Managing Partner, Fuse Capital
Over the past 25 years, Roland Van der Meer has built a reputation for passion, dedication and insight into revolutionary ventures to change the way the world operates. As a strategist, investor or in his role as an engineer, Roland has consistently applied a unique talent for identifying and capitalizing on new frontiers. He brings nearly three decades of experience in the communications, media, technology and infrastructure sectors, to his position as a Managing Partner of Fuse Capital, a Silicon Valley leader in new media. In 1987 thru 2007, Roland was a General Partner and co-founder of its predecessor, ComVentures, a successful investment firm.
Roland engages in personal and professional endeavors that align with his values and interests. He is known to transform entrepreneurial ventures because of his education, experience and personal commitment to challenge established norms and find opportunity in untapped markets. He is particularly interested in ventures that bring finance, technology and sustainability into practical application to change how people interact and live.
He is a member of the board of directors of several companies committed to improving technology, community and environmental assets across the globe: Quantia Communications (improving physicians’ knowledge), Sensys (improving road and highway efficiency), and BioLogical Capital (large-scale land restoration and environmental enhancement).
Roland has been recognized for his ability to create innovative business and economic models, apply sophisticated creative problem solving, and infuse genuine enthusiasm to management teams. His understanding of key industry trends has resulted in realized investments of $180 million and returns of $750 million on 37 companies in the communications, media, technology and infrastructure sectors. He was one of the few venture investors to have invested in and helped create three (companies with multi-billion dollar outcomes) in Pair Gain, Broadcom and Chromatis. His ability to anticipate that the digital revolution would create a new set of transmission and switching companies to break into the carrier equipment space, led to his identification of Internet protocol trends and anticipated migration of applications to IP networks.
Roland spent several years at Hambrecht & Quist Venture Partners. He began his career as a well-respected engineer with GTE Labs and Sprint. Roland holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School.
