Private Equity Professionals to Know 2025

Jay Sunde is an accomplished entrepreneur with deep experience across multiple industries. He began his career in financial analysis, producing complex forecasts and strategic projections for regional and national companies in commercial real estate, residential real estate, and healthcare. Driven by an entrepreneurial mindset, Jay founded a custom homebuilding company in his mid-20s and grew it into a multi-million-dollar business, developing both custom and speculative homes throughout central North Carolina. During the 2008 housing crisis, he successfully pivoted by acquiring two pool and spa retail and service companies. He scaled both operations, overseeing all aspects of the businesses, and later exited through sales in 2012 and 2018. Since 2009, Jay and his wife, Danielle, have partnered to launch, grow, and acquire preschools, daycares, and elementary schools across the Southeast. Along the way, they also acquired the commercial real estate occupied by their schools and built a growing portfolio of residential real estate holdings. Today, their education platform generates more than $5 million in annual revenue, employs over 70 team members, and serves nearly 500 families. Jay is active in numerous entrepreneurial and small business organizations and, for the past eight years, has consistently mentored and advised founders, business buyers and sellers, and individuals seeking greater financial and time freedom through business ownership.

I'm a specialist commercial finance broker with 16 years of experience helping Australian business owners access commercial property finance. As founder of Smart Business Plans, I've overseen $550 million in commercial finance across more than 3,300 clients, with a 92% approval rate working across a panel of 60+ specialist lenders. My expertise sits at the intersection of commercial property, business finance, and wealth strategy — particularly for small to medium business owners looking to buy their own premises, invest through their SMSF, or fund development projects. I work exclusively in the commercial space, which means I specialise where the major banks often can't or won't go. I'm also the author of The Premise Effect (2026), which makes the case for why Australian business owners are leaving millions on the table by renting rather than owning their business premises. I'm available to comment on: commercial property finance, SMSF borrowing, business lending, commercial mortgage rates, Australian property market trends, and small business wealth building.

Raising capital is broken for most teams: investor lists are random, decks read like brochures, and leadership spends months in “fundraising mode” without leverage or real investor demand. Whether you’re a startup, a private company, a listed business or a fund, the outcome is the same: Weak terms, dragged‑out timelines and an uncomfortable dependence on luck and introductions. As Partner at spectup, a capital advisory firm with $120M+ raised across startups, private and public companies and funds, the focus is to fix exactly that. What I do: → Structure capital raises and private placements so the deal is clear, credible and easy to underwrite → Build institutional‑grade materials (pitch decks, memos, narratives) that stand up in IC rooms → Run targeted investor outreach using a tech‑enabled engine and an active capital network My background: → Operator side: worked inside a unicorn (N26) and with BMW’s startup / innovation programs, seeing how growth and corporate decision‑making actually work → Capital side: years of working directly on fundraising, investor materials and dealflow for companies and funds across multiple stages This mix means your story, numbers and “fundability” are pressure‑tested before you walk into high‑stakes investor conversations. I’m also the host of Deal Makers (& Fakers): → A podcast where founders, operators and fund managers unpack the real stories behind their raises → Deals that closed, deals that died, and the signals serious capital actually responds to right now

Jake Geiger has expertise in financial modeling, investment evaluation, and strategy. With a background working in family offices, private equity, and his own company, he has a proven track record of leading teams to assess international business opportunities and drive growth. Jake specializes in business valuation, financial analysis, and strategic development. He is available to provide expert insights on family offices, strategy/management, and alternative investments.

Experienced Partner with a demonstrated history of working in the capital markets industry and business consulting. Skilled in Equities, Capital Markets, Corporate Taxation, Business Consulting. Serial Entrepreneur. Interested in Digital Marketing and Value Investing.

I’m a fee-only fiduciary financial adviser, chief investment officer and founder of Cedar Point Capital Partners, where I help executives, business owners, and affluent families navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and discipline. I regularly comment on investment strategy, retirement planning, tax-aware wealth management, and how households actually manage cash, risk, and returns in real-world markets. My perspective centers on long-term thinking, realistic return expectations, and minimizing the practical risks that often drive outcomes during periods of market stress or transition. I’ve been featured in national and regional media on topics including retirement policy, savings strategies, and fiduciary excellence. As you may expect given my role, I am registered as an Investment Adviser Representative with Cedar Point Capital Partners LLC, a registered investment adviser. The perspectives I share here or in any media I provide commentary in are general in nature and not intended as individualized investment advice. For more information, please visit: https://www.cedarpointcap.com/disclaimers-disclosures/

