Fundraising Fox

Michael Panesis

Investor

Angel at Tech Coast Angels

Camarillo, California

Writes $5K – $50K checks · typically $25K

About

Michael Panesis is the Steven Dorfman Professor of Practice at California Lutheran University. He brings experience across software engineering, operations, product management, and business development roles in software, automotive, financial services, semiconductors, and manufacturing sectors. His background includes angel investing, founding and scaling ventures, and serving as founding executive in CTO, CIO, and COO positions.

Experience

  1. California Lutheran UniversitySteven Dorfman Professor of Practicecurrent2021 — presentThousand Oaks, California, United States
  2. California Lutheran UniversityExecutive Director, Steven Dorfman Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurshipcurrent2014 — presentWestlake Village, CA
  3. ICARUS AI E-LearningMember of the Board of Advisorscurrent2025 — present
  4. Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers - GCECBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
  5. KINGSMEN SHAKESPEARE COMPANYBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentThousand Oaks, California, United States
  6. Sensor IndustriesBoard Membercurrent2019 — presentGreater Los Angeles Area
  7. RCMakesBoard Membercurrent2017 — presentGreater Los Angeles Area
  8. PrismalBoard Member2021 — 2023Camarillo, California, United States
  9. SOCIETY FOR ARTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATIONBoard Member2019 — 2022
  10. Whistle Inc.Board Member2016 — 2022
  11. West Ventura County Business AllianceBoard Member2018 — 2022Camarillo, CA
  12. Santa Barbara Angel AllianceFounding Member2016 — 2020Santa Barbara, California Area
  13. Tech Coast AngelsPresident, Central Coast Network and Chairman Emeritus2008 — 2020Camarillo, CA
  14. UC Santa BarbaraEntrepreneurial Programs Manager2011 — 2014Santa Barbara, California Area
  15. Whitestone ResearchPrincipal2007 — 2010
  16. SemtechVice President, Information Technology2005 — 2007
  17. Whitestone ResearchVice President, Product Development2004 — 2005
  18. DealerTrackVice President, Division General Manager & CTO2001 — 2004
  19. Superior Information ServicesChief Information Officer1999 — 2001Trenton, NJ
  20. Church & Dwight, Inc.Director, Management Information Services1993 — 1999Princeton, NJ

Education

  1. Rutgers Business SchoolMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Marketing1985 — 1989
  2. Harvard Business SchoolCertificate in Artificial Intelligence for Teaching2025
  3. DeVry UniversityBachelor’s Degree, Computer Science for Business1981 — 1984

Skills & more

Board of Directors1Artificial Intelligence (AI)1University Teaching1Director levelProgram Management37Change Management1Program EvaluationCivil SocietyFundraising1Business InsightsEvaluation ToolsStrategic Vision
+12 moreProgram MonitoringAngel InvestingExecutive ManagementTurnaroundsStart-upsEntrepreneurshipSoftware EngineeringInnovation ManagementPublic SpeakingClarityFacilitationWriting

Languages English

  • Venture Deals — NovoEd

From Michael's professional profile.

Colleagues at Tech Coast Angels

Jeffrey C. Lapin, J.D.
Chairman of the Board of Govenors at Tech Coast Angels
Pete DiSalvo
Investor at Tech Coast Angels
Scott Fox
Investor at Tech Coast Angels

Frequently asked questions

Where does Michael Panesis work?
Michael Panesis is Angel at Tech Coast Angels.
What check size does Michael Panesis write?
Michael Panesis typically writes checks of $5K – $50K.

Same school

Also attended Rutgers Business School9

Dina RaabController at PeakSpan Capital PartnersLupe AugierOperations at How Women InvestWhitney CairnesDirector of Operations at Seraph GroupNavyaCredit Analyst at Dwight FundingDevesh RamchandaniAssociate Director, Investments at Brand Capital InternationalKarthik BupathiPartner at Arcanum Capital

+ 3 more

Also attended Harvard Business School1,969

Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter Capital; architect of Invest America; BG2 co-hostAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMike Maples JrCo-founding Partner at FloodgateMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner Perkins

+ 1,963 more

Also attended DeVry University4

Kazuhiro KobayashiHead of Japan at Sozo VenturesDavid RacichGeneral Partner at AcrylicRon BernalVenture Partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA)Carl EschenbachVenture Partner at Sequoia Capital

Shared employers

Also worked at Semtech1

Alistair FultonVenture Partner at Momenta Ventures

Also worked at DealerTrack2

Bryan LandermanInvestor at Silversmith Capital PartnersMike LaneBoard of Directors at Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET)

Also worked at Deloitte & Touche1,241

Kirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesHunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at HomebrewNancy WangInvestor at Felicis VenturesPatrick KartevollInvestor at InvestinorØysteinInvestor at InvestinorMinh DoAnalyst at Golden Gate Ventures

+ 1,235 more

Also worked at AT&T Network Systems (now Alcatel Lucent)118

Prashant ShahPartner at Monta Vista CapitalMark NelsonVenture Partner at Madrona Venture GroupBrad BurnhamPartner at Union Square Ventures (USV)Barmak MeftahGeneral Partner at Ballistic VenturesRoger ThorntonGeneral Partner at Ballistic VenturesAnupam RastogiManaging Partner at EMERGENT VENTURES

+ 112 more