Expert Venture Capital Consulting 2025

Gaurav Shah is the Managing Partner at Arete Ventures, advising founders, early-stage teams, and institutional investors across the US, EU, UK and India, with extensive experience in the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Over the past 19+ years, he has worked across the full spectrum of entrepreneurship and private capital; from guiding startups on market signals, traction, fundraising, and scaling decisions to supporting investment firms on due diligence, M&A, portfolio value creation, and performance improvement. He brings a blended operator–investor perspective, having evaluated hundreds of companies for institutional investors (PE, VC, hedge funds, and family offices) while also working directly with investor backed entrepreneurs on strategy, product-market fit, and execution. His pattern-recognition across both sides of the table allows him to translate real market truths into practical, founder-ready insights. He further serves on the investment committee (IC) for venture capital firms and advises board members actively across US & EU. Focus Areas Entrepreneurship & Startup Advisory: product-market fit, early traction, market validation, GTM strategy, fundraising readiness, founder coaching Institutional Investor Advisory (buy side): commercial & technical due diligence, M&A strategy, competitive intelligence, investment memos, portfolio performance improvement Sectors: AI, SaaS, fintech, blockchain, climate-tech, renewable energy, Web 3.0, deeptech, life sciences and other frontier technologies

Iris Duan is a dynamic venture partner and operational leader specializing in early-stage investments, decentralized technologies, and sustainable innovation across international markets. As a Venture Partner at a $50M+ AUM VC firm, she successfully chaired weekly investment committees, managed cross-border deals, and fully returned Fund 1 with a 2.4x MOIC. Her investment focus includes renewable energy, cloud computing, medtech, and Machine Learning. Concurrently, as COO and Co-founder of Immutable Labs, Iris drove the creation of an operating model generating $25M in revenue, leading the integration of advanced packaged technology across edge computing, FLLMs, secured oracles, and explainable AI, delivering significant compute and cash reductions. Fluent in English and Mandarin, Iris leverages a global perspective from her experience in Zurich, Beijing, and Milan, blending deep financial acumen (BBA in Finance, Minor in Economics from Emory University) with practical, high-growth startup leadership. Her expertise lies in translating complex client needs into tangible business requirements, orchestrating R&D, and building robust client bases that support hybrid cloud and idle computing solutions. Iris is a two-time TEDx speaker and a passionate advocate for social enterprise, having led non-profit consulting teams focused on strategic PR and market research for diverse international clients.

Senior-level strategy/corporate development/ventures executive in the increasingly concentric media/advertising/tech industrial complex – with 30+ years of pioneering operational experience, investment returns and thought leadership in championing innovation across traditional, digital, and (especially) “emerging” media and marketing firms. Industry vertical areas of expertise: - "Emerging" media and technology: advanced/interactive advertising, media tech platforms, media distribution - especially in TV & video - Digital media operations (online, mobile, digital video, digital audio, digital OOH, social, etc.) - Traditional media operations (TV, radio, out-of-home, print, etc.)- Advertising (media buying, media ad sales, ad/media/digital agency structure/operations) - Consumer media behaviors (consumption, behaviors, trends, preferences, etc.) - Ad/marketing/tech innovation (startups, venture investment, etc.) - Corporate development in media/advertising industries (M&A, corporate ventures, etc.) - Nationally recognized thought leadership in all things "future of TV/media" & "advanced advertising" Functional areas of expertise in above industries/verticals: - Corporate strategy & development, including M&A and ventures - Marketing & PR/corporate communications - Business development - Advertising sales - Media industry analysis & thought leadership

James Vanreusel spent 8 years with a Wall Street investment bank. He generated around $8 Million in annual sales through his relationships with hedge and mutual funds, before moving into private equity and asset management. After leaving Wall Street, he became a CFA Charterholder and went on to found three microfinance banks in the South Pacific. He also created a holding company based in Singapore that delivered growth at 600%. In 2014, he moved to San Francisco and set up Vanreusel Ventures: a team of CFO consultants and financial analysts, working with for-profit and non-profit clients across the US. They help emerging companies to grow and scale, by building teams and systems that will expand with the business. All while developing the finance skills and mindset of the CEO. The result is a framework to see the business through the early years, in readiness for its first full-time CFO. The #1 Key To Creating A Thriving Business is James’ first book – drawing on the first 20 years of a career that’s taken him deep into the world’s financial markets. Here is a link for your free book: https://vanreuselventures.com/free-book/

