About Us

Indie Ventures is the first stop for advertising and new media ventures and innovators - we deliver first funds, first partnership, first revenue stream.

Funding, validating and growing business has dramatically changed in the last 10 years. Seed money and a funding network are no longer enough to propel companies successfully into the market. Partnerships, business expertise and access to audiences are as valuable as the cash needed to write the code.

At Indie Ventures, we bring together funding, partnerships and business development in a new way to fuel company growth and success. Our experience and connections with top advertisers and technology innovators let us establish unique funding and business- building solutions through partnerships not available in the traditional lending arena.

With 30+ years of experience in funding, business development and partnership building, we know how to tap into growing demand for new businesses and media technologies that can reach customers via online, mobile and digital devices.

Whether you are a technology innovator, an advertiser or potential investor we look forward to sharing your vision and working together with you and your team in the near future.

Indie Ventures Mentoring Team

Joe Poletto

Joe Poletto founded and manages Indie Global, a San Francisco based advisory group which invests in media technology companies in the United States and abroad. Engagements include Ad Market Liquidity, Ad Predictive, Brandport (acquired by Live Gamer), imvu, Kinoma (acquired by Marvel), ScanScout (acquired by Tremor Media), SkyPop, YuMe Networks and Zendorse.

Previously, Joe was General Manager of US Advertising Sales for Microsoft’s MSN Network, where he and his staff directed all US advertising sales efforts and strategic partnerships.

Preceding his work at Microsoft, Joe served as Vice President of WebTV Networks, which was acquired by Microsoft in 1997. He was responsible for building and managing all non-subscription revenue streams and for defining innovative broadband services for cable and satellite network operators.

Prior to WebTV, Joe was Vice President of National Advertising Sales for HBO-Comedy Central, playing a central role in the network launch as well as in growing revenues. His advertising sales and business development career began with top media brands like the Madison Square Garden Network and the A&E Network.

John Barbera

As a senior executive with over 35 years of experience in the Cable TV industry, Internet, and broadcast television, John was one of the original team members hired by Ted Turner in 1978 to launch the world’s first commercial satellite network. John continued to work with Ted on developing the Cable News Network (CNN). During his 16 years with Turner Broadcasting, John worked to mold the early development of cable television - eventually rising to President, Turner Broadcasting Sales. John later served as President, 24/7 Real Media worldwide and he continues to advise media companies in the US and Asia.

J. William “Bill” Grimes

Bill Grimes' forty five year career includes (1) Corporate Executive (CEO of ESPN, Univision Holdings, Multimedia and Zenith Media, USA), (2) Private Equity Fund (Co-founder of BG Media, a $150 million, eight year New York-based media investment fund); and (3) ten year professor of "Media Economics" graduate school class at The New School in New York.

Bill has served on the Board of over fifteen media companies, including a number of "new media" firms as well as magazine, newspaper, cable system and radio station companies. Further, he has been Chairman of a public (NASDAQ) telecommunications company and served as Board member of two other listed companies. During the last three years he has served as Advisor to a major private company that provides mezzanine debt and equity to digital and traditional media/communications companies.

He lives in San Francisco and is currently completing his (thousand page) memoirs. He has been a guest speaker at San Francisco's Commonwealth Club. During the last two years Bill had travelled extensively throughout Southeast Asia.

Thomas L. Sheer

Thomas L. Sheer is a former Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and was also head of its New York office. Tom is an internationally recognized expert in law enforcement, counter-terrorism, crisis management, competitive intelligence and internal regulatory compliance. He gained his expertise from his 28 years of service in the FBI and the United States Marine Corps.

After retirement from the FBI, Tom has held executive management positions in the private sector for such companies as W.R. Grace and Company and Mirage Casinos and Resorts.