About Speaker:

Ashok Rao is a decorated Serial Entrepreneur with five successful high technology start-ups of his own. Currently, he is an Angel Investor, investing in several start-ups, mentoring their founders, and serving on their boards. He has led and contributed to the successful exit of several startups. From 2014-2017, Ashok was the Chairman of Adhesys Medical, Inc. That year, he led the sale and acquisition of Adhesys to Grunenthal in April 2017. He now serves as the Chairman of their Advisory Board. In addition, Rao is the Chairman of BioMed X Innovation Center in Heidelberg, Germany, and Houston, TX and is the Principal Investor & Chairman of SiNode Systems. Rao is a member of the prestigious 20-member GOOSE Society of Texas (The Grand Order of Successful Entrepreneurs), founded by Dr. Jack Gill & Compaq founder Rod Canion. From 2011 to 2014, Ashok served as Chairman of TIE Global. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi.  He received his masters from Marquette University. In addition, he received his diploma in Financial Management from the London.


- Chairman and Principal Investor in several entrepreneurial ventures, including Forest Devices, Saviance Technologies, Mand Labs, and WCB Robotics.
- Co-owner of Songkran - a high-end Thai restaurant in Uptown Plaza in Houston 
- Member of the GOOSE Society of Texas
- Distinguished Alumnus Award (2008) for Entrepreneurial Achievement from Marquette University
- One of the first Indian Americans to take a company public on the NASDAQ (1994)
- 2008 George H.W.Bush Award for Arts Achievement
- Produced 4 award winning full length feature films, all of which had widespread theatrical releases
- Council of Advisors of the Jones Business School of Rice University