Todd Ortberg
Professor, Venture Capitalist, Entrepreneur, Musician, and Inventor
Summary
Todd Ortberg is an accomplished professional with a diverse background spanning venture capital, corporate executive leadership, and academia. He has held significant roles such as Senior Vice President of Strategic Development at Calix, CEO of Alvarri, and a Venture Capitalist at Coral Ventures, demonstrating expertise in M&A, private equity, and strategic growth across the telecommunications and technology sectors. He is currently a Professor of Practice at Iowa State University, teaching New Venture Financing. iastate+3
Beyond his extensive business career, Ortberg is a passionate and prolific musician and creative. He operates Fermata LLC Music and Theater Productions, where he composes, produces, and performs. His most notable recent project is "Poe: A Rock Musical," a passion project five years in the making that blends Edgar Allan Poe's gothic tales with rock music, which debuted in October 2024. He has released four records and has been actively involved in the Minneapolis music scene. iastate+2
Ortberg is also an inventor, holding 20 patents. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science from Iowa State University and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, providing a strong foundation for both his technical and entrepreneurial pursuits. mspmag+2