As a Training Manager at Marriott International, I oversee the design and implementation of comprehensive training and development curriculum for 550+ adult learners at three Renaissance brand hotels. With my doctorate in Organizational Leadership, DEI Certificate, and Life Coach Certification, I have the knowledge, skills, and passion to create engaging and impactful learning experiences that elevate employee and guest satisfaction. In my role, I have been leading monthly educational sessions, training newsletters, career development support, and executive coaching for hotel leadership and managers. I also track and assess the effectiveness of all training and development programs, and manage collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. I have a proven track record of applying data metrics, staff development, and organizational skills to accelerate results and foster an inclusive culture. My goal is to empower staff to reach their full potential and contribute to the success of Marriott International.

Private-equity-trained fractional CFO & exit-prep firm for founder-led businesses. We convert to accrual, build MFRs and KPI dashboards, run forecasting, and package for diligence to lift EBITDA and multiples across trades, e-commerce, tech, and professional services. 35+ clients Serial Founder in Health Tech, Veterinary Medicine, Plumbing, CPGs, Consulting, SaaS. Scaled from 0-2MM, sold or stabilized.

If you’re here, you’re probably curious about who I am and what we do at spectup. Let me fill you in. I started my career with a banking apprenticeship, thinking I’d spend my life crunching numbers. But then I discovered startups—and everything changed. At N26, the fintech unicorn, I got my first taste of the fast-paced world of innovation. I fell in love with the chaos, creativity, and energy. After that, I joined Civey, where I dove into digital market research, business models, and marketing strategies. Then came Deutsche Bahn, where I worked on international expansion, competitor analysis, and market strategies. I learned how to make sense of complex industries (global transport markets, anyone?) and drive growth. At diffferent (yes, that’s how it’s spelled), I helped brands like Audi and Zalando identify growth opportunities and design innovative business strategies. And at Deloitte’s Innovation & Ventures team, I worked on building future-proof businesses with cutting-edge tech. One highlight? Leading 30+ projects at the BMW Startup Garage, helping startups find their place in the world of mobility. That’s where I saw the real power of connecting startups with the right partners. Now, I’m building spectup. We work with growth-stage companies and select early-stage startups, helping them raise capital, connect with the right investors, and position themselves for long-term success. We also work with investors—PEs, VCs, angels, and family offices—helping them find promising, vetted companies to invest in without spending countless hours on due diligence. Why? Because startups fail too often, and investors waste too much time looking for the right opportunities. We’re here to bridge that gap. Whether you’re a founder looking for investors or an investor seeking quality opportunities, spectup is about making those connections—and making them work.

Mridul is an IIM graduate with an inclination towards Business and Finance, but a polymath at heart. Mridul is passionate about two things: entrepreneurship and education, and his career and journey revolves around these two. Currently Mridul is helping global startups raise capital by consulting them on their fundraising journey as a Global Fundraising Consultant at Qubit Capital.Before moving to Qubit Capital, Mridul worked with Collegedunia as a Key Account Manager where he helped the online degree players of the Indian Higher Education markets align their marketing campaigns to drive the best ROI on their campaign spends.A timeframe that defined who he becomes as a professional was his time founding StuddictEd. Having developed educational content for various platforms and a knack for business during his MBA days, Mridul aimed to build make the country's young learners self-driven by providing them with products and processes that enable them to become the problem solvers of tomorrow and not run away from subjects they fear (read Mathematics and Science).Mridul completed his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur and had always wished to work in the education sector with the hope of adding value to the system. At IIM Udaipur, Mridul followed his passion for entrepreneurship and became a member of the E-Cell of the college and went on to head it as the President later.As part of the Summer Entrepreneurship Programme offered by IIM Udaipur, Mridul went on to work on his own business idea in the education sector, called School of Thoughts, for a duration of two months to transform a simple idea into a fully functional business plan.Having set his focus on diversifying his skill-set after his entrepreneurship experience, he opted for a General MBA in the second year with electives across domains like Finance, Marketing, Operations, Strategy, HR, etc.In his free time, he likes to play chess, cricket and table tennis. He is a huge FC Barcelona supporter and never fails to watch any of their games, he doesn't shy away from spending sleepless nights to watch his idol Lionel Messi play (now in Miami).