Ateis Patrimoine est un cabinet parisien de gestion de patrimoine reconnu pour son excellence et son indépendance. Grâce à des accréditations parmi les plus exigeantes du secteur, nous vous garantissons un accompagnement totalement objectif et personnalisé. Chaque conseiller Ateis Patrimoine est certifié CIF, COSB, COA, détient la carte T et possède toutes les compétences juridiques nécessaires. Cette expertise complète nous permet de figurer parmi les rares cabinets français capables de travailler en véritable architecture ouverte, en sélectionnant pour vous les solutions les plus performantes du marché. Nos conseillers disposent en moyenne de 15 années d’expérience acquises au sein de grands cabinets et établissements bancaires français. Notre démarche est simple : analyser votre situation, comprendre vos ambitions, puis vous présenter des stratégies sur mesure, transparentes et réellement adaptées à vos objectifs. Nous vous guidons ensuite dans la mise en place des meilleures solutions pour optimiser durablement votre patrimoine. Avec Ateis Patrimoine, bénéficiez d’un conseil premium, indépendant et intégralement conçu pour vous.

Peter Reagan is a respected financial strategist at Birch Gold Group with more than 15 years of experience in the precious metals market. His market commentary has been featured in outlets including Newsmax, ZeroHedge, and GoBankingRates. At Birch Gold Group, he helps investors understand how gold and other precious metals can strengthen long-term financial security. His clear guidance and commitment to education have made him a trusted voice in an evolving economic landscape. Known for his practical approach and genuine commitment to investors’ success, Peter makes financial concepts feel accessible and empowering. He brings clarity to uncertainty, helping people make confident decisions about their future. Whether sharing insights in the media or supporting clients one-on-one, he remains focused on education, integrity, and building lasting trust with those he serves.

"My Aim is to Offer Educational Insights into Complex Financial Topics."As an entrepreneur and founder, I'm committed to enhancing financial literacy and independence among the UK's older population. My mission is to simplify and clarify personal finance information, particularly in the context of later-life planning.

I am the founder of Lafleur Wines, a Swiss-based boutique advisory focused on fine wine as an investment asset. I write and publishe market commentary on wine pricing, scarcity and provenance, portfolio construction, and the macro forces that shape demand across Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and Piedmont. Drawing on a background in philosophy and literature, I combine clear analysis with narrative depth, translating complex market dynamics into practical, decision-ready insights for collectors and investors.

I am the Founder of Dholera Smart City Solutions and a specialist Dholera SIR Real Estate Consultant, helping investors, homebuyers, and businesses secure high-value residential, commercial, and industrial properties in India’s fastest-growing smart city — Dholera SIR. With in-depth knowledge of Dholera’s development plans, government approvals, infrastructure updates, and investment hotspots, I provide transparent, data-driven guidance to ensure safe, profitable, and future-ready real estate decisions. I assist clients with: • Residential plots in TP1, TP2, and the Activation Zone • Commercial land near the Expressway, Metro, Airport, and major transport corridors • Industrial land with government approvals • Legal support, plot verification, and accurate pricing insights Why Dholera SIR? As a key node of the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Dholera offers world-class infrastructure, mega projects like the International Airport, Metro, and Expressway, and clearly defined investment zones that attract global interest and deliver strong long-term appreciation. Why work with me? • Strong network within the Dholera real estate ecosystem • Transparent guidance backed by verified data • Proven track record of securing high-return plots for clients If you’re exploring investment opportunities in Dholera — residential, commercial, or industrial — I can help you identify the right property at the right price with maximum growth potential.

Jean Vacca: Padel Authority & Tech Founder, Analyzing France's Explosive Market Jean Vacca is the founder of Padelnow, a leading platform designed to solve the number one frustration for players in France's booming padel market: the chaotic and time-consuming process of organizing matches. A former tennis player turned passionate padel advocate, Vacca experienced firsthand how endless WhatsApp groups and booking difficulties were keeping players off the court. He transformed this problem into a technological solution, positioning himself at the center of the sport's rapid expansion. As the lead analyst behind the forthcoming "State of Padel in France 2025" report, Vacca offers data-driven insights into a market experiencing exponential growth. France is a key European market for padel, with projections for early 2025 showing an excess of 3,000 courts and a player base surpassing 500,000. Vacca's comprehensive 40-page annual analysis serves as a crucial tool for the French padel ecosystem, guiding key decisions for investors, club owners, and brands. Journalists seeking expert commentary on the business, technology, and future trends of padel in France are invited to connect with Jean Vacca for unique insights and authoritative data. Topics for media commentary include: - The State of Padel in France 2025: Exclusive insights from the annual 40-page report on market size, player demographics, growth projections, and investment opportunities. - From Chaos to Connectivity: How technology is solving the logistical pain points (matchmaking, court booking) for a rapidly growing player base and what it means for the sport's future. - Market Growth & Saturation: Analyzing the opportunities and challenges presented by France's exponential growth in players and infrastructure. - Investment & Infrastructure Trends: Expert analysis on the most promising regions for growth, the evolution of padel clubs, and the impact of major events like the Premier Padel tour. - Player Behavior & Retention: A deep dive into what keeps padel players engaged, the importance of balanced matchmaking, and how digital solutions are key to sustaining the sport's momentum.

