Steve Fredrick joined Grotech Ventures in 2005. He focuses on investments in software and services with a particular interest in security and big data. Steve currently works with Grotech portfolio companies ChurnZero, Human, Promoboxx, RackTop Systems, ShardSecure, Speedscale, Stardog, Tellius, ThreatBlockr and WireWheel. He is also responsible for the firm’s investments in Arcadia Power, Cognota, Notable Systems, Tidal Cyber and Vali Cyber. He was previously on the board of prior Grotech portfolio companies including BlackLynx, Parsley, ThreatConnect, Two Six Labs and Urjanet.

Steve’s career spans engineering, company building and early-stage investing. Prior to Grotech, he was a General Partner with Novak Biddle Venture Partners investing in early-stage software and communications equipment companies. Steve began his career in research and development with IBM and then joined a venture-funded software company in the document imaging space called Vantage Solutions, which was acquired in 1994. Steve subsequently co-founded software development firm MartinScott before moving to venture capital in 1997.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude, from Virginia Tech and was an Eastman Kodak Scholar. He taught for several years as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business and sits on the College of Engineering Advisory Board at Virginia Tech. Steve serves on the board of the National Venture Capital Association and is the 2012 recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from the NVCA for his work on the StartUpHire initiative. He is a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship and venture investing.