2024 Dealmakers of the Year Honorees

Presented By: Lockton

Matt Anderson
CEO
FPD Solution

Insur-tech company helps insurance carriers, adjusters, and service providers simplify the claims process by eliminating inefficiencies while creating a community of dedicated adjusters and service providers 

• The company has grown rapidly both organically and through the May 2022 acquisition of Dineley Claims Services and the March 2021 acquisition of the Bridgewater Group.

 

 

Tony Bash          
Operating Partner
MacArthur Beauty 

Todd Boren       
Managing Partner  
The MacArthur Companies

A cosmetics brand that champions inclusivity and diversity in the beauty industry. The name "Uoma," meaning "beautiful" in Igbo, reflects the brand's mission to celebrate beauty in all its forms.

• Uoma Beauty ran into financial difficulties in early 2023 and was unable to keep up with accelerating customer demand. In November 2023, MacArthur Beauty, in partnership with the MacArthur Fund, stepped in to turn around the company.
• After acquiring all of the assets and intellectual property of Uoma, the team has taken control and is in the process of rebuilding trust and brand reputation with customers, vendors, manufacturers, and other key stakeholders.
• The first order of business for MacArthur is to stabilize inventory and make sure that the company can fulfill orders for its large retail customers like JC Penney, Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom and Target.
• The company will also turn around the Uoma Beauty Shopify Store capabilities – which had failed to meet direct-to-consumer demands.

 

Lisa Calhoun
General Partner

Gary Peat
General Partner
Valor VC

Venture capital firm that seeks to invest in seed-stage companies operating in the B2B SaaS sector.

• Completed 10 investments in the last 12 months, most of them leading new seed rounds for software companies

 

Dr. Baratunde Cola
Founder & CEO
Carbice Corporation

Developer of carbon nanomaterial-based thermal interface materials designed to lower device temperatures and dissipate heat away from product packaging.

• Bara has led the company from a small lab at Ga Tech in 2011 to a 20,000 square foot HQ and global production facility in Atlanta.
• It’s the largest vertically aligned carbon nanotube production center in the world. Customers for their products include the aerospace, defense, EVs, industrial power & data.
• Their materials have flown on several satellites and has many terrestrial applications related to heat transfer from electronic components. Has raised a total of $18M in VC money.

 

Nwanyinma Dike
Managing Director
Startup Runway

A 501c3 that introduces investors to startups

• The Startup Runway Foundation (501c3) plugs investors into top startups led by underrepresented founders. We have regular Showcase introduction events and an active Angel network.
• At Startup Runway, we turn the funding gap faced by underrepresented founders into an onramp. Our Finalists have had rounds led by firms from Canaan Partners to Microsoft, Techstars, Valor, Floodgate and more.

 

 

 

SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD

Daniel Dorfman
Co-Founder

Larry Dorfman  
Co-Founder
Roots Investment Community

Operator of a real estate investment community intended to make real estate investing more accessible and equitable.

• Roots believes anyone should be able to invest in and build wealth through real estate, especially the Residents paying rent.
• Roots creates a unique investing ecosystem where commerce meets community.
• Today, American renters barely make enough to survive, much less save. Roots Residents can become owners and partners the day they move in with zero out-of-pocket costs. Roots is real-life proof that commercial endeavors can create positive community impact.

 

   

Josh Dundon
CEO

Harley Karseboom
CFO
AT-PAC

Manufacturer of engineered scaffolding systems intended for use in complex environments such as chemical plants, refineries and other large-scale industrial facilities.

• The company was acquired by Doka for an undisclosed amount in July of 2023.
• This acquisition positions Doka, a leading global supplier of formwork based in Amstetten, Austria as a one-stop-shop for formwork and scaffolding solutions in the construction industry, as well as AT-PAC, on the other hand, gains full access to a global market through this acquisition.
• The companies initially partnered in 2020 to provide a comprehensive global site solutions with the intent of gradually increasing Doka's ownership over time in order to carefully preserve AT-PAC's eminent existing industry expertise and employee culture.
• The acquisition of AT-PAC by Doka is expected to bring many benefits to the construction industry.

 

 

Linnea Geiss
Chief Operating Officer

Jay Warner
VP, Corporate Development
PDI Technologies

Developer of enterprise-class retail automation software systems.         

• Brings more than 20 years of global experience spanning operations, investing, strategy, and corporate development.
• Linnea leads a team of more than 1,500 global employees and oversees all product, engineering & professional services operations, innovation, and marketing & education functions.
• Develops and executes organic and acquisition initiatives to drive growth and strategic positioning across global markets.

 

Josh Levy            
Co-Founder & CEO          
Document Crunch

Construction contract compliance/intelligence software platform designed to make contracts and document inspections fast and easy.

• Raised $9 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by Navitas in (December 2023).
• Zacua Ventures, Fifth Wall, Argonautic Ventures, and Ironspring Ventures also participated in the round.
• The funds will be used to deepen best-in-class AI platform for the industry, enabling contractors up and down the value chain to reduce risk, increase compliance, and grow their bottom lines.
• Experiencing exceptional growth over the past three years
• Timely technology, use of AI and solves a critical challenge, not just for construction, but across industries.

 

Maria D. Toler
Founding & Managing Partner
SteelSky Ventures

A venture capital firm that prefers to invest in women's healthcare companies across consumer health, digital health, and healthcare infrastructure sectors.

• Invested in 17 companies over the last 24 months
• Midi Health — 24-Apr-2024, Early Stage VC (Series B), $60.00M, Generating Revenue
• Bend Health — 23-Mar-2023, Early Stage VC (Series A), $31.16M
• TwentyEight Health — 13-Feb-2023, Later Stage VC, 8.30M

 

 

Jeremiah Wilson 
Co-Founder             

Nathaniel Wilson             
Co-Founder       
AKA Tree Service

Operator of an organization intended for tree removal services

• The company was acquired by CPS Capital through an LBO in June of 2023 for an undisclosed amount.