Business and Financial Consultant
2009 - PRESENT
Ftera Advisors
- Supported Circle Peak Capital, a family office with control positions in eight privately held consumer, health, and wellness companies with a combined $600 million in sales. Led due diligence. Built LBO and other models.
- Structured Circle Peak Capital's equity investment into a startup digital media platform focused on women's intimate apparel. Proposed terms and coordinated with lawyers on the drafting of closing documents.
- Performed Circle Peak Capital's $10 million recapitalization of a baked products manufacturer. Prepared a teaser and assisted the firm's CFO in recap modeling, which included post-closing exit waterfall.
- Built financial operations while reporting to a leading EU life sciences PE investor for Ritrova Therapeutics, a CNS biotech; structured and closed a $4M SAFE.
- Advised the CEO and BOD on financing strategy and partnership structure. I was instrumental in closing on $0.5M in seed financing via a convertible note. This is for Neoolife, a medical device company.
- Advised the CEO and delivered a $10M convertible note term sheet for Zenagen, a consumer health products company.
- Supported Eurasia Capital in executing a $10M private placement for a holding company with a portfolio of construction equipment and real estate businesses. Led a team in drafting the PPM.
- Assisted HHM Capital, a US middle-market PE firm, in developing a $500 million commercial aircraft aviation leasing fund. Wrote the investment memo, which included a detailed industry and competitive positioning analysis.
- Helped raise a structured vehicle for a mid-market commercial lender in Russia on behalf of HHM Capital. Led due diligence for a loan portfolio. Developed marketing materials for external fundraising.
- Ran U.S. operations and managed relationships with pre-clinical CRO and regulatory consultants for BIOBOHEMIA. Prepared investor positioning statements, developed collateral materials, and represented the company at numerous investor events.
Focus areas: Business Development, Interim CFO, Market Research, Fundraising, Budgeting, Investor Relations, Valuation, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), CFO, Life Science, Startup Funding, Mongolia, Medical Devices, Pitch Decks, Pitch Deck Consultant, Pitch Books, Fundraising Consultant, Seed Fundraising, Audits, Angel/Seed Funding, Drug Development
Advisor to the CEO (Healthcare/US)
2023 - 2023
Moleculera Labs, Inc.
- Advised the CEO on institutional fundraising (Series B); prepared marketing materials and identified investor targets.
- Introduced the CEO to strategic and scientific advisers; engaged in business development discussions involving strategic partnerships with industry and academia.
- Identified novel applications of the core product, helped position the company for product line expansion.
Focus areas: Series B, Healthcare, Strategy, Business Strategy, Growth, Healthcare Services, Business Advisory, United States, Capital Raising, Business Development
CytoImmune Therapeutics, Inc.
- Partnered with co-founders and the CEO to build the company that raised $110M over the tenure as a CFO.
- Prepared and executed a $30M crossover financing, including securing the term sheet, managing due diligence, documentation, and closing.
- Built relationships with investment banks in preparation for an IPO.
- Administered financials of a CMC plant construction project delivered on time and within 10% of the estimated budget during COVID-19 restrictions.
- Prepared consolidated financials in compliance with U.S. GAAP.
- Recruited and trained an in-house accounting and finance operations team. Upgraded auditor and delivered audited financials.
- Oversaw the implementation of enterprise-grade accounting software and transitioned from multiple platforms to a unified cloud-based system.
Focus areas: Fundraising, Startups, Audits, CFO, Drug Development
Finance Screener
2019 - 2022
Toptal (Screeners)
- Evaluated 200+ candidates to join the Toptal finance professional network.
- Contributed to assessment case studies and evaluation methodology for the professionals.
- Achieved one of the longer-serving screener statuses.
Focus areas: Financial Modeling, Finance, Leadership, Pitch Deck Consultant, Pitch Books
DIH International, Ltd.
- Partnered with the CEO and COO to successfully deliver several milestones critical to preparation for a strategic transaction involving this $85 million in revenue/400 employee medical device manufacturer.
- Coordinated the consolidated audit.
- Built a sales force effectiveness-driven five-year projections model.
- Prepared a comprehensive analysis of historical performance on consolidated basis; delivered working capital and cost reduction recommendations.
Focus areas: CFO, Healthcare, Period-end Closings, Excel Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Cross-border M&A, Budgeting, Initial Public Offerings, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), SEC Financial Reporting, Audits, Interim CFO, Life Science, Medical Devices, Pitch Decks
Chief Financial Officer
2017 - 2018
SELLAS Life Sciences (Nasdaq: SLS)
- Completed the reverse merger of SELLAS into a Nasdaq-listed company; led post-M&A integration of two companies.
