I operate where founders, capital, and context meet — the third leg that keeps the venture stool from wobbling. For 20+ years at EY, Accenture, and Deloitte, I’ve worked across retail, CPG, QSR + Tech helping leaders and founders turn strategy into traction. I’ve seen what it takes to scale and what stalls growth before it ever gets a chance. I’m not a founder and I’m not (yet) a GP. I’m the context: The signal reader who knows when a founder is ready for scale and when they’re heading for trouble. The connector who can get the right buyer, operator, or advisor in the room now, not next quarter. The partner who moves at founder speed while thinking at portfolio scale. What I do: Early-stage diligence: I look beyond decks to read customer truth, founder chemistry, and the cracks before they show. GTM activation: From shelf to strategy, positioning, category reviews, and distribution realities. Operator intros: Buyers, supply chain, retail ops, manufacturing, finance, data, the right person at the right moment. Portfolio lift: Less “workshop,” more “we just got the meeting.” Although every company’s needs are different, the qualities that founders unanimously need are similar: a champion, an advocate, a believer. This active support can take various forms. At the earliest stages, a perfectly placed customer or candidate introduction could be most impactful, whereas, at the later stages, strategic planning or fundraising strategy may enable the company to capture defining moments successfully. If I’ve partnered with a company, chances are you’ve heard me sharing publicly why I’m so excited to be involved! I believe portfolio support is an active pursuit, and I personally use any means possible to improve the odds of success for the companies I partner with. I aim to be very available as the “first call” in pivotal moments, and love going deep on critical areas. My ‘roll up my sleeves” approach with founders I’ve backed are free-form and wide-ranging. Their company is still reasonably early, and it’s a niche, luxury & competitive market. We’ll mind meld on how to beat and unseat the competition, brainstorm on strategies, or talk about the timing for a new campaign. My general advice is to always know your company’s Achilles heel. Find a way to turn it into your strength, and at the same time, learn your competitor’s biggest weakness and find a way to use that to de-position them.  What I believe: Capital alone isn’t support. Conviction without context wastes time. The best outcomes come when founders bring vision, funds bring fuel, and someone like me bridges the gap so both can move faster and go further. What they say: “Open to outside-in thinking… a fearless leader who brings out the best of the team.” — Managing Director, Accenture “Proactive, market-focused, and tireless in aligning teams to deliver outcomes.” — Americas Consumer Strategy Leader, EY Now: Advisory (50%) — CPG & retail diligence, GTM, and relationship activation. Venture (50%) — Sourcing, evaluation, and portfolio growth where context is the edge. If you’re building or backing consumer brands & tech innovation and believe capital should arrive with context, let’s connect.