Baris has been a partner at Fuse Capital since 2006. He focuses on identifying investment opportunities in digital media with a principal emphasis on the Internet. Concurrently, Baris is CEO of HIP Digital Media, a Digital Music company in the firm's portfolio.
Prior to joining the firm, Baris worked for six years at U.S. Venture Partners, a leading Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm.
Baris' recent board seats/investments include: Radar Networks, HIP Digital Media, Like.com, SpectraLinear, Minerva Networks, Redline Communications (LSE: REDL) and Aspendos Communications.
Before becoming a venture capitalist, Baris worked in both engineering and marketing at 3Com/U.S. Robotics, where he worked to develop the company's networking and cable industry products. His efforts at U.S. Robotics resulted in a number of U.S. patents.
Baris holds an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar, and an MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Lafayette College, where he graduated summa cum laude.
He is a frequent speaker in Digital Media conferences, including Digital Hollywood, Dow Jones Conferences & Macworld.
The best way to get to know Baris is to read his blog, "From Istanbul to Sand Hill Road" which focuses on high technology, venture capital, innovation and creativity.
Josh Gertz has lead sales and marketing for entertainment companies for over a decade, including large firms and small start ups. Josh comes to Hip Digital from Neurotic Media where he served as Executive Vice President since 2005. At Neurotic Media Josh created digital promotions for top content owners and sold content distribution and licensing services across multiple verticals. Prior to this, Josh was Vice President and co-founder of XACT Radio, an Internet radio network working with virtually every major broadcasting group.
In the last century, Josh was Director of Sales at MP3.com where he lead the company’s efforts in the broadcast radio space and negotiated contracts with all major radio broadcasters (Clear Channel, Infinity, Cox, and many others). Early on in his career Mr. Gertz was fortunate to have worked at PolyGram Records in Sales Administration. Josh holds a Bachelors of Arts in Communications from the University Of Maryland.
Josh currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and 2 daughters. He can be reached 404.705.8885
Betty has over 25 years of experience in the technology industry, as a key member of the executive team at high-growth, venture-funded start-ups. Her contribution ranges from strategic planning and fund raising to tactical challengers such as building appropriate infrastructure without stifling growth. Betty concurrently serves as CFO of several high tech companies (Wi-Fi/mesh networks, consumer products, Web 2.0, eLearning), and previously was CFO at Leapfrog (a leading manufacturer of interactive learning aids), Nominum (internet/telecom infrastructure software), MGA Entertainment (since grown to be the world’s largest privately-held toy company), and senior financial management positions at Fortune 500 companies including Fujitsu and Citicorp. Betty was certified as a CPA while working for Ernst & Young. She holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and a BA from Pomona College.