Featured Venture Capital Experts

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

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/

Vamshi Kumar is a Marketing Expert at Eqvista, where he helps founders and finance teams make sense of equity and fundraising. He focuses on turning complex topics - cap tables, equity grants, ownership structuring, and 409A valuations into content and resources that founders can actually use. Eqvista is a cap table management and equity platform built for startups and growing companies. It helps businesses issue and track shares, run 409A valuations, model ownership scenarios, and manage equity from incorporation through later funding rounds

CA Prateek Mittal is a seasoned financial expert and IBBI Registered Valuer with over two decades of experience in business valuations, corporate finance, and strategic advisory. As the Director of Valuations at [FinVal Research & Consultancy](https://finvalresearch.in), he specializes in delivering high-authority compliance and advisory solutions, including ESOP valuations, corporate guarantee valuations, and startup advisory. A thought leader in the evolving corporate landscape, Prateek frequently publishes insights on cutting-edge industry shifts, from integrating AI and Big Data into valuation practices to navigating ESG compliance risks and supply chain crises. Alongside his valuation expertise, he serves as a Virtual CFO, helping businesses optimize their financial strategies, secure fundraising mandates, and drive operational efficiencies. --- ### Key Media Angles & Topics I Can Comment On: * Regulatory & Compliance Valuations: Deep dives into ESOPs, Corporate Guarantees, and international accounting standards. * The Intersection of Finance & Tech: How AI, big data, and automated tools are transforming modern valuation models. * Startup Ecosystem & Fundraising: Strategic structuring, mid-market growth challenges, and investment readiness. * Risk Management: Evaluating ESG compliance risks and implementing Virtual CFO frameworks during economic volatility.

As a CEO at Novel Capital and second-time founder, I know how challenging it can be for…

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.

Andrea is an entrepreneur & global expert in 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. He is the founder & "Chief Earth Officer" (i.e. a CEO on a mission for our planet) at 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦.𝐜𝐨𝐦, a leading sustainability information and data platform, and one of Angel List’s ‘𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞’. In 2024, illuminem achieved "the most participated round by key climate investors worldwide" and "the region's highest valuation for an early-stage climate company". Andrea is also the 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐄𝐂 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬 (Europe's #1 business school), where he teaches Europe’s only Greentech course, with the goal of developing the next generation of sustainability leaders. Previous to illuminem, he served as the 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩’𝐬 (𝐁𝐂𝐆) 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧, leading projects on sustainable investments and innovation for multinationals & governments. Andrea has been recognized by the 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 as one of the 50 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 '𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬' ("civil society leaders making the change we need to see"), and by Startup Italia as one of '𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲’𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬'. He is the Sustainability & Innovation 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫, Der Standard; a published author in the Journal of Financial Engineering; and a speaker at events hosted by COP, Davos, and universities around the world. His latest TEDx on ESG has become “the most-watched talk in Italian on sustainability.”

I'm the founder and Editor-in-Chief of ExpertReviewHQ, where I synthesize the findings of more than 250 professional review outlets — Wirecutter, Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, and others — into consensus buying guidance across 100+ product categories. Rather than re-testing products myself, I map where the expert testers agree, where they diverge, and what that disagreement means for an individual buyer. I bring 20 years in enterprise portfolio management (PMP, BRMP) to the site's editorial methodology. I can speak to where the reviews align or conflict in almost any consumer category, what buyers consistently overlook, and how to read product reviews critically.

Stepan Kazaryan is a Business Management Consultant focused on digital presence, professional evaluation, and how public information shapes decision-making in modern business environments. His work centers on helping organizations and professionals understand how they are perceived before direct interaction occurs. In search-driven systems, evaluation often happens silently and quickly. Stepan advises clients on building structured digital foundations that support credibility over time. His approach emphasizes clarity, consistency, and responsible positioning rather than short-term visibility tactics. He works with executives, founders, and professional service providers who recognize that digital footprints influence trust, partnerships, and opportunity flow. By aligning websites, public profiles, and third-party references, Stepan helps create stable professional narratives that reduce uncertainty during evaluation. Rather than focusing on reactive measures, his advisory framework prioritizes preparation. This includes analyzing how search results present a name, how information connects across platforms, and how inconsistencies affect perception. The goal is to strengthen long-term positioning in a way that feels natural and sustainable. Stepan frequently writes and speaks about digital identity, credibility signals, and the structural factors that influence professional trust in online environments. His perspective reflects a broader shift in how professionals are assessed in the age of search and public information accessibility. Through disciplined strategy and steady execution, Stepan Kazaryan helps clients maintain clarity in environments where perception often forms before conversation begins.

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

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.

Gavin Nathan is the CEO of Novitas Inc, where he is leading the charge to disrupt private equity and capital raising with liquidity solutions. With over 15 years of business, finance, aviation, asset management and private equity experience and a background in UK Military, Law Enforcement and Government, Gavin has a reputation for solving complex problems and finding growth opportunities. Under his leadership Novitas has structured over $500m in institutional grade assets and raised over $2.5b in private equity deals. The Novitas Inversion Model™ uses tokenization and risk management to speed up fundraising, unlock early liquidity and create transparent strategies that align with investor interests. Gavin is a thought leader in finance, investments, venture capital, leadership and capital markets and is dedicated to breaking down the barriers that hold businesses and investors back so they can achieve long term success in a fast changing financial world.

