Tom Serres

Piryx Inc

Piryx, a fundraising platform that ties together online commerce and realtime giving. It offers turn-key solutions that can be as easy as launching a blog or deeply integrated into any product; turning your social graph into a fundraising opportunity

• Startup type: Company
• Status: Active
• Stage: Growth

Passion and vision motivate Tom Serres. With a background in Marketing at the University of Texas, he uses both to make a difference. Serres teamed up with three college buddies to form technology startup Piryx, a social commerce platform designed to leverage the internet and social networks for processing funds, driving sales, and managing internet fundraising campaigns.

Tom is a seasoned technology professional, specializing in digital strategy and leveraging new media technologies. He has consulted for political campaigns, from the smallest levels of government to federal and statewide offices, corporations, and non-profits. He was named a 2009 rising political star by Politics Magazine, awarded with the title of "40 under 40" in 2009 by the New Leaders Council, and is a CNN Political Technology Expert in Washington, DC. In 2008 Tom was nominated as a semi-finalist for INC. Magazines 30 under 30 award for his work at Piryx, and was a semi-finalist for the 2008 National Social Innovation Competition at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Tom has received recognition from the Singularity Institute, Discovery Channel, ABC News, The Austin American Statesman, Politics Magazine, CNN Domestic, CNN International, CNN Online, Venture Beat, and Fox News & Fox News Austin.

When things slow at work, Tom's probably hanging out in Austin's coveted greenbelt, mentoring student entrepreneurs from the University of Texas, or engaging in his desire to study and learn Mandarin Chinese. He has a passion for giving back, and is highly involved in the community. He's the founder of a non-profit called Texas Ventures, an organization designed to develop and train young budding entrepreneurs. He’s also an active member of The National Eagle Scout Association, is a member of The Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.