Bill Robbins, General Manager, is the founder of Convergent Ventures, a group of private of companies focused on the funding, development, and management of technology-based start-ups. Bill is also an avid cyclist and downhill skier who spent his college years enjoying the mountains and wilderness of northern New England. Having amassed a wealth of experience in technology commercialization, product management, business development, strategic partnering, marketing, and sales during his career, Bill sought a way to apply his professional expertise while pursuing his outdoor passions.

At the 2010 Interbike Show in Las Vegas, while strolling row upon row of cycling gear and accessories, Bill happened upon an unusual product demonstration that involved a bowling ball, a length of clear plastic pipe, standing on end; a concrete platform, some protective pads, and M&Ms (yes, those M&Ms). Right then and there, in the time it took for a 12 lb. bowling ball to drop three feet through the plastic pipe onto a little “Fun Size” bag of M&Ms nestled between two thin, unabashedly yellow pads made of reactive polymer, Bill found what he was looking for: a gutsy, technology-based start-up company called G-Form, LLC, with a truly novel product. After two prior business “experiments” in the cycling industry, the first involving CNC-machined bike parts, and the second, involving imported bicycle frames, Bill felt in his gut that G-Form had a winner.

Ensuing business discussions with G-Form, followed by months of personal test-selling of G-Form’s protective pads at bike retailers in Southern California and ski and snowboard shops in the Colorado Rockies, were so encouraging that Bill did something that was both radical, and second-nature: he started a sales management company, Convergent Cycling & Performance Products, to help take G-Form’s products into retail cycling, snow sports, and other sports and recreation sales channels throughout the U.S.

Bill has written several books on technology start-ups and seed-stage investing. He earned his M.B.A. at Columbia Business School and his A.B. at Dartmouth College.

Kate Hawkes, Sales Operations Manager, manages client relations and provides inside sales support and administration for Convergent’s national sales network. Kate has honed her expertise in business development, finance, vendor relations, human resources and corporate matters at Convergent Management, Inc. (parent of Convergent Cycling & Performance Products) and at portfolio companies of Convergent Investors, LLC. Previously, Kate was Manager, Finance and Administration at Neurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a portfolio company of Convergent Investors. Prior to joining Neurion, Kate was a Financial Analyst at Accenture LLP.

While at Convergent, Kate also did start-up work in the sports apparel business, evaluating the market opportunity and identifying suppliers for a designer of stylish golf apparel.

Kate earned a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Claremont McKenna College

Linda Whitehead, Sales Coordinator, provides both inside and outside sales support for Convergent’s sales network. She also supports the development of sponsorship opportunities as an avenue of expanding growth of the G-Form market.

With many years of experience as a marketing/communications professional, Linda has worked in management positions for corporations including PacifiCare Health Systems and UniHealth, and worked as a consultant/independent contractor for companies including Blue Cross of California, Kaiser Permanente, and Hughes.

Linda earned a B.J. in Journalism from the University of Missouri and a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.