Mitch Jacobson

Director Advisor

Mitch Jacobson is a Senior Advisor to Discovery to Impact and the Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin. He has stepped down from the leadership position of The Austin Technology Incubator, NSF SW I-Corps Node, and the Blackstone LaunchPad at UT Austin. Mitch has joined the Board of Directors of InSpire Semiconductor(INSP) and Vitro.io. Mitch's career spans over 43 years and includes extensive experience in executive management, sales management, sales, marketing, operations, venture investing, tech transfer, and entrepreneurial education & consulting. 

Prior to joining the University of Texas at Austin and ATI in 2009, he served in various senior positions at Tech Data Corporation, Dell Technologies, and Tandy Corporation. At Tech Data he was General Manager and Vice President of Sales and was responsible for a $7b P&L. At Dell he served as Director of Rest of World, Director of European Sales & Expansion, and Director of Dell Direct US Sales. In-between Tech Data and ATI, Mr. Jacobson founded one of the first angel investment groups in Austin, TX - The Eyes of Texas Partners which he ran with his partners for 8 years. 

In addition to his corporate board work, Mr. Jacobson serves as the Chairman of the Board of Pecan Street, Inc and is on the Board of Directors of the Austin Community College Foundation, and the Texas Foundation of Innovative Communities. He also serves on the Advisory Boards of the National Association of Corporate Directors, Texas Alternatives Foundation Advisory, The Nature Conservancy, CleanTX, EcoRise, and The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce. He has also received numerous awards including being selected as a Fellow of the World Confederation of Productivity Science, Austin Chamber's Volunteer of the Year in Economic Development, Austin's Mentor of the Year and Who's Who in Energy.

Mitch received his B.A. from the University of Florida Warrington Business School, graduating with honors and participated in the MBA Program at the University of South Florida.