Kevin Vela is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, where he earned his B.A in Business Administration and J.D. with Honors.
Prior to law school, Kevin spent seven years in Dallas, working in finance and marketing. Although he began his career working for Fortune 500 companies, an entrepreneurial spirit led Kevin to pursue roles in several startup companies. Later, he started his own business, a test preparation company. Having scored in the top five percent on the GMAT, LSAT, and GRE, Kevin used his test taking expertise to help thousands of students increase their scores and gain admission to graduate school.
Kevin is active in the business and startup communities. He currently teaches two separate venture law courses at SMU Dedman School of Law as well as an entrepreneurship course at SMU Cox School of Business. Kevin is a mentor for RevTech Ventures, a leading venture fund and accelerator, and co-manages Blossom Street Ventures, a Dallas-based SAAS and software venture capital fund. He is also a part of the Dallas Business Journal Leadership Trust, a network of influential business leaders in Dallas, a board member of Digital Fight Club, and the Chairman of the Board of the Greenville Avenue Area Business Association (which puts on the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dallas).
Kevin is also active in promoting a responsible gaming agenda in Texas and is a board member of the Fantasy Sports Gaming Association.
Raised in Arlington, Kevin is an avid Dallas sports fan. Although he used to enjoy spending time at the local sporting arenas around town with his wife, Layla, they now spend most of their time pandering to their two children, Ariana and Arman.
Select Transactions
- General Counsel to numerous venture funds and accelerators
- Has facilitated over 600 Seed stage through C rounds ranging from $250k to $20M
- Represented defi SOLUTIONS in its $55M equity investment from Bain Capital Ventures and subsequent merger with Sagent Auto for an undisclosed sum
- Represented Modern Message in its exit to RealPage for an undisclosed sum
- Represented a California-based AI company in its $40M exit to a private equity firm
- Represented Olivia AI in its exit to Nubank, Ltd, a publicly traded company
- Represented a Dallas-based content platform in a $49M exit to a private equity firm
- Represented a Dallas-based software company in a $12M exit
- Represents dozens of DFS and Fantasy Sports Companies
Fun Facts:
- If you need a favor from Kevin, ask him on a day when one of his favorite teams, the Detroit Tigers, Mavericks or Cowboys, win.
- Can name every World Series Winner since 1970.
- Kevin’s entrepreneurial spirit began early on when he owned a beer vending machine after college.
- Was named “best cooker in the world” by Ariana Vela, then age 5.
Education:
- University of Texas Law School, J.D., Honors
- University of Texas at Austin, B.A., Business Administration
