As the former Director for Advancing Innovation at the $2.8 Billion Kauffman Foundation, Dr. Valli’s exposure to cutting-edge best practices offers evidence-based experience that spans across the globe. This unique access provided a lens by which to observe the turbulent interchange of new enterprise and commercialization. Professional and personal ties have resulted in a significant social network."

Academia

Today’s global economy demands that academia integrate those individuals who have not only pursued the rigors of academic research, but also those who can demonstrate 'hands-on' experience in building entrepreneurial enterprise; the ability to leverage industrial ties; and the know-how to inspire others. 

Dr. Valli has passed through the gates of three of the top four ranked universities in the world (Shanghai 500, 2010): Berkeley (BA ’82); Stanford GSB (SEP ’95); and, Cambridge University (Ph.D. ’09). Dr. Valli’s Silicon Valley-based professional background in both investment banking and technology ventures, policy development at the Kauffman Foundation and academic domain focus; offers a unique skill-set. His Cambridge University Ph.D. thesis, "Building Investment Readiness for University Spin-Outs through Partnerships & Alliances" underscores his scholarly pursuit of entrepreneurship and new enterprise development. Currently at the University of Illinois, Dr. Valli leads the premier student consultancy in the United States (IBC). 

Dr. Valli is co-authoring a forthcoming book entitled Foundations of Entrepreneurship and New Enterprise underscoring self-efficacy; interdisciplinary interaction; and, public/private partnership. 

Book in the works: Where The Elite Like to Meet: Rising Divide of Plutocapitalism
Book in the works: The Science of Human and Institutional Excellence
Book in the works: Return on Leverage: Capturing Collaborative Capital