Big things come from small communities. Cofdr, Invstr @ Kokopelli Capital Cofdr, Vntr Prtnr @ GCVF (rural CO only) I write about the future of startup funding @ blog.innovative.finance

Ivan Patriki is a premier fintech entrepreneur, quantitative trading advocate, and digital marketing expert widely recognized as the co-founder of QuantMap and the CEO of Amora Media Group. Professionally known across digital platforms as Artizt, Patriki commands a cross-platform audience of over 350,000 followers where he actively reshapes the retail investment industry by challenging predatory marketing and providing institutional-grade data analytics. As a respected thought leader, media commentator, and industry educator, his insights frequently appear in top-tier financial publications including Investing.com, Benzinga, and FXStreet. He leverages deep expertise in audience development, digital media strategy, and financial commentary to dismantle the "finfluencer" epidemic, move retail traders away from gut feelings toward data-driven quantitative models, and teach creators the mechanics behind generating hundreds of millions of views while maintaining absolute transparency. - www.ivanpatriki.com

Karen Rands is the founder of Compassionate Capitalist™ Movement. She is the creator of digital platform: The Compassionalist™ Academy. As an author, podcast host, investor educator, and former Managing Director of the Network of Business Angels & Investors, Karen has spent more than 20 years helping entrepreneurs access capital and teaching investors how to build wealth by investing in private companies. She is nationally recognized as an expert in the economic impact, historical evolution and emotional/psychological aspects of angel investing. More> Karen Rands' mission is to bring balance to the ‘entrepreneur/capital ecosystems’ by creating awareness of the benefits of investing entrepreneurs as an asset class, and provide the tools and education for investors to master the art & science of crowdfund and angel investing. She created the digital learning platform, first of its kind, with on demand, step by step video courses for new and committed angel / crowdfunding investors: The Compassionalist Academy™. Although available to individual investors, it is the collaborations that will achieve the goal of tripling the number of crowdfund and angel investors in the U.S. Karen wrote the best-selling angel investor primer: Inside Secrets to Angel Investing (Step-by-Step Strategies to Leverage Private Equity Investment for Passive Wealth Creation). Her second book was a “top-new release” on crowdfund capital: Inside Secrets to Crowdfund Investing. Follow Jane’s Journey: See How a New Generation Builds Wealth with Purpose, Passion, and Profit. Karen hosts a top business podcast: The Compassionate Capitalist™ Show. Through stories and interviews, listeners learn how to create wealth with purpose and passion - as a successful entrepreneur or investor in successful entrepreneur endeavors. The knowledge she shares and her commitment to funding innovation is based on her decades experience as the Managing Director of the nationally ranked angel investor group: Network of Business Angels & Investors (NBA&I); where she screened, and prepped entrepreneurs to be investable, leading to over $50M invested through her monthly pitch events and annual conferences. Karen is an SBA Certified Female Business Enterprise. She is a graduate of Emory University (BA) and the University of Florida (MBA). She lives outside of Atlanta with her husband and enjoys music festivals, camping, and soaking up rays and sprays at the pool and beach.

Terrance drives growth and transformation at the intersection of startups, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. He partners with family offices, corporate innovation groups, and athletes to build ventures, source investments, and scale initiatives that deliver long-term impact while maximizing strategic and legacy value.

Vignesh Coumarane is the founder of InvestEd (the-invested.com) and author of the Financial Decision Intelligence Framework — a simulation-native architecture that lets anyone model financial decisions before committing, without surrendering bank credentials or personal data. He serves as Manager of Data Analytics at Lincare (a Linde Company), with over a decade of experience across finance, healthcare, and AI-driven analytics. A 4x LinkedIn Top Voice and Times Square Top Data 100 honoree, he writes the Before You Invest newsletter on structured thinking for financial decisions in an AI world.

A well-known, commercially focussed, technology executive, renowned for driving results by developing high performing teams who deliver business opportunities and value through technology investments. An inspirational leader, who creates clarity of vision and purpose for people and organisations, while driving a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and learning. Passionate about developing people to their full potential and seeing them make extraordinary things happen.

Edita Evoyan is a financial coach and business mentor who helps professionals and families make clearer, more confident decisions about money. With a background in architecture and interior design, she brings a unique, systems-based approach to financial strategy: simplifying complexity, building structure, and helping people design plans that align with real life goals. In her work, Edita focuses on practical financial education, retirement planning concepts, risk awareness, and long-term wealth-building habits. She’s known for translating intimidating financial topics into simple language, helping audiences cut through noise, misinformation, and overly technical advice. Edita also mentors and trains aspiring financial professionals on communication, leadership, and building an education-first business with integrity and compliance in mind. She frequently speaks on the mindset shift from employee to owner, creating additional income streams, and building scalable skills without sacrificing family priorities. Media outlets typically feature Edita for approachable commentary on financial confidence, modern wealth habits, retirement planning basics, and the real-world behaviors that drive better outcomes.

As a Product Manager at Featured, I work with a team of developers and leadership to create and improve a Q&A platform that connects subject matter experts with top publishers. Our goal is to provide exposure for experts and content for publishers, creating a win-win situation for both parties. I have a BSBA in Marketing from the University of Arizona Eller College of Management, where I was involved in various extracurricular and internship activities, such as AdCats Consulting Club, Markitors SEO Agency, and Each Brain Matters Non-Profit Foundation. I have developed skills in customer relationship management, partnership marketing, and product management, which I apply to my current role and projects. I am passionate about creating engaging and informative content that benefits both experts and publishers, and I am always eager to learn from others and explore new opportunities.