National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) Board

Annette Finsterbusch

President/CEO, EnPower, Inc.; Entrepreneur in Residence, OralKeen

Annette is a serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of operating, management, and venture capital investing experience. Her career has been dedicated to driving growth and building value through successfully identifying, financing, and developing innovation into products and businesses in untapped markets. Her global corporate board experience spans multiple industries, including compound semiconductors, energy storage, lighting, advanced materials, 3-D printing, and the Internet-of-Things. Annette serves as President and CEO of EnPower, Inc.

In 2005, Annette founded Applied Ventures, the venture arm of Applied Materials. She was responsible for developing the venture group’s investment strategy and execution plan. She sourced, led, syndicated, and managed Applied Material’s investments while also managing a group of investment professionals. From 1996 to 2000, she was based in Russia, where she led Applied’s expansion into Eastern Europe, chartering Applied’s first office in Moscow.

Other notable positions include CEO of MindShadow.com (acquired); Investment Manager at DaimlerChrysler Venture Capital; and CEO of Ketra (formerly Firefly Green Technology) (acquired).

Annette has been a member of the National Science Foundation’s SBIR/STTR Advisory Committee since 2014 and was named the chair in 2019. She is a Kauffman Fellow, Class 11, where she was honored with the first annual Jeffrey Timmons Memorial Award. She is currently serving as a Mentor for Class 23.

Philanthropic Directorships include seats on the President of the Junior League of San Jose Endowment Fund, San Jose Opera, SJSU Global Leadership Advancement Center, and Los Gatos Rowing Club. Annette holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Geology and Economics from the University of Houston and an MBA from San Jose State University where she received the Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award in 2004.