About Dan

Dan is the founder of Caruso Ventures, the most catalytic tech investor in Colorado, partnering with entrepreneurs in quantum, space, AI, and creative sectors. He hosts the Bear Roars podcast, authored the book Bandwidth, and wrote the song Stretch. He appeared in the film Our Quantum Future. Dan is co-founder and Board Chair of Boulder Roots Music Fest, and supported the Sundance Film Festival's move to Boulder.

Dan is a three-time tech entrepreneur who built industry-defining digital infrastructure companies that went public, including Zayo Group (founder) and Level 3 Communications (a founding executive). He was an investor and interim CEO of the quantum company Infleqtion, which went public in 2026.

Dan's investment portfolio includes Agile Space Industries, Bifrost Electronics, Spiridellis Bros Studios, Stealth Space Company, Boom Supersonic, Maybell Quantum Industries, Atom Computing, and Noctal.

Dan supports Endeavor Colorado, Elevate Quantum, and UChicago Polsky Center. His honors include the Chicago Booth Distinguished Alumni Award, the Colorado Governor's Citizenship Medal, and the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts' John Madden, Jr. Leadership Award.

As a graduate of the University of Illinois (B.S., Mechanical Engineering) and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA), Dan has returned to both as a commencement speaker. He addressed the Grainger College of Engineering in 2019 and the CU Boulder MBA program in 2020, and will deliver the University of Chicago commencement in June 2026.