Company Info for helloalice.com | IcebreakerMembers
Zaw is the CEO and Co-Founder of Exer, on a mission to help millions of people move, train, and play better using the power of AI. Previously, Zaw was a Founding Partner at Signia focused on early-stage tech investing and on creating a new model of venture capital. He helped start Signia in 2012 and led investments across 3 funds.
Zaw is a veteran entrepreneur / investor who has been at the forefront of new technology and starting companies since the age of 19. Zaw was the founder and CEO of 4INFO, one of the first and largest mobile advertising platforms in the world. Business Week recognized him as one the "Mobile Barons" helping to shape the mobile ad industry since 2004. In 2011, Zaw was selected as one of ten entrepreneurs to serve on the United Nations Foundation's inaugural Global Entrepreneurs Council, where he is now an Emeritus Member of the board.
Zaw is the Chairman & Founder of Palindrome Advisors, a nonprofit he launched in 2011 with a mission to change how leaders give back. Over 300 elite business leaders that have taken Palindrome Pledge and are matched with nonprofit boards. He also works with numerous other nonprofits including #climate, After School All Stars, the San Francisco SPCA, and Polar Promise. Zaw studied Political and Computer Science at Stanford, where he was a President's Scholar. He received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was a Soros Fellow and the youngest graduate in the school's history. 
As founder of Hello Alice, an entrepreneur’s passport through small business, I serve as an advocate for inclusive entrepreneurship. I work alongside governments, corporations, foundations and ecosystem builders to connect women, minority, veteran and other underrepresented entrepreneurs to the capital, resources, mentors and partners needed to fuel their growth. An entrepreneur myself, I've helped raise billions of dollars in capital through my work as an investment banker for JPMorgan and as founder of Cake Communications, an interactive marketing agency serving companies around the world. I served as a board member for the Texas A&M Mays College of Business, a United Nations Global Accelerator delegate, and TEDx speaker. Other honors include an American Express Micro to Millions award, Sam Walton Emerging Entrepreneur, Entrepreneur Magazine 2016 "Woman to Watch" and Inc. Magazine "17 Inspiring Women of 2017." I've also testified before the Congressional Committee on Small Business in a hearing titled, "“Empowering Small Businesses: The Accelerator Model” in May 2017. Fast Company named Hello Alice's accelerator, Circular Board, "The Fastest-Growing Accelerator for Women and Minorities." I laugh constantly thanks to my husband and two children, and have a long-standing love of cookies. My future is a question mark I can’t wait to discover. 
I design better businesses and experiences at the intersection of product, technology, marketing, and leadership. As Chief Product and Technology Officer at Hello Alice, I lead initiatives that connect small businesses with capital and opportunities, serving over 1.5 million entrepreneurs through our Business Health Engine and community platform.
My approach combines human-centered design with strategic thinking to create solutions that work for real people. This has shaped successful products and programs at Hello Alice, where we're focused on equitable access to capital and resources for diverse entrepreneurs.
Beyond my current role, I've:
* Served as President of the Houston Interactive Marketing Association (HiMA)
* Taught UX and Design Thinking at the University of Houston
* Built and led teams through major technological transitions
→ I author Kenzie Notes, a weekly newsletter exploring thoughtful approaches to building better businesses, drawing from my experience across the full spectrum of creating successful products.
Areas of focus: Product Strategy & Management • User Experience Design • Technology Leadership • Enterprise Software • Artificial Intelligence & Ethics • Strategic Partnerships • Innovation Management • Change Leadership • Business Intelligence • Web & Mobile Strategy
I'm always open to growing my network and learning from others. Feel free to connect with me here on LinkedIn, or reach out on Instagram (@kelseyruger) or X (@kelsey_ruger). 
