About
Brent Watts is the Founder and Managing Partner of 77 Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm supporting founders in Australia, with over 30 years of experience across technology, startups and investment in Australia, the United States and Europe. He was previously an Investor-in-Residence at Bee Partners in San Francisco, a founding team member and Head of Investment & Ventures at bluebox, the commercialisation company for the Queensland University of Technology, and has held roles at Boston University's Office of Technology Development and the Queensland Investment Corporation. Watts holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Engineering Science, and a Bachelor of Engineering, and has completed executive programs at the Haas School of Business, Y Combinator, and Kauffman Fellows / Techstars.
Experience
- 77 PartnersFounder & Managing Partnercurrent2020 — presentBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- AskableFounding Advisor / Investorcurrent2017 — presentBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ProcureProAdvisor / Investorcurrent2021 — presentBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Bee Partners.Investor-in-Residence2018 — 2025San Francisco Bay Area
- VALDFounding Advisor / Investor2014 — 2024Greater Brisbane Area
- VALDBoard Member2018 — 2019Greater Brisbane Area
- QUT (Queensland University of Technology)Head of Investment & Ventures2014 — 2019Greater Brisbane Area
- QUT (Queensland University of Technology)Head of Commercial Operations2010 — 2014Greater Brisbane Area
- QUT (Queensland University of Technology)Commercialisation Manager2007 — 2010Greater Brisbane Area
- Highway1Accelerator International Ambassador2015 — 2017San Francisco Bay Area
- Silicon Valley RoboticsRobot Launch International Ambassador2015 — 2017San Francisco Bay Area
- Boston UniversityNew Ventures & Investment Fellow2013Greater Boston
- Queensland Investment CorporationGlobal Private Equity & Venture Capital Associate2006 — 2007Greater Brisbane Area
- AusIndustryDeputy State Manager2003 — 2006Queensland, Australia
- AusIndustryManager2002 — 2003Queensland, Australia
- AusIndustryOfficer2002Queensland, Australia
- John Wilson & Partners (WorleyParsons)Project Engineer1999 — 2001
- RWTH AachenResearch & Development Engineer1998 — 1999Aachen, Germany
- GoldingConstruction Engineer1997 — 1998
- Burchills Engineering SolutionsDesign Engineer1996 — 1997
Education
- University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of BusinessVenture Capital Executive Program2016
- Y CombinatorStartup Investor Program2018
- VC LabVenture Capital Fund Accelerator2021
- Techstars / Kauffman FellowsVenture Deals Program2018
- Australian Institute of Company DirectorsCompany Directors Course Update2018
- International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) InstituteBusiness Incubation Management Certificate2015 — 2016
- Australian Institute of Company DirectorsCompany Directors Course2006
- QUT (Queensland University of Technology)Master of Business Administration - MBA2006 — 2008
- QUT (Queensland University of Technology)Master of Engineering - MEng2000 — 2005
- CQUniversityBachelor of Engineering - BE1995 — 1999
Skills & more
Strategic Planning25Leadership3Strategy11Management9Venture Capital12Start-ups33Entrepreneurship22Business Development13Investments11Portfolio Management4Private Equity9Commercialization18
+12 more
Technology TransferInnovationBusiness StrategyNew Business DevelopmentStrategic PartnershipsProduct DevelopmentProduct ManagementProject ManagementProgram ManagementProject PlanningContract NegotiationEngineering- Venture Deals — Kauffman Fellows Academy
From Brent's professional profile.
Colleagues at 77 Partners
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Brent Watts work?
- Brent Watts is Founder & Managing Partner at 77 Partners.
Same school
Also attended University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business581
Mark FiorentinoInvestor at Index VenturesRishi ModiInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Yibo NianInvestment Director at Intel CapitalZhenyu TangInvestment Director at Intel CapitalHariFellow at Clear VenturesDennisDirector of Trading at Pantera Capital
+ 575 more
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Maroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesVictor SantosVictor Scout at One Way VenturesSwapnil JainCEO, Observe.AI at EMERGENT VENTURESChase AdamPartner at Very Serious VenturesMuzzammil (MZ) ZaveriPartner at Audacious Ventures backing ambitious early-stage founders
+ 1,994 more
Also attended QUT (Queensland University of Technology)56
Esther GilmoreGlobal Head of the Client Team at Generation Investment ManagementSam EdenInvestor at Square Peg CapitalAndrew PoesastePartner at RampersandFredrik BergenlidPartner at Fly VenturesReuben BramaInvestor at IDEO CoLab VenturesWendy LamAdvisor at Chrysalix
+ 50 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Askable2
Also worked at Bee Partners.11
Jay SidhuAssociate at Catalyst InvestorsJocelyne CookeCFO at GFT VenturesLeo de LunaPartner at Tribeca Venture PartnersMichael T. BerolzheimerFounder and Managing Partner at Bee PartnersKira NoodlemanPartner at Bee PartnersTim SmithPartner at Bee Partners
+ 5 more
Also worked at QUT (Queensland University of Technology)10
Sam EdenInvestor at Square Peg CapitalPeter DevineInvestor at Beachhead Venture CapitalShane ArnottStrategic Advisor at Salus VenturesTimothy HuiPartner, Head of Operations at Mandalay Venture PartnersSally DillonCommunications & Content Manager at Radium CapitalAngela YoungAssociate at Mandalay Venture Partners
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