When Jay Shaffer counsels founders of startup businesses, he knows what he’s talking about.
Having “been there and launched that” earlier in his career, Shaffer now advises startup founders as Chattanooga market director for VentureSouth. Based in Greenville, South Carolina, the early-stage venture firm’s angel investment network has invested more than $80 million in more than 100 companies.
“This is a great fit for me at this point in my career,” Shaffer says. “Wisdom comes from scar tissue. I’ve got the scar tissue from the startups I’ve been in, and I want to share that with founders. Hopefully I can impart some wisdom to start them on their path.”
Charlie Banks, a managing director for VentureSouth, says he and his colleagues are “huge fans” of Shaffer.
“Jay has energy, enthusiasm and is very much a champion for founders,” Banks says. “We’re very much return-focused — we have to be — and Jay has a great understanding of how that impacts founders. He’s incredibly smart and been a great resource.”