The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in New York.
In addition, The New York Dealmakers Hall of Fame recognized a class of dealmakers that has made an often-groundbreaking impact on their organizations, industries and the region over the course of decades in business.
We celebrated the accomplishments of the 2025 class of winners on June 5 at the New York Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the New York business community.
Dealmaker Of The Year Honorees
Matthew Berry, founder of Fantasy Life. Matthew Berry, founder of Fantasy Life, made waves by acquiring Guillotine Leagues, a fast-growing fantasy platform that brings a new twist to fantasy football through weekly eliminations, high-stakes strategy, and nonstop engagement. This deal adds a top-tier product to Fantasy Life’s portfolio and strengthens its position as a market leader in sports media and gaming. With Matthew’s vision and the Guillotine team’s innovation, this acquisition is redefining how fans interact with the game they love — and with each other.
The leadership team from Heartwood Partners — Ed Tan, Rob Tucker, Andrea Nelson, and John Newman. Led by Ed, Rob, Andrea and John, Heartwood Partners completed a strategic investment in Bush Brothers, a fifth-generation distributor of premium meats that serves some of the most exclusive clients across Florida and the Caribbean. Heartwood’s partnership is helping bring a new state-of-the-art facility to life, scale organic growth, and strengthen Bush Brothers’ brand while preserving its deeply rooted family culture. It’s a model of long-term, values-aligned investing that respects legacy while enabling transformation. Congratulations!
Joon Chang and Vijay Mehta, co-founder of Arkview Capital. Co-founders Vijay Mehta and Joon Chang of Arkview Capital joined forces with Icon Parking to form a historic joint venture with global real estate powerhouse Tishman Speyer — marking the largest deal in Arkview and Icon’s history. The $80 million, three-year initiative is not only about expanding parking infrastructure in five major U.S. markets — it’s also about building a national platform grounded in supplier diversity and economic inclusion. This transaction advances the mission of MWBE growth while delivering critical services at scale.
Brandon Richter and James Parmelee from Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners and Jim Gillespie, founder of GrayMatter. In 2017, Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners partnered with Jim Gillespie, founder of GrayMatter, to help scale a dynamic industrial intelligence company that supports smarter, more connected manufacturing operations. Over the next six years, the team grew the business nearly fourfold, executed five strategic acquisitions, and turned 84 employees into equity shareholders. With a successful recap by Tailwind Capital in 2024 and management reinvesting for the next phase, this is a story of shared success, smart growth, and the power of aligned vision between operators and investors.
Gary Zammit, President & CEO of CliniLabs, and Eileen McAuley, CliniLabs’ COO. Founded in 2000, Clinilabs is a global leader in neuroscience-focused clinical research. In 2024, President and CEO Gary Zammit and COO Eileen McAuley partnered with InTandem Capital Partners, a private equity firm dedicated to health care services, to take the next step in scaling innovation. This partnership will help Clinilabs expand its impact in central nervous system drug development, bringing forward new treatments in areas like psychiatry, neurology, addiction and rare CNS disorders. Together, they are advancing a critical mission — and improving lives through science.
Hall of Fame Honorees
Andrew Rasiej, founder of Civic Hall @ Union Square. Andrew is a civic and social entrepreneur, and the founder of Civic Hall @ Union Square — a groundbreaking collaborative space supporting technologists and organizations building solutions for the public good. He also founded the Personal Democracy Forum, the world’s leading gathering focused on how technology is transforming politics and governance. Andew is also the former chair of the NY Tech Alliance, a 60,000+ member organization, and the founder of MOUSE.org, which has brought tech education to tens of thousands of underserved students.
A trusted adviser to political leaders and presidential campaigns, Andrew helped push digital strategies into the political mainstream — championing transparency, participation, and innovation in public life. He has served leaders across the political spectrum, helping redefine how campaigns connect with voters in the digital age. After 9/11, his work led to the creation of the National Emergency Technology Guard, now part of FEMA. The New York Times called him “the most wired political candidate in America,” and Thomas Friedman highlighted his campaign in The World is Flat as a model for next-generation leadership.
From tech to education, from civic engagement to crisis response, Andrew has spent his career building bridges between people, platforms, and public purpose.
