Experience

Grotech Ventures

• United States
• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Venture Partner

  • Sep 2007 - Present

  Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Don Rainey is an experienced venture capitalist with a track record of successful enterprises. Don has been involved with Internet based companies building large audiences and businesses for 30 years. Areas of investment include ecommerce, fintech, proptech, networking technology and social media-related startups. ENTREPRENEURSHIP After a long history of success in technology management positions with IBM and Novell, Don made the move into venture capital in 2000, first with… Show more Don Rainey is an experienced venture capitalist with a track record of successful enterprises. Don has been involved with Internet based companies building large audiences and businesses for 30 years. Areas of investment include ecommerce, fintech, proptech, networking technology and social media-related startups. ENTREPRENEURSHIP After a long history of success in technology management positions with IBM and Novell, Don made the move into venture capital in 2000, first with Intersouth Partners, and then with Grotech Ventures, which he joined in September 2007. The Grotech Fund I was second best performing fund within its class worldwide for the 2007 vintage year. With over $1B US under management, Grotech focuses on early-stage information technology companies. Don currently serves on the boards of Grotech portfolio companies Adwerx, Ceterus, Krista, Passport, Payzer and Zenoss. Former board seats include Clarabridge, Contactually, Booker, Covega, Defywire, HelloWallet, LivingSocial, Personal, SnappCloud and Youreka. Don has helped his portfolio companies attract over $1B of incremental investment, secure strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and achieve profitable exits. ADVISORY BOARDS LaunchCLT Charlotte Fund Amplifier Ventures FORMER ADVISORY BOARDS CIT Gap Fund U.S. Dept of Defense DeVenci Program Virginia Tech University Intellectual Property Foundation James Madison University Board of Visitors Mid Atlantic Venture Association Mindshare Organizing Board State of Maryland DBED Virginia Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority (IEIA) AWARDS James Madison Univ. - Inez Graybeal Roop Alumni Service Award Deal Makers "Hall of Fame" Smart Business Charlotte No. Va. Tech Council - Financier of the Year Washington Business Journal Outstanding Director Washingtonian’s Tech Titans - 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2022 NVTC - “Lifetime Navigator” Washington Business Journal, “Friend of the Entrepreneur” Show less



Krista

• United States
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Mar 2022 - Present

  Dallas, Texas, United States Krista is a nothing-like-code intelligent automation platform that orchestrates your people, apps, and AI so you can optimize business outcomes. Krista builds and integrates machine learning and apps more simply than you can imagine.



Rent Ready

• United States
• Facilities Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member

  • Mar 2021 - Present

  Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Rent Ready introduces a modern solution, to an age-old apartment industry problem. After a deep dive in the industry, Rent Ready discovered that the make ready process was disjointed, frustrating and time-consuming. Onsite staff members were scheduling six different services with six different vendors – creating scheduling nightmares along with unexpected challenges and headaches. As a full-service partner for onsite apartment staff, Rent Ready handles the frustration between the move-out and… Show more Rent Ready introduces a modern solution, to an age-old apartment industry problem. After a deep dive in the industry, Rent Ready discovered that the make ready process was disjointed, frustrating and time-consuming. Onsite staff members were scheduling six different services with six different vendors – creating scheduling nightmares along with unexpected challenges and headaches. As a full-service partner for onsite apartment staff, Rent Ready handles the frustration between the move-out and move-in, as a single-source for all turn services: paint, clean, carpet, wall repair, punch and counter and tub resurfacing. Show less



PetScreening

• United States
• Information Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member

  • Jun 2019 - Present

  Charlotte, North Carolina Area PetScreening.com™ helps Property Managers, Landlords and Housing Providers manage renters' pets and assistance animals for free while generating more opportunities for pet-related revenue.



Adwerx

• United States
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Aug 2017 - Present

  Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area Brilliantly simple digital advertising for real estate, mortgage, insurance, and wealth management



Passport

• United States
• Software Development
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Board Observer

  • Dec 2013 - Present

  Charlotte, North Carolina Area Passport is transforming mobility management for cities, empowering them to create more livable and equitable communities. Passport’s mobility platform enables clients to digitally coordinate all modes of transportation and implement real-time, data-centric management of their curbside and street space through its enterprise software. Trusted by nearly 1,000 cities, universities and agencies, including Chicago, Toronto, London, Los Angeles, and Miami.



TopDeck Foundation

• Co-Founder

  • Aug 2014 - Present

  Cornelius, North Carolina, United States Cofounded and continue to support the TopDeck Foundation. TopDeck is a public charity that is dedicated to raising funds to support the morale and mission of Cornelius Police Department. Today, our police do more with less in an uncertain environment. TopDeck supports employee recognition programs, incremental training and tools as well as team building activities which are outside the town’s budget but within the Department’s needs.



