AI on the Buy-Side: How Technology Is Changing the Way Deals Get Done
Presented By: Copper Run / Vorys
As AI becomes more embedded in business decision-making, acquirers are rethinking how deals are sourced, evaluated, and executed. This session examines how private equity firms, operators, and advisors are using AI to streamline diligence, assess risk, and identify opportunities—while understanding where human judgment remains critical in complex transactions.
Panelists:
Partner
Vorys
Jake is a partner in the Cleveland and Akron offices of Vorys and a member of the corporate group. He has decades of experience working with public and private companies, private equity firms, entrepreneurs, and financial institutions in a broad range of corporate and securities transactions. Jake’s experience includes assisting clients on matters involving mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity issuances, corporate restructurings, fund formation, venture capital and angel investing, strategic alliances, and corporate governance.
Jake also counsels management, directors, and shareholders in connection with entity formation, contract negotiation, operational and employment issues, commercial leasing, financing, and exit strategies. He has assisted clients in a wide range of industries including financial services, health care/dental, real estate, manufacturing, technology, hospitality, cannabis, and aerospace sectors.
Jake frequently writes and presents on corporate law-related topics. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.
Managing Partner
ScaleCo
Dave Jacob joined the ScaleCo Capital team in 2023 and has since served as Managing Partner and a voting member on ScaleCo’s Investment Committee. He dedicates his time to developing and driving strategic initiatives across the firm and is responsible for leading the review and evaluation of new platform investments, add-on acquisitions, and exits as well as co-leading portfolio strategy and fundraising.
Dave has a wealth of experience in private equity, having reviewed over 3.5k new investment opportunities and worked on transactions representing $350mm+ in deployed capital.
Prior to ScaleCo, Dave was an investor with The Riverside Company’s Riverside Micro-Cap Fund. During his tenure at The Riverside Company, he sourced, led, executed, and managed control-oriented investments via leveraged buyouts and growth equity transactions in companies with up to $10 million of EBITDA across various sectors, including business services, specialty manufacturing, and software.
Director
Copper Run
Lizabeth Roth is a Director at Copper Run, where she specializes in Buy-side Investment Banking. She collaborates closely with private equity, family offices, and privately held businesses to develop tailored deal sourcing strategies that drive successful acquisitions. Lizabeth has led buy-side search across a variety of industries including manufacturing, business services, and distribution.
Partner
The Riverside Company
Jake Stoller is a Partner at The Riverside Company where he leads investments in growth-oriented business services and software companies. Before joining Riverside in 2018, he spent time in similar roles at Norwest Equity Partners and Barclays. In a prior chapter, Jake briefly played professional football for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jake holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.
CEO
Ampica Energy Solutions
Vin Zachariah is President and CEO of Ampica Energy Solutions, where he leads strategic growth and operations across energy procurement, efficiency, and sustainability. A seasoned executive and operating partner with deep private‑equity experience, Vin has held senior leadership roles across telecommunications and technology services and holds degrees from Cornell University and Yale School of Management.