[October 05, 2005] TVM Adds Edward Braginsky as General Partner; Software Industry Veteran Brings More Than 20 Years Technical and Operational Experience Tweet BOSTON --(Business Wire)-- Oct. 5, 2005 -- TVM, one of the leading venture capital firms in the United States and Europe, today announced the addition of Edward Braginsky as General Partner. Braginsky will focus on business software and services investments, and will work out of the firm's Boston office. TVM also announced that Sakari Pihlava, a software entrepreneur and existing member of TVM's investment team, has moved to Boston from the firm's Munich office. Both Braginsky and Pihlava are experienced technology executives with track records in building transatlantic software companies. Prior to joining TVM, Braginsky consulted to several prominent venture capital firms and enterprise software startups in the Boston area. Before joining the venture industry, Braginsky was a member of the founding executive team of BEA Systems where he held numerous leadership positions including a Chief Technology Officer and a Vice President, Corporate Business Development. While at BEA, Braginsky played a key role in orchestrating numerous acquisitions and led BEA's investments in several successful software startups, including PentaSafe Security (acquired by NetIQ), YOUcentric (acquired by J.D. Edwards), TimesTen (acquired by Oracle), and System Access (listed on SGX SESDAQ). Prior to BEA, Braginsky held operating positions at Fidelity Investments, DLJ Securities, Digital Equipment Corporation and MIT. Ed has a BS and MS in Computer Science from Boston University. "Ed Braginsky's superb track record and a broad network of relationships in the software industry and in the Boston venture capital community will further enhance TVM's ability to make the best investments on behalf of our limited partners," said Friedrich Bornikoel, managing partner, TVM. "As we move toward investing in revenue stage technology companies in the U.S., Ed's deep operating, technical and strategic background will allow him to immediately add value to new investments and provide invaluable assistance to our portfolio companies as they grow their businesses." Pihlava joined TVM's technology investment team in the firm's Munich office in early 2003. Prior to joining TVM, he was the Head of Engineering at F-Secure Corporation, the fastest growing public company in the antivirus and intrusion prevention market today. He was a member of the management team that led F-Secure's IPO in 1999 (FSOYF.PK). During his six-year tenure, he led the creation of F-Secure's new product lines and the transformation of the products into "security as a service" model. He also played key roles in technology licensing and M&A activities. Pihlava graduated from Helsinki University of Technology in Finland and has an MBA from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland. "The world today is one vibrant, multi-faceted marketplace. Anyone building a business anywhere in the world has to be prepared to sell and support customers everywhere in our global marketplace, and utilize best technology talent everywhere in this marketplace. The ability to help young companies establish transatlantic relationships and manage global operations is what sets TVM apart in the industry," said Braginsky. "Now is a particularly exciting time to join TVM, as more and more U.S. technology companies are looking to expand their business in Europe, partner with European technology leaders, and gain access to the high-quality "offshore" development talent pool in Eastern Europe. Equally important, many European startups seek to establish a presence in the U.S. and develop relationships with U.S. industry leaders, technology buyers, and investors. TVM is in a unique position to invest in such companies and to help broker such relationships, maximizing our portfolio companies' abilities to conduct business everywhere in the world." About TVM TVM, founded in 1983, is one of the first venture capital firms formed in Germany, and an early entrant into the US market in 1986. Since its inception in 1983, TVM has raised more than EUR 1.4 billion in six fund generations and has established itself as a leading technology investment group in Europe and the United States. TVM funds have made investments in more than 220 information technology and life science companies where innovation, effective management and sound financial backing have enormous impact on company growth. The in-depth knowledge at TVM of the European and US environment helps companies create businesses that enjoy access to science, management talent, distribution channels and capital on both sides of the Atlantic. More than 40 TVM companies went public at European or US stock exchanges. Today, TVM is actively invested in more than 70 companies. For more information please visit www.tvmvc.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]