Thank you for making the 16th Annual Sohn San Francisco Investment Conference a great success!
Please watch our recap video of the 16th Annual 2025 conference.
The 16th Annual Sohn San Francisco Investment Conference was our most successful event to date, bringing together over 500 investment professionals for a day of insights, networking, and philanthropic impact.
Each year our all-volunteer board selects deserving beneficiary organizations that support underserved youth in the Bay Area. Our speakers this year were thought-provoking and inspiring. We heard from investment experts who shared their insights and best ideas, alongside special guests Ayesha Curry and Mayor Daniel Lurie.
None of this would be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Your partnership enables us to bring together the investment community while making a meaningful impact on education in the Bay Area. Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us create an event that combines industry excellence with social good.
Save the Date
17th Annual Sohn San Francisco Investment Conference
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
2025 SOHN SAN FRANCISCO SPEAKERS
2025 SOHN SAN FRANCISCO SPEAKERS
RAVI PAIDIPATY
Deputy Chief Investment Officer,
Freestone Grove Partners
Biography
RAVI PAIDIPATY
Deputy Chief Investment Officer,
Freestone Grove Partners
Biography
MIKE WILKINS
Managing Member, Kingsford Capital Management
Biography
Mike Wilkins co-founded Kingsford Capital Management in 2001, where he is currently the managing member. Kingsford is a short-biased hedge fund based in Pt. Richmond, CA. Prior to starting Kingsford, he was a partner at the hedge fund, West Highland Capital, where he was employed from 1995-2001. He has also worked for Keefe, Bruyette & Woods in corporate finance.
He currently serves on the Federal Reserve Board’s Fine Arts Advisory Panel. His artwork, “Preamble,” is displayed as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s permanent collection. Wilkins received an AB in Philosophy from Stanford University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
MIKE WILKINS
Managing Member, Kingsford Capital Management
Biography
Mike Wilkins co-founded Kingsford Capital Management in 2001, where he is currently the managing member. Kingsford is a short-biased hedge fund based in Pt. Richmond, CA. Prior to starting Kingsford, he was a partner at the hedge fund, West Highland Capital, where he was employed from 1995-2001. He has also worked for Keefe, Bruyette & Woods in corporate finance.
He currently serves on the Federal Reserve Board’s Fine Arts Advisory Panel. His artwork, “Preamble,” is displayed as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s permanent collection. Wilkins received an AB in Philosophy from Stanford University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
PETER S. PARK
Founder and Managing Member,
Park West Asset Management
Biography
Peter has been the Chief Investment Officer of Park West since its inception. Prior to founding Park West, Peter worked at Citadel Investment Group from 1994 to 2002, helping the firm build out its event driven investing effort. Peter graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in Economics in 1994.
PETER S. PARK
Founder and Managing Member,
Park West Asset Management
Biography
Peter has been the Chief Investment Officer of Park West since its inception. Prior to founding Park West, Peter worked at Citadel Investment Group from 1994 to 2002, helping the firm build out its event driven investing effort. Peter graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in Economics in 1994.
DENNIS ALLAIRE
Partner + Director of Research, SoMa Equity Partners
Biography
Dennis received his BA in Finance from Boston College. As such, he is a rabid Boston sports fan, and part time Bay Area sports fan. He lives in the San Francisco with his wife, two gymnast and ballerina daughters, and beloved dog Prairie. Dennis is actively involved in SoMa’s own local first generation student scholarship program, SoMa Scholars.
DENNIS ALLAIRE
Partner + Director of Research, SoMa Equity Partners
Biography
Dennis received his BA in Finance from Boston College. As such, he is a rabid Boston sports fan, and part time Bay Area sports fan. He lives in the San Francisco with his wife, two gymnast and ballerina daughters, and beloved dog Prairie. Dennis is actively involved in SoMa’s own local first generation student scholarship program, SoMa Scholars.
CHRIS HANSEN
President and Founding Partner,
Valiant Capital Management, L.P.
