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Our Team
An accelerator program designed exclusively for foreign-born entrepreneurs and a team of industry veterans to guide your journey.
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Founder & CEO
Angelos
Angelou
  • Angelos Angelou

Prior to founding the International Accelerator (IA) in 2014, Angelos spent nearly 12 years with the Austin Chamber of Commerce as Vice President of Economic Development and Chief Economist. During his time at the Chamber, Angelos handled the recruitment of 800 technology companies and some 70,000 employees, including IBM, Apple, Samsung, Motorola, AMD, Cypress Semiconductor, Applied Materials, and Tokyo Electron. His record of achievements includes the attraction of $26 billion in capital investments and the creation of over 285,000 direct and indirect jobs in the City of Austin and the State of Texas.

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A highly visible leader in the field of entrepreneurism and innovation, Angelos is widely regarded as an expert on Technology, AI, Life Sciences, Ecommerce, Education, Fintech, and SaaS, etc. startups, public policy, investment attraction, and marketing. The national and international media regularly seek his comments and insights in the startup sector and on economic development issues. He is widely regarded as the chief architect in the establishment of Austin as a nationally recognized high-tech center.

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Angelos recently received a Proclamation from the Texas Governor and Mayor of Austin in recognition for his 30-year leadership and contribution to economic development in the State of Texas and the City of Austin. Angelos was awarded the US Economic Development of the Year award by Site Selection Magazine.

Angelos is also President of Schoox and President of Gridmates, portfolio companies of the International Accelerator. Past appointments include board and advisory posts at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the Social Sciences Department at St. Edwards University, and the World Information Technology Conference. Angelos is also a board member (Texas Governor Appointee) of the oversight committee of CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas), a $3B program spanning over ten years that grants over $250 million per year in tech initiatives for the prevention and cure of cancer.

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Angelos is an angel investor and world-renowned economic development speaker.​

Professional Affiliations:
 

  • The College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, Advisory Board Member

  • Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (CPRIT), Board of Directors (Texas Governor Appointee)

  • Site Selectors Guild, Founding Member

  • George Bush US-China Foundation, Advisory Board Member

  • US China Innovation Alliance, Board Member

Education
 

  • Ph.D., Coursework in Economics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
     

  • M.A., Economics and Management, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas - Summa Cum Laude
     

  • B.A., Economics and Political Science, University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas

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Chief Operations Officer
Parke 
Benjamin

parke@iaccelerator.com

  • Parke Benjamin
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Senior Marketing Manager
Vivian
Makka

vivian@iaccelerator.com

  • Vivian Makka
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Chief Marketing Officer
Mohammad
Rahman

mohammad@iaccelerator.com

  • Mohammad Rahman LinkedIn
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Director of Business Development
Jack
Whelan

jack@iaccelerator.com​

  • Jack Whelan
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General Manager
Esther
Angelou

esther@iaccelerator.com

  • Esther Angelou
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Director of International Business Development 
Andrei 
Buzatu

abuzatu@angeloueconomics.com

  • Sultan Alshaali
Mentors
Mentors help develop objectives and plans throughout the duration of the program, and maintain longer-term relationships to further the success of the company after the program ends.

  • Dr. Nicholas Peppas
    Cockrell Family Regents Chair at UT Austin
     

  • Andres Carvallo
    Co-Director, CIEDAR Consortium, Fellow, Materials Applications Research Center
    Professor of Innovation, Texas State University
     

  • Andrew Drach
    Entrepreneur, Scientist,Tech Enthusiast
     

  • Antonio Lopes
    COO & Director at Kinematix
     

  • Arie Brish
    Investor, Advisor, Board of Directors
    CEO, Best Seller Author
     

  • Arun Prakesh
    Managing Director at Carbon Arrow
    Investor in Space Angels Network
     

  • Ben Eynon
    CTO of Strap Technologies
    Sr Director, R&D at SUSS MicroTec
     

  • Brett Butler
    Founder at ClearGem.com
     

  • Kevin Przybocki
    Advisor, Mentor, Investor
     

  • David Smith
    CEO at Strategic Pathways
     

  • Julio Ferreira
    Founder of Brazil USA Business Connect - Green Tech Trade Association
     

  • Raj Adhav
    Founder of Designial
     

  • Joe Napolitano
    Sr. Director, Global Account Management,
    Tokyo Electron America
     

  • John Stibal​
    Managing Director, StaticLabs​

Country Advisors
Country advisors are global points of contact who actively help identify  startups in the entrepreneurial ecosystems of their respective regions.
Partners
Strategic partners are accelerators, incubators, government agencies, or any other organization which identifies and sources startups in their respective countries.

 

Mentors, country advisors and IA partners can receive up to 1% of equity in startups they referred and got accepted into our program.
 

Interested in becoming a mentor, country advisor or partner?

Use the contact form below. We'll be happy to answer your questions.

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