Michael Madison

Michael has an MBA from UC Berkeley, an MS in electrical engineering from Stanford University and a BS in computer engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he was a Meyerhoff Scholar graduated first in his department. 

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He returns to UC Berkeley to mentor students and help teach students in entrepreneurship in the EWMBA program. He is also an advisory board member for UMBC's College of Engineering and Information Technology and was named in the Silicon Valley Business Journal's 2009 Top 40 Under 40 list. Michael serves on the Board of Directors for the Level Playing Field Institute and the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE).

Michael is the founder of Cocoon Ventures, a venture firm with support from Mitsubishi's Innovation Kitchen in Tokyo. Cocoon Ventures focuses on early stage cross-border investments between Japan and the US as well as university-oriented venture models. 

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Before Cocoon, Michael managed deal flow and was a portfolio company problem-solver at The Angel's Forum/Halo Funds. Earlier, Michael was a Statistical Analyst and QA Tools lead at Tellme Networks (acquired by Microsoft), while simultaneously completing his MBA at UC Berkeley. In 2001 he founded Noble Science, a virtual surgery company that trained surgeons with an immersive 3D environment with tactile feedback. Michael also brings technical and strategic experience spanning: particle physics, medical simulation, videogames, flight simulation, supercomputer management, semiconductor design, telecom/VoIP, radiography, consumer electronics and consumer Internet. 

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Michael started writing software in the 2nd grade, and by the time he started junior high, he was a code contributor to NASA Langley's supercomputer management systems. He was recently named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal's 2009 Top 40 Under 40 list.

Michael is a member of Kauffman Fellows Class 12, and served his fellowship under mentor Phil Schlein at the Angels' Forum/Halo Fund and Jeff Daley at Mitsubishi/Cocoon Ventures.