Ebetuel (Beto) Pallares was born in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, and raised in El Paso, He began his career as a management consultant focused primarily on the telecom industry. He’s also been a start-up entrepreneur, a telecom executive, and restaurateur, a nonprofit director, a venture capitalist, and a professor. Beto’s investment expertise is in seed and early-stage venture investments, as well as venture fund creation. He currently advises a family office on fund commitments and direct investments into private operating companies and is the general partner/fund manager of two funds. 

Beto enjoys being involved in entrepreneurial transformation, particularly in the Borderplex region, where he incorporates best-in-class mentorship, tech tools, and resources for start-up founders and aspiring investors. He taught entrepreneurship and strategic management at New Mexico State University where he held the Bill and Sharron Sheriff Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship (2018 to 2023). Beto is a Kauffman Fellow and a Presidio Fellow and over the years has served on the board of over two dozen private companies. He also serves on the board of Exagen, Inc. (NASDAQ: XGN). 

Beto holds a Ph.D. in International Business Strategy from the University of Texas at El Paso, in addition to an MBA. He received a B.A. in economics from Brandeis University. Beto frequently lectures internationally on topics ranging from tech ecosystem development and start-up mentorship. In his free time, Beto has fantasies of playing percussion with a touring salsa band and writing poetry in a dimly lit tavern. He is married to an amazing lady with whom he parents three very awesome girls.