John Willis

Background

About John Willis

I started my career at Exxon, left Exxon to start a business. Not really a "startup" as defined today, but I did get to experience the sometimes painful learning process of creating and running a business. Creating, marketing, and selling a product is not something you learn at an oil company. But it worked out. I developed and licensed software to several oil companies, ultimately selling the software and re-joining the corporate world on the service company side. Later I was fortunate to join Oxy and get back to drilling oil wells. One of the great benefits of the oil business is the adventure of seeing lots of remote places around the world that tourists never see. And seeing the sobering reality of how too many people around the world barely survive. After many years of drilling and completions, I've moved onto Technical Ventures. Very interesting to look at all the innovative companies and technologies. I much appreciate the willingness of Founders to dive into the unknown on their first startup! My first and only wife and I have three wonderful children, all grown, married and gainfully employed, and 5 grandchildren. I'm a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and a Commercial - Instrument rated pilot.I started my career at Exxon, left Exxon to start a business. Not really a "startup" as defined today, but I did get to experience the sometimes painful learning process of creating and running a business. Creating, marketing, and selling a product is not something you learn at an oil company. But it worked out. I developed and licensed software to several oil companies, ultimately selling the software and re-joining the corporate world on the service company side. Later I was fortunate to join Oxy and get back to drilling oil wells. One of the great benefits of the oil business is the adventure of seeing lots of remote places around the world that tourists never see. And seeing the sobering reality of how too many people around the world barely survive. After many years of drilling and completions, I've moved onto Technical Ventures. Very interesting to look at all the innovative companies and technologies. I much appreciate the willingness of Founders to dive into the unknown on their first startup! My first and only wife and I have three wonderful children, all grown, married and gainfully employed, and 5 grandchildren. I'm a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and a Commercial - Instrument rated pilot. Activity