Yates Jarvis is the founder of 2 Visions, an ecommerce strategy consultancy that works with consumer brands at $5M to $500M+ in annual revenue. Directs $500MM+/yr. Clients range from founder-led companies to global brands with established marketing leadership. The firm delivers strategy and execution across six capability areas: strategic direction, market research, growth marketing, customer experience, operational data, and executive coaching, all through a direct weekly working relationship. No junior staff. No handoffs. Yates is the strategist on every engagement. The firm's model is built on capability transfer, not dependency. Clients own every strategy, process, and improvement. Before founding 2 Visions in 2017, Yates co-owned ScoutAdvisor, a predictive analytics company adopted by 19 Major League Baseball teams, the same data-driven work popularized in Moneyball. He also served as a technology expert for a Washington DC television news syndicate (segments aired to 1B+ viewers via CCTV) and led a Shopify Platinum agency (2x Inc. 5000) with an ecommerce portfolio surpassing $400M in annual revenue. He holds an MS in Organization Development & Change Management from Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, BA from Wake Forest, and is certified in executive coaching. Documented client results include revenue lifts of 47% to 816%, CAC reductions of 20% to 50%, and organic traffic increases of 130% to 350%. Named clients include Jeep, Spanx, Ancient Nutrition, Lifeway, Express, Sam Ash, Kay Jewelers, Elsevier, and The Golf Warehouse. Yates has been quoted in The New York Times, Digital Commerce 360, and Specialty Retailer, is a Forbes Agency Council contributor, and author of the 2025 Consumer Electronics Ecommerce Market Research Report and other original consumer research cited by Shopify, RetailWire, CXM Today, Bitly, CXL, and Retail See. The firm has received global Top Ecommerce Consulting recognition from Clutch, the Netty Awards, and the Ecommerce Awards London. He is based in Charleston, South Carolina. Topics: ecommerce growth strategy, go-to-market strategy, DTC and B2B-to-DTC transition, DTC product R&D, conversion optimization, brand positioning and marketing strategy, agency alternatives, AI's impact on ecommerce operations, consumer behavior research, predictive analytics in ecommerce, multi-year ecommerce transformation planning.

Dr. Igor Ryabenkiy is an author, entrepreneur and investor. He signed his first angel check in 1998 and founded AltalR Capital in 2005 to support early stage companies across the US, Europe and Israel. With $600 million in AUM, AltaIR Capital has invested in over 400 tech companies across B2B SaaS, Future of Work, FinTech, InsureTech, and Digital Health. Its portfolio includes 10+ unicorns, most of which (Miro, Deel, PandaDoc, OpenWeb, Socure, Turing, Fundamental, etc.) were backed at an early stage. In 2025, AltaIR Capital was ranked among the Top 2.5% venture capital firms in EMEA by Dealroom as part of its Power Law Investor Ranking, which evaluates over 22,000 investors based on portfolio outcomes. Igor Ryabenkiy also founded AltaClub, a global investor community, and AltaLab, a program that helps founders think clearly and build better. He is the author of books Adventures in Venture Capital and Unicorn Focus.

James Vanreusel spent 8 years with a Wall Street investment bank. He generated around $8 Million in annual sales through his relationships with hedge and mutual funds, before moving into private equity and asset management. After leaving Wall Street, he became a CFA Charterholder and went on to found three microfinance banks in the South Pacific. He also created a holding company based in Singapore that delivered growth at 600%. In 2014, he moved to San Francisco and set up Vanreusel Ventures: a team of CFO consultants and financial analysts, working with for-profit and non-profit clients across the US. They help emerging companies to grow and scale, by building teams and systems that will expand with the business. All while developing the finance skills and mindset of the CEO. The result is a framework to see the business through the early years, in readiness for its first full-time CFO. The #1 Key To Creating A Thriving Business is James’ first book – drawing on the first 20 years of a career that’s taken him deep into the world’s financial markets. Here is a link for your free book: https://vanreuselventures.com/free-book/

Noted futurologist for predicting the future of consumer technologies, consumer behavior, and marketing technology. Successful predictions including Bitcoin, Game Streaming, and LLM-AI chat technology. Entrepreneur and SEO with over 30 years of experience helping thousands of companies build and grow their revenues with marketing.

