We have an extensive track record of creating significant value in all facets of the business lifecycle.
Operating Team
Neal Jacobs, Managing Partner
Neal Jacobs brings a passion for entrepreneurship, a significant investment track record and a deep background in finance to Maven Equity Partners. Prior to founding Maven Equity Partners, Neal was a partner and co-portfolio manager at two public market investment firms, Cambrian Capital and Bodri Capital Management. Neal started his career at Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst and also held a number of operating roles at Jamcracker, Inc.
BA Duke University, MBA from Stanford Business School
Neal Barcelo, Principal
Neal Barcelo joined Maven as a Principal in 2023 and brings deep experience in investing, finance operating roles and consulting. Prior to joining Maven, Neal held roles as CFO of a disruptive building products startup and Vice President of Private Equity with Tensile Capital Management. He began his career with McKinsey & Company where he focused on restructuring and corporate finance engagements.
BS Denison University, PhD University of Pittsburgh
Dennis Dresser
Dennis Dresser brings over 25 years of experience as a Go-To-Market (GTM) leader with large enterprise software and high growth SaaS companies. Dennis initially built his GTM playbook from world class training at Oracle and IBM. For the past 12 years as a Senior Revenue Executive, Dennis has enhanced his GTM playbook through successful early stage to IPO experiences at SaaS companies such as Eloqua and Anaplan. As an operator partner, investor and board member, Dennis has a passion for partnering with founders and executive teams to help build transformational companies.
BS in Accounting, Loyola Marymount University
Quentin Grigsby
Quentin Grigsby joined Maven as a Vice President in 2021. Prior to joining Maven, Quentin was an Associate at Backcast Partners Management, where he supported the diligence and execution of middle-market private credit investments. He began his career as an Analyst in Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Equity Division. Quentin is also a CFA Charterholder.
BA Columbia University, MBA Harvard Business School
Strategic Advisors
Graham Weaver
Graham Weaver brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to all phases of the search process. Graham has invested personally in numerous search funds over the past 15 years and has been an integral part of the industry’s growth. Graham is the Founder and a Partner of Alpine Investors, LP in San Francisco, a private equity firm managing seven funds totaling over $5 billion in capital. Graham is also a Lecturer in Management and Entrepreneurship at Stanford Business School. Prior to forming Alpine, Weaver worked at Oak Hill Capital Management, American Securities Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley Capital Partners.
BSE Princeton, MBA Stanford Business School
Ed McDermott
Ed serves as an advisor on strategic matters and investment decisions to the entire Maven network. He is the Managing Partner of Spring Tide Partners, a private investment firm which makes concentrated, long-term investments in public and private companies. Prior to founding Spring Tide Partners in 2015, Ed served as a Managing Director, Partner and Member of the Investment Committee of SPO Partners & Co., a private investment partnership which he originally joined in 1995. During his tenure with SPO Partners, he assisted in leading investments across a wide range of industries including telecommunications, media, software, financial services, building materials and energy.
BA Williams College, MBA Stanford Business School
Adam Stern
Adam serves as a growth expert for the Maven ecosystem. He has 25 years experience leading privately held, lower middle market companies through rapid growth and successful exits. Adam served as principal and President of Advance Partners, where he helped grow EBITDA from $1 to $20 million, before Paychex, Inc. acquired the company in 2015. Adam currently serves as a Senior Director at Paychex. Adam also served as Vice President of Corporate Development for CRS, Inc., where he was instrumental in helping CRS grow EBITDA from $1 to $12 million before its sale to SIRVA. Adam's career began with CSFB, helping public and private companies through capital raising and transaction advisory services.
BA University of Texas, MBA Harvard Business School
Matt L’Heureux, Strategic Advisor
Matt brings a strategic mindset and M&A experience to the Maven family. He worked for over two decades in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs & Co. and served on the Operating Committee of the Division and as head of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Group. He was named Managing Director and Partner in 1998. In addition to his management responsibilities, Matt specialized in mergers and acquisitions throughout his career, advising management teams and Boards of Directors on many of the largest M&A transactions in the technology and telecommunications industries.
BA from Stanford University, MBA Wharton School