Van Espahbodi

Mr. Vandad "Van" Espahbodi serves as General Partner at Generational Partners. Van was a Co-Founder and served as Managing Partner at Starburst Accelerator. At Starburst he helped generate an equity portfolio of 120 startups, many of which he continues to mentor and advise. Along with Starburst, Van had a twenty-year career in aerospace & defense including government technology and corporate business development leadership roles at Raytheon and the British air navigation services provider, NATS. He helped shape regulations and develop key segments of airspace safety and infrastructure and believes true innovation is a result of a collaboration between legacy industry and entrepreneurs. Prior to that, he served as a legislative aide for U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff and U.S. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. He served as a member of the Economic Development Advisory Council for the City of El Segundo and advises multiple local, national and international government organizations on emerging technology trends. Following graduate studies at George Mason University in International Commerce and Public Policy, he participated in executive management programs at Thunderbird School of Global Management and Cranfield School of Management in the UK.