Hal Shelton
PARTNER
Hal is a partner at Blu Venture Investors, an initiator of BVI’s Core Investor Program, and a board member for three portfolio companies. He is a SCORE certified mentor, having assisted over 1,000 entrepreneurs in conceptualizing business ideas, actually starting companies, growing the business and, in a few instances, selling their business. Hal is the author and publisher of the Amazon best-selling book “The Secrets to Writing a Successful Business Plan.”
Previously, Hal was CFO and SVP of a NYSE-listed alternative energy company and quarterbacked its IPO and debut public debt offering. Prior to that, he served as the VP of finance at an international integrated petroleum company where he led the finance function for each of its significant business units (R&M, E&P, ship building), including an extended foreign assignment. He was a board member of a NASDAQ listed IT learning company and managed its going private transaction, as well as a board member and CFO for several non-profits.
When investing in companies, Hal looks for a sizable market with reasonable competition, and a management team that has the experience, drive, and customer focus necessary for success.
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Energy
Finance/Payments/E-Commerce
FUNCTIONAL EXPERTISE
Finance
Management
Strategy
COMPANIES
BLOG POST
What advice would you give to startups?
Surround yourself with trusted advisors/mentors, carefully build a solid board, conduct extensive customer discovery to find the best value proposition and always be customer focused.
Why do you invest in follow-on rounds?
To support and make money in management teams/companies that have achieved goals/milestones, accomplished traction, are good communicators, customer focused and know their numbers.