2026 Dealmakers of the Year Honorees
Michael Aiello
CEO & Managing Partner
Centri Business Consulting
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Centri has established itself as a trusted consulting firm serving organizations navigating capital markets, transactions and rapid growth. The firm provides expertise across SEC reporting and IPO readiness, M&A, valuation, tax, technical accounting, risk advisory and outsourced accounting services. In May 2026, Centri strengthened its position for continued growth by securing $20 million in debt financing. The transaction provides additional capital to support the firm's ongoing expansion. Building on that momentum, Centri further expanded its capabilities and geographic reach through the acquisition of Altair in June 2026, strengthening its ability to serve clients and enhancing its position in the insurance consulting sector. Together, these strategic moves reflect Centri's continued growth and evolution as a leading advisory firm.
Phil Ball
Chief Business Officer
Justin Vogel
CFO
Tolerance Bio
Philadelphia-based Tolerance Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on building the industry’s broadest portfolio aimed at preserving, restoring, regenerating and modulating thymic function to improve immune resilience and extend healthspan.
Since its founding in 2023, the biotechnology company has attracted significant investment to advance its innovative approach raising a $20.2 million seed round in 2024, led by Columbus Venture Partners and which included Philadelphia-based life sciences investors BioAdvance Capital and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA. In June 2026, Tolerance Bio closed a ~$15 million financing, which included the conversion of a $10 million note, primarily from existing investors and with participation from Beyond Celiac Investments.
In the last six weeks, Tolerance Bio secured its first two clinical stage assets. In August 2026, the Company licensed a long-acting form of the immune-boosting cytokine IL-7, from Rockville, Md.-based NeoImmuneTech in a deal worth up to $260 million. On September 28, 2026, the Company licensed TLB-33, a clinical-stage antibody that blocks the inflammatory signaling protein IL-33 from Japan’s Tanabe Pharma in a deal worth up to $560 million. Next up is a financing round to primarily support the development of the Company’s clinical programs.
David Gutstadt
Co-Founder & CEO
Ballers
Founded in 2025, Ballers is creating a new kind of destination that combines athletic activities with social experiences. In June 2025, the company raised $20 million in Series A financing led by Sharp Alpha Advisors and RHC Group, bringing its total funding to more than $26 million. Co-founded by Daniel Bassichis, CEO David Gutstadt and Chief Creative Officer Amanda Potter, Ballers has also attracted investment from prominent backers including Alumni Ventures and Andre Agassi. The financing provides additional capital to support the young company’s growth and expansion in the emerging social sports market.
Niranjan Sardesai
Founder, CEO & President
Geneos Therapeutics
Founded in 2016 and based in Philadelphia, Geneos Therapeutics is developing personalized immunotherapies designed to harness the immune system to fight cancer. Under Sardesai’s leadership, the company has advanced its neo-antigen-based approach into Phase 2 clinical trials while attracting significant investment to support its growth and development. In March 2026, Geneos raised $30 million in Series B financing, bringing its total capital raised to nearly $80 million. The investment positions Geneos to continue advancing its innovative cancer therapies and building on its progress in personalized immunotherapy.
Sasha Schrode
CEO
FEMSelect
FEMSelect, a women-led medical technology company, is transforming pelvic organ prolapse treatment through its groundbreaking EnPlace® technology. The company, led by CEO Sasha Schrode, recently completed an oversubscribed equity financing round to accelerate commercialization, strengthen its leadership team and support the relocation of its U.S. headquarters. Led by existing investors New Age Ventures and Triventures, the round also included Robin Hood Ventures and RAD Biomed, while attracting new investors Nordwand Capital, Avea Ventures and Terra Verde Comp. With additional capital, an expanding product pipeline and growing investor support, FEMSelect is positioned to scale its innovative solutions and improve care for underserved women worldwide.
Jesse Serventi
Founding Partner
Pat Heath
Principal
Josh Ottensoser
Senior Associate
Renovus Capital Partners
Since acquiring Superior Home Health and Hospice as a platform investment in 2024, Renovus has completed three strategic add-on acquisitions while driving organic growth. Together, these efforts have more than doubled Superior’s service area and patient census, establishing it as a leading provider of home health and hospice services across the Southern United States. Serventi, Heath, and Ottensoser’s work demonstrates Renovus’ ability to scale businesses through strategic acquisitions and build market-leading platforms.
Kevin Wiggins
CFO
Power Home Remodeling
In 2026, Power Home Remodeling completed a series of significant financial transactions to support the company’s continued growth. In April, the company received growth capital from Harvest Partners Structured Capital, Bain Capital and Sixth Street Partners, followed by a $460 million incremental term loan financing and $100 million upsizing to the Company’s revolving credit facility announced in July. These transactions contributed to more than $2.2 billion in total capital raised by the company in 2026. As CFO, Wiggins plays a key role in Power Home Remodeling’s financial strategy and capital planning, helping position the company to build on its growth and pursue new opportunities.
Social Impact Investing
Jonathan Coleman
Elizabeth Killough
Co-CEOs
UnTours Foundation
Since its founding in 1992, the UnTours Foundation has used investment capital to support businesses addressing social, economic and environmental challenges. Under Coleman and Killough’s leadership, the foundation provides affordable, flexible capital to small businesses that create jobs, promote diverse ownership, advance economic justice and contribute to a regenerative economy. To date, the foundation has deployed more than $11 million in flexible investments, helping entrepreneurs strengthen communities while creating lasting impact. The UnTours Foundation also owns UnTours, recognized as the world’s first Certified B Corporation, which contributes 100 percent of its profits to the foundation for reinvestment in other mission-driven businesses. Through their leadership, Coleman and Killough are demonstrating how investment capital, entrepreneurship and purpose can work together to create economic opportunity and positive change.