Biz2Credit Taps HP’s Bernard Slede To Join Advisory Board

Feb. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Biz2Credit (www.biz2credit.com) today announced that Bernard Slede, managing director, Startup Ecosystem Programs, HP, has joined Biz2Credit’s advisory board.

Slede has held numerous positions in entrepreneurship, venture capital and innovation in the United States and Europe, and has a proven track record in increasing value in Fortune 500 companies as well as technology startups.  In his current role, Slede orchestrates interactions with emerging high-growth companies and HP’s stakeholders, and creates multiple collaboration avenues for startups.  

On Jan. 31, 2011, Slede was HP’s representative at the launch of the Startup America Partnership, a private sector alliance responding to President Obama’s call to bring together top entrepreneurs, startup firm funders, CEOs, university presidents, foundations and other leaders to help entrepreneurial companies start and grow.

“Bernard is a thought leader and change agent at HP who thrives on helping companies overcome business challenges.  He is an expert in all areas vital to small business growth – from raising capital and driving business and product launches, to developing strategy and managing licensing and alliances,” said Rohit Arora, co-founder and CEO of Biz2Credit.  “His experience as an entrepreneur, startup advisor and venture capitalist will help guide our strategic marketing, business development initiatives and alliances.  We are thrilled to have him join Biz2Credit’s advisory board.”

Prior to joining HP, Slede founded a venture advisory practice in 2006 whose clients included two award-winning clean tech firms and a Lockheed Martin-funded startup accelerator.  In 2003, he launched a wellness business and, after delegating its management, became the CEO of a network security startup.  He also drove business development and industry alliances for a venture capital-backed software company.  

Slede first moved to Silicon Valley in 1999 to join Intel Corporation, creating a partner community for a new business group marketing Internet appliance systems.  Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions with energy company Elf Aquitaine’s venture capital arm in Paris and Stamford, CT, and with broadcaster Groupe RTL, where he led and became a board member of the first European pay-per-view television service.  He is a graduate of Paris’ HEC School of Management.

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About Biz2Credit

Founded in 2007, Biz2Credit http://www.biz2credit.com connects small business owners with lenders and service providers, thus empowering them to grow their enterprises. In just four years’ time, the company has arranged $400 million in lending to startups and growing businesses and currently processes 3,000 loan applications on a monthly basis. Biz2Credit matches entrepreneurs with credit solutions based on online profiles that can be completed in less than five minutes in a safe, efficient, price-transparent environment. Its network consists of 40,000+ users and 300 lenders, as well as credit rating agencies such as Equifax and Dun & Bradstreet and small business service providers including HP. Biz2Credit was ranked the top small business funding resource by Entrepreneur magazine in 2009.