Biography
Chris Hansen is the President and Founding Partner of Valiant Capital Management, L.P. a global long/short public and private equity firm based in San Francisco. Valiant’s investment objective is to generate superior long-term, risk adjusted returns by employing a flexible mandate that allows the team to search the world for the best opportunities.
Prior to starting Valiant in 2008, Chris was a partner at Blue Ridge Capital LP from 2001 until January of 2008. Before Blue Ridge, Chris was a Principal and Senior Equity Research analyst at Banc of America Securities in San Francisco covering the Advertising Sector. Chris received his MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business in 1996 and holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from San Diego State University. He has four children and lives in Tiburon, CA with his wife Kimberly.
FRANKLIN PARLAMIS
Portfolio Manager and CIO, Aequim Alternative Investments
Biography
CHRIS HANSEN
President and Founding Partner,
Valiant Capital Management, L.P.
Biography
Chris Hansen is the President and Founding Partner of Valiant Capital Management, L.P. a global long/short public and private equity firm based in San Francisco. Valiant’s investment objective is to generate superior long-term, risk adjusted returns by employing a flexible mandate that allows the team to search the world for the best opportunities.
Prior to starting Valiant in 2008, Chris was a partner at Blue Ridge Capital LP from 2001 until January of 2008. Before Blue Ridge, Chris was a Principal and Senior Equity Research analyst at Banc of America Securities in San Francisco covering the Advertising Sector. Chris received his MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business in 1996 and holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from San Diego State University. He has four children and lives in Tiburon, CA with his wife Kimberly.
FRANKLIN PARLAMIS
Portfolio Manager and CIO, Aequim Alternative Investments
Biography
JACOB RUBIN
Founder and Managing Member,
Philosophy Capital Management LLC
Biography
Jacob Rubin is the Founder and Managing Member of Philosophy Capital Management LLC, a hedge fund investing long and short across the capital structure with a value-oriented approach targeting securities with asymmetric investment returns.
Prior to founding Philosophy Capital, Jacob spent six years investing at Lonestar Capital (2014-2019).
Earlier in his career, he worked at JPMorgan, Macquarie, and Goldman Sachs. Jacob earned a BA in Economics-Philosophy from Columbia University (2006), an MBA from Stanford (2011), and an MPhil. in Economics from Cambridge (2013). He lives with his wife, three children, and dog in Diablo, California.
JACOB RUBIN
Founder and Managing Member,
Philosophy Capital Management LLC
Biography
Jacob Rubin is the Founder and Managing Member of Philosophy Capital Management LLC, a hedge fund investing long and short across the capital structure with a value-oriented approach targeting securities with asymmetric investment returns.
Prior to founding Philosophy Capital, Jacob spent six years investing at Lonestar Capital (2014-2019).
Earlier in his career, he worked at JPMorgan, Macquarie, and Goldman Sachs. Jacob earned a BA in Economics-Philosophy from Columbia University (2006), an MBA from Stanford (2011), and an MPhil. in Economics from Cambridge (2013). He lives with his wife, three children, and dog in Diablo, California.
BLAKE SCHAEFER
Founding Partner, Environmental Commodity Partners
Biography
BLAKE SCHAEFER
Founding Partner, Environmental Commodity Partners
Biography
LOUIS CHANG
Founder and CIO,
Gavilan Investment Partners
Biography
Sohn San Francisco Beneficiary Presentation
LOUIS CHANG
Founder and CIO,
Gavilan Investment Partners
Biography
Sohn San Francisco Beneficiary Presentation
Investing in Our Future: Policy, Philanthropy, and Partnership
Join us for an inspiring fireside chat with the extraordinary Ayesha Curry. Beyond her numerous accomplishments, Ayesha Curry is a remarkable philanthropic leader, co-founding the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation.
Investing in Our Future: Policy, Philanthropy, and Partnership
Join us for an inspiring fireside chat with the extraordinary Ayesha Curry. Beyond her numerous accomplishments, Ayesha Curry is a remarkable philanthropic leader, co-founding the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation.