- Secured SELLAS' public listing on NASDAQ and oversaw the company's shares commencing trading on the exchange.
- Presided over $10.7 million Series A financing raised.
- Led balance sheet restructuring and debt redemption negotiations.
- Conducted ongoing SEC and internal reporting; oversaw SOX compliance; managed financial controls and procedures.
- Sole-managed short-term cash budgeting and long-term projections modeling.
- Attended and represented SELLAS at investor conferences and managed investor relations functions.
- Managed accounts payable, liquidity, and treasury functions.
Focus areas: Healthcare, Initial Public Offerings, Budgeting, Reverse Mergers, Audits, Fundraising, NASDAQ, Public Companies, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), CFO, Interim CFO, Biotech, Pharmaceuticals, Life Science, Pitch Decks, Drug Development
Senior VP, Investment Analyst
2011 - 2017
CHR Capital
- Led due diligence on four successfully closed private equity investments with $343 million in invested capital.
- Sourced various acquisition and private equity investment opportunities.
- Build financial projection models with valuation and investment return analyses.
- Developed investment committee memoranda, presented an investment thesis, and secured approval to make investments.
- Monitored investments as a board observer and assisted with business development efforts.
- Assisted portfolio companies with capital raising and restructuring/reorganization advice.
Focus areas: Financial Benchmarking, Fairness Opinion Reports, Fundraising, Investment Monitoring, Investor Relations, Venture Funding, Angel/Seed Funding, Growth Capital Raising, Capital Structure Analysis, Structuring, Financial Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Deal Sourcing, Interim CFO, Startup Funding, Pitch Decks, Healthcare Services
Vice President
2008 - 2009
CIG
- Managed a team of three professionals in originating, executing, and managing principal debt investments in—and providing opportunistic advisory services to—Russian companies in the consumer, mineral resources, and technology sectors.
- Led a distressed takeover of a seventeen-door grocery store chain in central Russia. Negotiated terms of the debt-for-equity swap. Developed a series of reorganization recommendations and worked with the store management on their implementation.
- Secured a retainer relationship from a manufacturer of canned vegetable and fruit products. Advised the company on strategic alternatives, including optimization of its capital structure and growth via acquisitions along its vertical supply chain.
- Originated a $10 million private placement for a delinquent consumer credit collection company. Negotiated the engagement letter. Led the team of bankers during the prep and marketing, which resulted in a term sheet.
- Ran a sale process of a civil engineering construction company with revenues of $100+ million per annum. Placed sales calls to, and negotiated with, strategic and financial buyers.
Focus areas: Fundraising, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Startup Funding, Mongolia, Pitch Decks
Investment Analyst
2005 - 2008
Ener1 Group
- Served as an investment analyst reporting directly to the CEO of this family office. Evaluated investment opportunities and helped manage a portfolio of industrial and technology firms. Led business development and capital raising activities across the entire portfolio.
- Evaluated an equity investment in the carve-out of a Russian coal/ore railroad car fleet company. Prepared an investment committee presentation to a bulge-bracket-backed PE firm, which co-sponsored the deal.
- Built a recapitalization model and evaluated restructuring scenarios for a $150 million market cap hybrid-electric vehicle battery manufacturer. Secured a leading mutual fund’s commitment as an anchor investor in the $32 million PIPE with subsequent uplisting on Nasdaq.
- Analyzed an acquisition of a lead-acid battery manufacturer for the telecom industry. Performed valuation analysis. Delivered a recommended bid range to the board, which approved the transaction. Prepared and submitted a bid on behalf of the group.
- Evaluated a venture investment into a video game developer/publisher and presented my recommendation to the board. The board voted to approve this $10 million investment.
Focus areas: Venture Funding, Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Startup Funding, Pitch Decks
Financial Analyst
2002 - 2005
SG Cowen/Societe Generale
- Supported senior bankers in origination, structuring, and execution of 46 private direct PIPEs/RDs placement and advisory engagements valued over $1.3 billion in the healthcare, technology, aerospace/defense, consumer, media, and communications industries.
- Performed client due diligence, developed detailed financial models, and drafted private placement and investment memoranda and presentations.
- Handled notable transactions: $63 million equity private placement for Acusphere across two deals; €30 million equity private placement for Elbion AG across two deals; $72 million equity private placement for AuthentiDate; $15 million equity private placement for Aurora Flight Sciences; fairness opinion on RWE's $445 million private sale of Consol Energy shares; $25 million equity private placement for Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals across two deals; and $32 million equity private placement for Solexa.
Focus areas: Fundraising, Venture Funding, Biotech, Pharmaceuticals, Life Science, Startup Funding, Medical Devices, Pitch Decks