STEPHEN M. MEADE
Strategic Partner
STEPHEN MEADE is an American entrepreneur, executive and business founder who is passionate about creating companies that make a difference in the world. He has the ability to catapult an idea from pure concept to the creation of a thriving business. In the past 20 years, he has created, incubated and architected nine (9) successful technology-based companies. He is a seasoned business advisor and leader who frequently speaks on the art of networking at executive leadership conferences and startup communities (i.e. executives, entrepreneurs, start-up founders, co-founders, students) around the world. In 2005, he founded Big Bamboo, LLC to serve as the incubator for ideas that are worth building a team around and bringing to market. Currently, all ideas come solely from the Founder and the company does not take on or incubate outside business or services. He is currently the CEO of MonetaPro.IO, which is a FinTech Blockchain company for Global Companies to participate in Corporate Trade. MonetaPro.IO competed in and won the Silicon Valley d10e Global ICO contest, which to date was the largest ICO competition in the World featuring 32 companies. MonetaPro has placed in the following competitions: Fintech Zurich (1st Place), Los Angeles Crypto (1st Place), Malta (2nd Place), South Korea (3rd place), and more! Meade is also the CEO of MagMo, Inc., a B2B Platform focused on technology around Media, Entertainment, and Influencers. MagMo (which stands for Magic Moments) is a photo sharing tool primarily for major brands to create stories and share it with their existing audience. MagMo can provide monetization for social media audiences of the brand through a patent pending process known as the “back cover.” His roster of successful businesses includes MyBlueEarth, Cenoplex, RONAstar, ComCom, CuCme, etc.
JENNY Q. TA
Founder/GP & Managing Director
JENNY Q. TA, a 3x founder veteran of Wall Street, is a self-made millionaire and seasoned entrepreneur with a remarkable track record. As the founder and CEO of Titan Securities, a profitable full-service broker-dealer and investment banking firm, she successfully led the company to acquisition in 2005. Prior to that, she also founded and steered Vantage Investments, which was also acquired, with assets under management worth a third of a billion dollars. In addition to her accomplishments in finance, Ms. Ta excelled in the tech industry, masterminding VCNetwork.co, a virtual platform connecting entrepreneurs with venture capitalists, and CoinLinked.com, a decentralized online social commerce platform integrating traditional marketplaces with digital currencies through blockchain technology. Both ventures capitalized on her business expertise and exploration of FinTech and distributed ledger technologies. Both were acquired in 2021. Ms. Ta's entrepreneurial acumen extends to spearheading an AI project since late 2022. With her adaptability to emerging technologies, including web3, she explores the transformative potential of AI and web3, recognizing their incremental importance in shaping the future of technology. As AI continues to revolutionize industries and web3 enables decentralized and trustless applications, Ms. Ta understands the profound impact these technologies can have on enhancing efficiency, transparency, and security. Furthermore, she demonstrates her commitment to the project's success by securing a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights, to safeguard the project's innovations and assets. Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavors, Ms. Ta is a published author, sharing her inspiring journey in the book "Wall Street Cinderella." The book recounts her escape from Vietnam during the war and traces her path from welfare to Wall Street, serving as a roadmap for women aspiring to succeed in business. Ms. Ta holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Financial Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from CSUF. Ms. Ta's leadership in AI and proactive IP management shapes the future of technology and entrepreneurship. Her adaptability and visionary mindset drive the AI project, exploring transformative potential and achieving new milestones. From finance to tech, her journey inspires aspiring entrepreneurs and women in business. With her expertise and dedication, Ms. Ta is poised to make a significant impact in AI and beyond.
CUSTIS L. SPEARS
Strategic Partner
CURTIS SPEARS is the President & CEO of Andes Capital Group. In this role, Mr. Spears is responsible for overall firm strategy and day-to-day operations. Mr. Spears brings over 25 years of experience in the asset management arena. Prior to joining Andes, Mr. Spears held several senior leadership roles, including Senior Managing Director with Gray & Company, President of Gardner Rich, and Managing Director of Public Fund Sales with Fifth Third Asset Management. He also served as Vice President at The Northern Trust Company where he was responsible for client service and marketing investment products and services to the institutional marketplace. Before taking on client responsibilities, Mr. Spears managed domestic and international equity index portfolios for Northern Trust. Throughout his career, Mr. Spears’ level of excellence has enabled him to build strong relationships with top-tier financial firms and institutional investors. A native of Chicago, he also sees it as his duty to give back to the community. He currently serves on the Governing Board for UCAN and has served on auxiliary boards for the Steppenwolf Theater, the Field Museum and the Primo Center for Women and Children where he has raised funds crucial to operations, and helped to increase awareness. Mr. Spears received his B.S. in computer science from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from DePaul University. He holds the Series 24, 7, 63, 65 and 79 securities licenses.
