Erik Moore is the founder and Managing Director of Base Ventures. Smack dab in the middle of the booming Bay Area tech scene, with Zappos.com entrepreneur Tony Hsieh as his next-door neighbor, Erik discovered his love for angel investing. He was among the first to invest in Zappos in 1999, which Amazon purchased for $1.2 billion. For the next twelve-years, Erik worked as a Merrill Lynch bond trader by day and an angel investor by night. Erik ultimately realized he could do more to change the world and spur innovation by investing in young entrepreneurs full-time. After a rewarding fifteen-year career in investment banking, Erik secured an early retirement from Merrill Lynch in 2011. He promptly created Rule LX, a successful special-purpose investment fund, offering a unique, discrete investment opportunity. Base Ventures takes the success of Rule LX and runs with it. Erik brings to Base Ventures—a passion for ensuring that great ideas see the light of day, an impressive investment track record, business experience as the co-founder of Flick Launch, and the connections to open doors and make dreams come true. After earning a B.A. from Dartmouth College, Erik earned dual graduate degrees---an M.B.A. from the Wharton School and an M.A. in International Studies-French from the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He speaks fluent French. Erik is deeply involved in his community. He serves on the board of the East Bay College Fund, mentors at-risk youth and much more.OZY:Rising Stars-VC (base ventures profile)http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars-and-provocateurs/erik-moore-the-mania-for-more/30187.articleUSA Today:Networking on the road - Erik Moorehttp://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/07/06/erik-moore-never-misses-a-chance-to-network/2495253/Business Insider:The 25 Most Influential Blacks In Techhttp://www.businessinsider.com/most-influential-blacks-in-technology-2013-4#10-erik-moore-16