- Surf Air valuation as of early 2022
$1.4B
Surf Air valuation as of early 2022
- People hired while launching Surf Air
100+
People hired while launching Surf Air
- Running Eyerly Consulting
10 yrs
Running Eyerly Consulting
- Current advisory roles with growing companies
7
Current advisory roles with growing companies
About.
Dave is a founder, advisor and investor based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with a background in startups, airlines and blockchain technology. He came up with the idea for Surf Air while studying at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, then launched it in Los Angeles as COO, Director of Safety and occasional pilot. He raised funding, hired more than 100 people, secured FAA licensing and put the first 3 aircraft in service in 2011.
Since then Dave has consulted for DealerSocket, directed UAV programs at the University of Florida, and advised companies including Whooshfly, Permit Rockstar, Robocor and UniDesk. Today he runs Eyerly Consulting, which helps disruptive ideas in highly regulated industries get to market, and leads AcceleratePV and Crosswater Capital, building an ecosystem of education, mentoring and funding connections for entrepreneurs in Ponte Vedra.
Track record.
- Launched Surf Air, a subscription airline out of Santa Monica, obtaining a Part 135 certificate and building its pilot, maintenance and dispatch operations
- Surf Air was valued at more than $1.4 billion as of early 2022
- As Director of UAV Programs at the University of Florida, oversaw UAV operations on hundreds of properties around the world
- Founder and CEO of AcceleratePV, an accelerator program in Ponte Vedra offering education, mentoring, networking and funding connections
- Has worked and advised on blockchain projects since 2018, including gas flare mining and using mining heat to warm greenhouses
Experience.
Founder and CEO
Crosswater Capital
2026 to Present · Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Soft landing, venture capital and angel network
Founder/CEO
AcceleratePV
2024 to Present · Ponte Vedra, Florida
Accelerator building an ecosystem for entrepreneurs
CEO/Founder
Eyerly Consulting
2016 to Present · Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Consulting for airlines, startups and regulated industries
Director of UAV Programs
University of Florida
2017 to 2017 · Gainesville Metropolitan Area
Advisor
Whooshfly
2016 to 2017 · Metro Jacksonville
Consultant
DealerSocket
2014 to 2016 · Ponte Vedra, FL
Consultant for all clients in the North Florida region
Chief Operations Officer
Surf Air
2011 to 2013 · Santa Monica, CA
Started a subscription airline flying Pilatus PC-12s
Customer Service Supervisor
Frontier Airlines
2011 to 2011 · DFW
Managed 45 people including ground crew and counter agents
What you can ask Dave about.
- Cofounding and operating an airline
- Running a startup accelerator
- Early stage founders on the First Coast
Education.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
BS, Aeronautics
Utah Valley University
BS, Aviation Science
Nobody builds alone.
Send Dave one specific question. It goes straight to their inbox.