Management Team / Advisory Board Bios
Frank Speiser
Chairman & CEO
Frank Speiser has over 20 years of experience in tech entrepreneurship. Frank previously co-founded SocialFlow, the world's largest media-distribution software, which connects media companies including Condé Nast, The Associated Press, and the BBC, with nearly half of the global population. Frank has also served as CTO or advisor to several startups including: Pictela, acquired by AOL, OMGPOP.com, acquired by Zynga, and Nabewise, acquired by Airbnb. His career in tech began when he created and deployed the first major website in the cable industry, while still in college. He is currently a member of Forbes’ Technology Council and is an AI thought leader published in Forbes, The Guardian, and more.
Byron Galbraith
Co-founder & CTO
Byron Galbraith earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive and Neural Systems from Boston University, and an M.S. in Bioinformatics from Marquette University. His research expertise includes natural language processing, brain-computer interfaces, and high-performance computing. Byron has held several software engineering roles including back-end system engineer, full stack web developer, office automation consultant, and game engine developer at companies ranging in size from a two-person startup to a multinational enterprise. At Talla, Byron works to translate advancements in machine learning and natural language processing to build cutting edge knowledge automation solutions.
Gunnar Link
CFO
Gunnar Link has over 10 years of experience in financial roles across a broad range of industries. Most recently, Gunnar served as a CFO consultant at Venture Growth Partners (VGP), which provides world-class strategic advice on navigating capital raises as well as mergers and acquisitions. Prior to his work at VGP, Gunnar served as the CFO at CAPA, the Global Education Network. Other previous roles include positions at Deloitte Consulting, EF, and Arm. Gunnar holds a B.S. in Economics and Accounting from Santa Clara University and an M.A. in Applied Economics from Northeastern University. He received his CPA designation in California in 2009.
Yemi Adepetu
VP of Product
Yemi Adepetu is an experienced engineer and product designer. Prior to Talla, Yemi co-founded max.ng, a hyper-local logistics company. Yemi’s background includes 6 years of engineering experience at Carrier Corporation, where Yemi served as Senior Engineer and specialized in System Design, Analysis and Qualification, Project Coordination, and supporting product development. Yemi holds an M.Sc. in System Design and Management from MIT, and an M.Sc. in Computer and Electrical Engineering from Purdue University.
David Enda
VP of Strategy and Innovation
David Enda has over a decade of experience in business development, operations, institutional relations, and marketing. His expertise is in strategic planning, communications, and management. Prior to his role at Talla, he served as Vice President of Institutional Relations and Marketing at CAPA, the Global Education Network. During his tenure at CAPA, David also served as VP of US Operations and Development as well as Director of Business Development. He earned his B.A. in Business from Concordia University, Irvine.
Robert Sherry
VP of Strategic Accounts
Robert Sherry is an accomplished revenue strategist who has spent 21 years leading ad tech startups in building market share through new product development and market expansion initiatives. Robert began his career in media sales and sales management before becoming Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer with ValueClick (now Conversant Media.) There he helped scale and position this global ad network for its successful IPO in 2000. Prior to Talla, Robert was Head of Global Brand Entertainment at BroadbandTV, which provides management, distribution, and monetization solutions to content owners. Robert holds a B.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University, and is an MPS Technology Entrepreneurship degree candidate at U. of Maryland.
Brady Bohrmann
Managing Director, Avalon Ventures Talla Board Member
Brady has over 20 years of experience as a venture capitalist and operating executive in both information technology and biotech. Previously, he served as a general partner of Masthead Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm that he co-founded in 1997. Throughout his venture capital career, he has worked with over 75 companies. Brady holds a B.S. in Finance from Babson College.
Rudina Seseri
Founder and Managing Partner, Glasswing Ventures Talla Board Member
Rudina Seseri is Founder and Managing Partner of Glasswing Ventures, leading the firm’s investments in AI, Saas, and IT. Rudina has 17 years of investing and operational experience in high growth tech companies. Rudina was a Senior Manager in the Corporate Development Group at Microsoft Corporation. Prior to Microsoft, she was an investment banker in the Technology Group at Credit Suisse responsible for multibillion-dollar acquisitions and financings. Rudina earned her B.A. at Wellesley College and her M.B.A at Harvard Business School.
Rob May
General Partner, PJC Talla Board Member
Rob is a General Partner at PJC with expertise in the areas of AI, hardware, B2B, and SaaS. Prior to joining PJC, Rob was the Co-founder and CEO at Talla. He was also the Co-founder and CEO of Backupify, the world’s first cloud to cloud backup provider which was acquired for over $100m. As an angel investor, he has made over 70 early-stage AI investments. Rob also writes a highly popular newsletter on Artificial Intelligence – InsideAI. He holds both a B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of Kentucky.
