Acton Scholars
Watch VideoLeo Welder
MBA 2004
Credentials:
- Co-founder and COO of Zilker Ventures, LLC
- Currently serves on two non-profit boards, Austin YMBL Sunshine Camps and The New Milestones Foundation, as well as on the EPIC Leadership Council
- MBA, Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship; B.B.A., Finance, B.A. Plan II, University of Texas
Leo developed a passion for entrepreneurship at an early age, starting his first business, a rock climbing guide service, at 20 years old. However, he believes it was his experience at Acton that set him on the path toward fulfilling his life-long goal of building a great business.
Leo chose Acton because he found every aspect of the program to be extremely compelling. “The professors all have great experience in entrepreneurship, which ensured that their combined perspectives would allow me to jump light years ahead on the business learning curve.”
The knowledge Leo took away from Acton has been invaluable to him as he uses it in every business decision he makes. “During case preparations and class discussions, I was exposed to almost every conceivable type of opportunity and problem that I will likely face during my life. These ‘simulations’ are the only way more than 20 years of business and life lessons can be condensed and imparted in two semesters of school. The program is exhausting, but so were most of the truly rewarding things I’ve done in my life.”
After Acton, Leo joined Leads Customers Growth in early 2005, and helped launch Apogee Search, a professional search engine marketing services firm, where he helped grow the company from four employees to 45 employees in two and a half years.
Leo then co-founded Zilker Ventures, a web publisher that owns and operates resource websites for small to medium sized businesses. He currently serves on two non-profit boards, The Young Men’s Business League of Austin and The New Milestones Foundation, as well as on the EPIC Leadership Council.