Jean-Pierre "JP" Conte is the founder and managing partner of Lupine Crest Capital, a family office focused on private market investments across healthcare, financial services, software, and industrial technology. A graduate of Colgate University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1985, and Harvard Business School, where he received his MBA in 1989, Conte brings decades of experience in private equity and financial leadership. Conte began his finance career at Chase Manhattan Bank before joining a San Francisco-based private equity firm in 1995. Over nearly three decades, he helped grow that organization from approximately $100 million in assets under management to roughly $49 billion, while overseeing two generational leadership transitions. Beyond his investment work, Conte serves on the boards of several portfolio companies, including ConnectiveRx, Signant Health, and Advarra. He also holds governance roles at Colgate University as a Trustee, the UCSF Foundation, the Board of Overseers of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and the CPMC hospital foundation in San Francisco. Conte established the JP Conte Family Foundation in 2017, working to advance a range of causes spanning from education to the environment. His philanthropic work includes the Conte First Generation Fund, which provides scholarships and mentorship for first-generation college students at eleven universities, including Colgate and Harvard. He contributed $25 million to Colgate University for a new campus social center and donated $5 million to UCSF to advance Parkinson's and neurodegenerative disease research through two endowed professorships. He also supports SEO Scholars and 10,000 Degrees, organizations that mentor and prepare students from underserved communities for higher education, and works closely with Pepperwood Preserve on environmental conservation and wildfire research in Northern California. A first-generation American, Conte's father Pierre fled France following the Nazi occupation, while his mother Isabel emigrated from Cuba. "I grew up in a modest household that had big dreams and big aspirations, but we didn't have a lot of resources," Conte has shared. "What we did have was a lot of love and good family, good connections, and people who helped me along the way."

Christopher W. Adam is an automotive industry expert with deep experience across the collector, classic, exotic, and electric vehicle markets. As Director at Woodside Credit, the nation’s leading lender for auto enthusiasts, he brings more than a decade of financial expertise focused on how passion, lifestyle, and market trends drive purchasing and financing decisions. Adam is a frequent presence at major automotive events and auctions, collaborating with leading manufacturers, dealerships, and auction houses. His insights—spanning from the timeless appeal of collector cars to the emerging influence of EVs—make him a trusted voice on the evolving intersection of finance, innovation, and the enthusiast market.

I founded Commercial Funding Partners in 2012 with a clear mission: build a performing portfolio of customers who return because we treat them right and help them grow responsibly. After six years at a competitor and seeing how customers were often handled at deal end, I knew there was a better way to do business in commercial equipment finance. We’re a national direct lender with capacity from $250,000 to over $100 million per project, serving manufacturers, contractors, healthcare providers, transportation companies, and others across the U.S. What sets us apart is speed paired with judgment. Our small, senior-level finance committee allows us to make decisions quickly—often the same day—and months faster than SBA processes, where time value often outweighs minor rate differences. We listen to the story behind the balance sheet and underwrite context, not just numbers. We structure real-world solutions through progress funding, 100% project financing, sale-leasebacks, and tax-aware terms that banks often can’t provide. We don’t do deals we wouldn’t sign ourselves. Over 40% of our business comes from repeat clients, many with long-standing relationships that improve with each transaction. I’m active in industry leadership with ELFA, NEFA, and AACFB, where I chaired the Education Committee for four years and received the President’s Award. Before CFP, I worked at IBM and helped manage and grow Plumbers Supply Company through its acquisition by Wolseley. I hold a BS from the University of Utah and an MBA from Westminster College. Our goal is simple: be the first call for our customers and help great businesses grow smarter and faster.

Paul A. Claxton is a venture capitalist and Managing Partner of Digerati Investments and Reciprocity ROI, where he deploys capital into AI-native and enterprise technology companies and works hands-on with founders navigating institutional capital deployment strategiesm. A former U.S. Marine with four combat tours, Claxton applies a strict execution-first lens to venture, focusing on what survives real scrutiny, not what sounds good in a pitch. He developed ScaleCurves™, a venture diligence framework, and the Reloadable Note™, a financing structure designed to tie capital to actual performance. He is an advisor to AI programs at the University of San Francisco, a member of the Forbes Finance Council, and host of Explainable AI and Capital Unscripted. His commentary cuts through startup narratives to focus on what investors actually care about and why most companies fail to raise capital. Discover more about Paul on his website: https://paulclaxton.io