues exceeded $20 million to over 100 customers before the company was sold.
• As president of Raytheon Commercial Ventures Inc. (RCVI) from 2001-2002, John led Raytheon’s efforts to identify ideas for commercializing defense technology, screen and prioritize these opportunities, develop business plans, forge alliances with external financial partners and market/strategic partners and incubate companies leading to a liquidity event. Under his leadership, Raytheon spun out five companies where it contributed IP and people, accessing over $110 million in outside capital and retaining over $50 million in equity interests for Raytheon “post-money” in these companies; two companies realized full liquidity events. Prior to the formation of RCVI, Raytheon had experienced no successes in commercialization.
• Harbison joined Raytheon after 20 years in consulting with Booz•Allen Hamilton, where he served as vice president specializing in strategic planning for technology intensive companies. He led the firm’s Aerospace/Defense Practice, its Strategic Alliances functional practice, its Los Angeles office and at one point served as the youngest member of the board of directors and as chairman of the finance committee. His current activities at Tech-Spin leverage the skills base and expertise he developed over the years at Booz·Allen -- strategic assessments of market opportunities, alliances/technology commercialization, and defense technology understanding.
• In 1998, he co-authored the book Smart Alliances: A Practical Guide to Repeatable Success, which since publication has been (and remains) the best selling book on alliances and acquisitions among over 250 titles on that subject. He has also authored eight Aerospace/Defense viewpoints, which have been widely read and quoted in Aviation Week, Defense News and other prominent publications. In March 2001, Aviation Week nominated Mr. Harbison and his team for their highest honor, the Aerospace Laurel Award. Harbison has authored articles and been quoted in over 40 publications, and has appeared on network news broadcasts on ABC, CNN, CNBC, CBS, PBS and Bloomberg. He has been a keynote speaker at such forums as AIA, EIA and the Conference Board.
• Harbison is currently an active member of Tech Coast Angels, the largest angel investor network in the United States; TCA provides funding and guidance to more early-stage, high-growth companies in Southern California than any other venture capital, angel or other private equity group. Harbison serves on the boards of three of these start-ups
• In his free time, Harbison is a photographer (see www.BestNaturePhotos.com)
• Mr. Harbison received a BA cum laude in English from Harvard University, an MS in accounting from NYU Stern and a MBA from Harvard Business School with first year honors.