Bud Colligan

Bud Colligan is CEO of South Swell Ventures, a private investment firm, located in Santa Cruz, CA.  He has had a distinguished career in business, non-profit organizations, public service and philanthropy.

In 1976, Colligan graduated cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown with a BSFS in International Economics.  In 1983, Colligan earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

That same year Colligan joined Apple as part of the team that launched the groundbreaking Macintosh personal computer.  He later headed Apple’s higher-education marketing group and grew revenues from $100 million per year to $1 billion during his tenure.  

Colligan served as CEO of Macromedia from 1992 to 1997, taking the company public on NASDAQ in 1993.  In 1996, Ernst and Young recognized Colligan as the “Software Entrepreneur of the Year.” During Colligan’s tenure, Macromedia’s annual revenues grew to more than $150 million. In 2005, Adobe Systems acquired Macromedia for $3.4 billion. 

Colligan was a partner at Accel Partners from 1998 to 2015, and focused on investments in software, digital media, education, mobile and cloud computing.  Colligan was an investor and board member at lynda.com (LinkedIn), CNET Networks (CBS Interactive), Brightmail (Symantec), Yodlee (Envestnet), and Days of Wonder (Asmodee).  In 2013, Colligan received the Outstanding Director award from the Silicon Valley Business Journal and San Francisco Business Times.

Colligan has been a community builder for more than 30 years focusing primarily on economic development and education.  Colligan co-founded Pacific Community Ventures (PCV) in 1998.  PCV pioneered a new kind of venture-philanthropy, integrating traditional investment, active support and impact measurement into its funding equation. PCV has raised and deployed more than $100 million in philanthropic and community-focused capital. These investments helped 3,000 California businesses to create or retain more than 30,000 jobs.  

In 2014, Colligan co-founded the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP), whose mission is to improve the economic health and quality of life for all residents in the Monterey Bay region.  In 2016, Colligan received California Forward’s Regional Steward Leader for his work at MBEP.  Colligan was also the first investor in and now sits on the Board of Advisors of Digital NEST, which provides access and creates opportunities for underserved youth to learn digital skills.

In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Colligan as California’s Senior Advisor for International Affairs and Trade.  In this capacity, he was responsible for California’s initiatives in direct foreign investment, trade, infrastructure development, and policy positions in international affairs.

An active supporter of Georgetown University, Colligan served from 1998 to 2015 on the Board of Visitors for the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.  He also served on Georgetown’s Board of Regents from 2003 to 2009.  In 2007, Colligan co-founded the Georgetown Technology Alliance (GTA) and served on its Board of Directors until 2015.  In 2013, Colligan received Georgetown’s John Carroll Award.

Colligan and his wife Rebecca support philanthropic endeavors in healthcare, the arts, education, affordable housing and environmental protection.  They live in Santa Cruz, CA and have three sons.