Josef Ruef

Josef Ruef is an entrepreneur and executive with 20 years of experience developing and growing businesses. In 2005, Mr. Ruef co-founded the online marketplace for electronic components, Verical Incorporated, where he served as President, CEO and Chairman, and where he co-authored Verical’s patented business process. Mr. Ruef led Verical from its inception in the market to its acquisition, a journey that included multiple rounds of venture financing and culminated in the successful sale of Verical to Arrow Electronics Inc. (NYSE: ARW). Mr. Ruef then served as the President and General Manager of the Verical business unit at Arrow Electronics, where he was responsible driving Verical’s business strategy and global expansion, resulting in more than $50MM in annual revenue and three years of +100% Y/Y growth. Currently, Mr. Ruef serves as Founding Partner at September Capital, and is building a new startup. In his spare time, Mr. Ruef is active in the entrepreneurial community in Silicon Valley and elsewhere. He currently advises and helps to arrange financing for early stage companies dealing in information technology, e-commerce, inventory management, messaging and wine-tech. Mr. Ruef is a graduate of Mindshare, a mentor at the Founder Institute, and is active with the University of California at Berkeley’s SkyDeck. Mr. Ruef is also a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, 1993, where he earned a B.A. in English, and played football for the Golden Bears.