NRG’s patented software and mobile app improves the return on investment and networking experience of conferences and meetings.
It’s tough to find the right contacts sometimes because we’re surrounded by a sea of people we don’t know at an event. We hope to help every professional avoid the noise and builds relationships with the people they hope to work with.
Bob Gillespie, CEO
“I’m a startup junkie. There’s nothing more rewarding than taking a kernel of an idea and turning it into something successful. When you find that spark with a group of people and create something new and fun and exciting…nothing matches that professionally. It’s fun to share that excitement with your team, your clients, your community.”
Bob has over 20 years experience in entrepreneurship, consulting, technology, leadership and operations. A serial entrepreneur, he believes the ability to build great teams is the most important factor of success. By hiring smart, passionate people and providing solid leadership in a culture of innovation and creativity, Bob believes they can create industry changing products and platforms.
Matthew Dabney, COO
“I geek out at people geeking out. Whether its for comic books or marathons, I love the passion people bring to things when they’re completely into something. It’s what originally brought me into the startup community and it’s what I’ve found with events. You don’t sink hundreds of hours into making an event perfect unless you really love what the event is about.”
Matt is originally from the east coast – most of it – until his nomadic tendencies, and undergrad, brought him out to Chicago many years ago. He’s a twice over graduate from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a current University of Chicago Booth MBA candidate. He’s active in the Chicago startup community and even goes back to IIT to give talks and support the growing entrepreneurial community there.
Tien Yuan, CPO
“I like solving problems for folks and I think we can do alot to make life easier for the events industry.”
She graduated from Claremont Mckenna College with a dual degree in Economics and Psychology. Then she began working with programmers, web designers and entreprenuers and never got back around to being an economist. Tien has personally designed NRG networking events for Bristol-Myers Squibb, National Science Foundation and TRAFFIC. Prior to NRG, Tien led the marketing and publications department for the Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management and supported major nonprofits in California including American Red Cross, California Science Center, and the California Endowment.
Our investor, Jove Equity Partners, LLC (“Jove”), is a privately owned venture capital firm with fifteen years’ expertise in Internet and ecommerce startups. It typically invests in consumer products, media, and technology sectors. Jove is based in New York.