James Madison University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Rainey Sheperd James Madison University Business Plan Competition

  • Mar 2003 - Present

  Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States Founded and have led this effort over 20 years to recognize the students and faculty at JMU. The business plan competition showcases the best business plans developed by teams of students in COB 300. This 12-credit curriculum serves as the gateway to JMU's College of Business, integrating fundamental principles of finance, management, marketing and operations. Nearly 650 students have participated in the competition since it was launched in 2003. Five student-teams advance through two… Show more Founded and have led this effort over 20 years to recognize the students and faculty at JMU. The business plan competition showcases the best business plans developed by teams of students in COB 300. This 12-credit curriculum serves as the gateway to JMU's College of Business, integrating fundamental principles of finance, management, marketing and operations. Nearly 650 students have participated in the competition since it was launched in 2003. Five student-teams advance through two preliminary rounds to vie, in the finals, for scholarships totaling more than $25,000. Each finalist delivers a pitch and engages in a question-and-answer session with the judges. The order-of-finish and allocation of scholarships are announced at the conclusion of the team presentations. Show less



Payzer

• United States
• Software Development
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Nov 2014 - Nov 2023

  Charlotte, North Carolina Area An all-in-one management and payments solution that helps contractors grow and manage their business.



Zenoss

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Dec 2007 - Nov 2023

  Austin, Texas Area Zenoss lets enterprises focus on growing their businesses by freeing them from the work that slows down architecture and operations teams. Organizations using Zenoss can eliminate infrastructure blind spots, predict impacts to business services before they cause outages, and resolve incidents faster — operating at whatever scale the business requires.



Ceterus

• Accounting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Jun 2017 - Aug 2023

  Charleston, South Carolina Area Ceterus provides a highly automated, done-for-you accounting and benchmarked reporting solution for small business entrepreneurs, especially multi-unit franchises.



XOi

• United States
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Observer

  • Jul 2019 - Jul 2023

  Greater Nashville Area, TN XOi empowers field service companies across North America to do even more business with greener techs and fewer truck rolls. By 2020, there will be over 30 million unfilled field service jobs. XOi connects rookie techs on the job site with experienced vets back in the office to bridge the talent gap.



Youreka

• United States
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Aug 2021 - Apr 2022

  Baltimore, Maryland, United States Youreka simplifies development and delivery of smart mobile service applications with a no-code authoring studio and one-click deployment across all of the major device platforms including Apple, Android and Windows. Youreka provides analysis and feedback to continuously improve field procedures and technician effectiveness. Built directly on the Salesforce Customer 360 platform, Youreka provides seamless integration for Salesforce users and is collaborating with Salesforce on the next… Show more Youreka simplifies development and delivery of smart mobile service applications with a no-code authoring studio and one-click deployment across all of the major device platforms including Apple, Android and Windows. Youreka provides analysis and feedback to continuously improve field procedures and technician effectiveness. Built directly on the Salesforce Customer 360 platform, Youreka provides seamless integration for Salesforce users and is collaborating with Salesforce on the next generation mobile experience for frontline workers. Show less



ICX Media, Inc.

• United States
• Technology, Information and Media
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Aug 2017 - Mar 2019

  Washington D.C. Metro Area As Media and Entertainment companies strive to better understand how consumers interact and engage with video content, the data generated from viewership becomes invaluable. ICX Media believes that unlocking meaningful audience data can inform more effective go-forward decisions on video content creation and distribution for leading-edge media companies.



Contactually (acquired by Compass)

• United States
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Dec 2015 - Mar 2019

  Washington D.C. Metro Area Contactually is the leading intelligent CRM for Real Estate Professionals.



LivingSocial

• United States
• Advertising Services
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Jul 2008 - Nov 2016

  Washington D.C. Metro Area LivingSocial is an online marketplace that allows its registered users to buy and share things to do in their city. Formerly headquartered in Washington, D.C., LivingSocial had roughly 70 million members around the world in 2013.



Booker Software

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Oct 2011 - Nov 2015

  Greater New York City Area Booker by MINDBODY is a cloud-based booking solution that provides businesses in cosmetics and wellness industry such as spas and salons, tools, which help them to manage their booking routines, payments, customer interactions and marketing activities.



HelloWallet

• United States
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Apr 2009 - Dec 2013

  Washington D.C. Metro Area HelloWallet is a web and mobile application for employees,. It provides personalized financial guidance to members and relies on behavioral economics to incentivize workers to implement its advice.



Clarabridge (acquired by Qualtrics)

• United States
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Former Board Member

  • Jun 2008 - Oct 2013

  Reston, VA Clarabridge is the only platform that provides a highly effective means of capturing what customers are saying with a best-in-class, industry-recognized text analytics solution. Listen to conversations from anywhere, at any time, to make accurate predictions that save time, effort, and money.



United States Department of Defense - DeVenCI - Defense Venture Catalyst Initiative

• VC Volunteer Consultant

  • May 2006 - May 2012

  Washington DC-Baltimore Area Worked as one of a dozen volunteer Venture Capitalists to assist DoD personnel to identify and source emerging technologies for immediate needs. Met quarterly with various commands (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, NASA and NSA) to ascertain desired tools to facilitate solution identification. Primary goal was to get needed items to war fighters faster than traditional methods.



University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business

• United States
• Higher Education
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Adjunct Professor

  • Jun 2006 - Jun 2009

  College Park, MD Developed and taught MBA-level courses in entrepreneurship, business formation, venture capital, private equity, and new venture finance.



Intersouth Partners

• United States
• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 1 - 100 Employee

• General Partner

  • May 2000 - Aug 2007

  Washington D.C. Metro Area Was remote General Partner from Durham, NC headquarters making investments in early stage, I.T. start ups in the DC area.



IBM

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director

  • 1994 - 1996

  Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area



Novell

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director of Channel Marketing

  • Nov 1987 - Aug 1990

  Greater Salt Lake City Area