A well-known, commercially focussed, technology executive, renowned for driving results by developing high performing teams who deliver business opportunities and value through technology investments. An inspirational leader, who creates clarity of vision and purpose for people and organisations, while driving a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and learning. Passionate about developing people to their full potential and seeing them make extraordinary things happen.

Solving company’s internal problems, launching new companies and directions, as a financial, marketing and management consultant. 8+ years of experience.

Our team at Devyne Business Consulting thrives on developing innovative marketing strategies that empower startups to achieve their aspirations. With a focus on operations growth and strategic planning, we've crafted campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences and drive engagement. My role as a Marketing Consultant leverages my Google Ads Certification and communication skills to elevate our clients' digital presence. As a Bachelor's candidate in Music Production at Full Sail University, I blend creative insights with analytical rigor. This unique combination enables me to approach business development holistically, ensuring that strategies are not only data-driven but also harmonize with each client's vision, fostering sustainable growth and profitability.

Pre-seed VC in b2b SaaS, digital consumer health, fintech and web3 at Hustle Fund. I spend a lot of time in and around vertical SaaS and AI, healthtech, marketplaces and consumer. I was formerly the COO of a b2b SaaS content marketing agency. Hustle Fund has invested in >650 companies to date including Webflow, Gamma, Flex, Niural and Agree.com.

I'm a Midwestern venture capitalist on a mission to empower founders with resources to maximize their growth, while generating lucrative returns for investors. My passion for learning and entrepreneurship has driven me to fuel impact for founders by connecting them to the resources, capital and advice that they need to succeed. Authenticity is at the root of my work, as I strive to develop meaningful relationships with entrepreneurs, peers and investors. With an outside-the-box approach to investing, I can speak to the future of venture capital, growing successful startups and fostering a stronger and more diverse investment culture in the Midwest.

Hi, I’m Heston Hayes, an investment consultant with EB-5 Choice, a leading advisory firm in EB-5 investment opportunities. We help global investors navigate the EB-5 visa program, creating a clear path to U.S. residency through strategic, job-generating investments.

Larry has over 35 years of industry experience in high tech, home care and Indirect Spend reduction consulting. Having worked at various high tech companies including Data General Corporation (now Dell Technologies) and Lucent Technologies (now Nokia) in his early career, owning and managing a Home Care company in his middle career and now owning and operating a Cost Reduction franchise, Larry has gathered experience and deep skills working with individuals, small and medium businesses and Fortune 100 business executives. His nation-wide clients span multiple industries including automotive, restaurants, schools, hotels & hospitality, healthcare, manufacturers, REITs and even bicycle shops. Larry provides his clients with strategies for long-term sales growth and analyzes and implements cost reduction programs that provide for mid-line expense reduction and bottom line growth and profitability.

Edita Evoyan is a financial coach and business mentor who helps professionals and families make clearer, more confident decisions about money. With a background in architecture and interior design, she brings a unique, systems-based approach to financial strategy: simplifying complexity, building structure, and helping people design plans that align with real life goals. In her work, Edita focuses on practical financial education, retirement planning concepts, risk awareness, and long-term wealth-building habits. She’s known for translating intimidating financial topics into simple language, helping audiences cut through noise, misinformation, and overly technical advice. Edita also mentors and trains aspiring financial professionals on communication, leadership, and building an education-first business with integrity and compliance in mind. She frequently speaks on the mindset shift from employee to owner, creating additional income streams, and building scalable skills without sacrificing family priorities. Media outlets typically feature Edita for approachable commentary on financial confidence, modern wealth habits, retirement planning basics, and the real-world behaviors that drive better outcomes.

Doug Perry is a visionary leader known for inspiring exponential personal and professional growth. He is the Managing Partner of Qual-Cap, a borrower centric boutique mortgage brokerage focused on client's financial goals, providing innovative real estate financing solutions and education. Doug has held senior leadership positions at ArchWest, Temple View Capital, Citadel Mortgage Services, 5 Arch, PennyMac, IndyMac, Countrywide Financial and Privlo, a pioneer fintech Non-QM start up. He is a recognized mortgage finance industry expert featured in segments on CNBC, CNN, Fox News, USA Today, US News and World Report, and the Wall Street Journal. Doug has a BA in Business Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara.