The best advisors aren't the ones who tell you what to do — they're the ones who've been where you are. I've founded companies, raised capital, navigated acquisitions on both sides of the table, and led organizations through periods of growth and transition. I've made the hard calls, felt the isolation that comes with leadership, and learned what it actually takes to build something and successfully exit it. That experience is what I bring to every conversation.

About

I spent nearly three decades building — and successfully exiting — high-growth businesses as a founder, venture investor, and corporate development executive in charge of buying companies and creating strategic partnerships.

Among other ventures, I've served as a founding executive of FastSoft, a venture-backed company that was acquired by Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM), and of BeClose, which was incubated at Alarm.com (NASDAQ: ALRM) prior to going public. Most recently, I ran global M&A (mergers & acquisitions) for 3Pillar Global through its acquisition by H.I.G. Capital, the largest middle-market private-equity fund in the world. I also spent six years in early-stage venture capital at Virginia Venture Partners, where I invested in startups that went on to achieve valuations in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

In 2019, I was diagnosed with ADHD in my mid-40s, which sparked a desire to understand my unique brain wiring and ultimately reimagine my work. I founded Gravity Insights in 2022 to follow my passion: helping business leaders grow with the insight and perspective that comes from having walked in their shoes.

My coaching practice combines 30 years of business experience with an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accreditation from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), an Executive Masters Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University, and an Advanced ADHD Coaching Certificate from the Center for ADHD Coaching Excellence (CACE).

Outside of work, I volunteer as a business advisor and leadership coach for Compass Pro Bono and Grounded Idealist's The Coaching Collaborative, and as an auxiliary officer at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9274. I play fiddle and sing in an award-winning bluegrass band, Pictrola, which performs regularly at music festivals, concert venues, and performing arts centers. I live in Falls Church, VA with my wife, two daughters, two dogs, and a menagerie of other small animals.

In May 2022 I was interviewed by the CEO of 3Pillar Global to talk about growing the company via acquisition, which was my job at the time.

In this episode we discuss:

Why you should never fall in love with the deal when looking at acquisition targets

Acquisition target criteria, with a focus on the strength of the culture

How leaders should look for complementary cultures that can mesh well with their company’s existing culture

Work Experience

1990s - 2003

2003 - 2013

2013 - 2019

2019 - 2022

2022 - 2023

2024 - present

I founded my first company in 2000 after several years as an IT consultant at companies including Deloitte. I raised seed money from angel investors and set up HQ in Cambridge, MA and back office in Hyderabad, India. In 2003, having successfully served several Fortune 500 clients, I sold my stake to a group of private investors.

I served as a founding executive of FastSoft, where I orchestrated a $5M+ venture capital financing. The company was later acquired by Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM). I also served as a founding executive of Beclose, a wireless technology startup incubated by Alarm.com (NASDAQ: ALRM) prior to it going public.

As an institutional venture investor at one of the most active seed- and early-stage VCs in the country, I invested in exactly the types of high-growth companies I had worked on and worked in.

I served as a corporate development executive, first developing strategic partnership channels at Series A-funded MarginEdge, and then running global M&A at software development consultancy 3Pillar Global, until its acquisition by the global private-equity fund H.I.G. capital.

I founded Gravity Insights in order to pursue my passion - helping business leaders navigate the complexity of their roles and lives to thrive. I completed an executive certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University's Institute for Transformational Leadership, the premier program of its kind in the world.

I received the Professionally Certified Coach (PCC) Credential from the International Coaching Federation—the leading global coaching organization known for its high standards and independent certifications—and became a credentialed ADHD coach.