Elena joined Corum in 2022 as a Data Researcher. Her responsibilities include performing various research tasks and preparing the research portion of Corum monthly webinars. Elena received a master's degree in Philology (English and German languages). Prior to joining Corum, she worked as a translator/editor in a Kharkiv translation agency, specializing in technical, financial, and legal translations from and into English, Russian and Ukrainian.

As a senior dealmaker with Corum Group, Ivan is currently working with several AI M&A candidates. Ivan has had a 30+ year career in the software business that has included virtually every senior executive role up to, and including, CEO. During that time, he has worked with several marquee software companies including Unix System Labs, BEA Systems, Novell and Borland – as well as several startups.

Ivan first started working with artificial intelligence in the mid 1980’s developing rule-based systems using LISP and Prolog. More recently, he has been involved with machine learning initiatives focused around predictive analytics and natural language processing.

Ivan has also led a WFS AI market spotlight webcast.

Joel Espelien has worked in a number of roles over a 25-year career in the technology industry and has participated in multiple successful transactions since joining Corum in 2017, including the recent sale of IoT smart logistics company Connected Holdings to Phillips Connect Technologies. Prior to Corum, Joel was involved in many successful technology M&A transactions, including video pioneer DivX LLC (acquired from Rovi and sold to Neulion), pet IoT company Snaptracs, Inc. (acquired from Qualcomm, merged with Whistle Labs, sold to Mars pet food), AI startup IQ Engines (acquired by Yahoo), AgTech IoT leader 640 Labs (acquired by Monsanto/Climate Corporation) and mobile video pioneer PacketVideo (acquired by NTT DoCoMo). Joel started his career as IP and corporate attorney at Cooley LLP in Palo Alto and San Diego, California and is still a member of the Bar in both Washington and California. He holds a JD/LLM (International and Comparative Law) from Duke University and a BA from St. Olaf College. Joel is also fluent in Spanish and has done business throughout Spain and Latin America. Joel is originally from Minnesota, lived for many years in San Diego, California and now resides in the Seattle area.