Rick Burnes
Founder and CEO, Charles River Ventures
Rick Burnes is the co-founder and CEO of Charles River Ventures, a venture capital firm dedicated to helping startups turn their ideas into real, viable businesses. Founded in 1970, Charles River Ventures takes a value-added approach to investing by providing entrepreneurs with access to more than just financial backing, such as offering its network of industry contacts or helping to build advisory boards for fledgling companies. At Charles River Ventures, Mr. Burnes’ investments have focused mainly in the fields of communications and information services. Among the noteworthy investments he has played a significant role in are: Cascade Communications, Chipcom Corporation, Epoch Systems, Abacus Direct, Summa Four, Concord Communications, Prominet, Aptis and Sonus Networks. Mr. Burnes holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Boston University, and an undergraduate degree in History from Harvard College. He serves as Chairman for the Boston Museum of Science and the Entrepreneur’s Foundation of New England, as well as Vice Chairman of Sea Education Association, and Director of The Boston Foundation.