AYESHA CURRY
Co-Founder,
Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation
& Founder, Sweet July
Biography
Ayesha Curry is a renowned restaurateur, chef, 2x New York Times bestselling author, actress, producer, and entrepreneur featured on the prestigious Forbes “30 Under 30” list. Her accessible approach to cooking has made her one of the most sought-after experts in food and lifestyle. She is the Founder and CEO of Sweet July, her lifestyle and culinary brand empowering and celebrating women and BIPOC creators. Founded in 2019, Sweet July has a brick-and-mortar café destination located in Santa Monica. Since its launch, the Sweet July enterprise has grown to include Sweet July Magazine, Sweet July Productions, Sweet July Skin inspired by her Jamaican heritage, and Sweet July Books. Products from both the skincare line and home collection have been recognized in top publications and have received numerous awards including being named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in both 2023 and 2024. Ayesha is also the co-founder of Domaine Curry, a premium wine brand aiming to define and lead the wine category for Black and multicultural women. Ayesha, along with her husband Stephen, are the co-founders of Eat. Learn. Play., an organization dedicated to unleashing the potential of every child and transforming the school experience for a generation of Oakland students. Most recently, Curry charmed audiences when she made her return to acting, starring in the Netflix #1 global hit IRISH WISH as “Heather,” where she and co-star Lindsay Lohan were praised for their magnetic chemistry.
In Conversation with:
SETH BLACKMAN, CPA
Partner,
KPMG LLP
Biography
AYESHA CURRY
Co-Founder,
Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation
& Founder, Sweet July
Biography
In Conversation with:
SETH BLACKMAN, CPA
Partner,
KPMG LLP
Biography
iConnections Presents: The Allocators Perspective
JIM DEWOLFE
Managing Member and
Chief Investment Officer,
Northside Capital Management
Biography
Jim DeWolfe is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer at Northside Capital Management, where he oversees all firm operations, investment research, portfolio and risk management, and client service. He has extensive experience in investment research, including manager diligence, evaluating macro and market conditions, and identifying investment opportunities.
Prior to joining Northside in 2005, Jim was a Partner and Head of Capital Markets at Thomas Weisel Partners (TWP) in San Francisco. He was responsible for corporate finance transactions in healthcare, consumer, and technology sectors, and also co-directed Private Equity Placements and developed a commercial real estate strategy for TWP’s Private Equity Group.
Jim also held several senior positions at Morgan Stanley, including Vice President of the Corporate Bond Trading Desk and Principal and Head of the Whole Loan and Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Trading Desk. He managed risk and trading for various mortgage and asset-backed products and served as the primary coverage officer for large financial institutions in the Western U.S.
Jim holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Vermont.
JACKSON J. GARTON, CFA
Chief Investment Officer,
Makena Capital Management
Biography
MICHAEL MCINTOSH, CFA
Chief Market Strategist,
IEQ Capital
Biography
Mr. McIntosh brings over ten years of investment management experience, joining the team as a Director of Research at First Republic Investment Management in 2017, with previous roles at UBS and Merrill Lynch. These roles involved wide-ranging research responsibilities, including macroeconomic forecasting, public equity, and fixed income analysis, private markets investment diligence, portfolio analysis, and various client-facing responsibilities.
Mr. McIntosh received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
iConnections Presents: The Allocators Perspective
JIM DEWOLFE
Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer,
Northside Capital Management
Biography
Jim DeWolfe is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer at Northside Capital Management, where he oversees all firm operations, investment research, portfolio and risk management, and client service. He has extensive experience in investment research, including manager diligence, evaluating macro and market conditions, and identifying investment opportunities.
Prior to joining Northside in 2005, Jim was a Partner and Head of Capital Markets at Thomas Weisel Partners (TWP) in San Francisco. He was responsible for corporate finance transactions in healthcare, consumer, and technology sectors, and also co-directed Private Equity Placements and developed a commercial real estate strategy for TWP’s Private Equity Group.
Jim also held several senior positions at Morgan Stanley, including Vice President of the Corporate Bond Trading Desk and Principal and Head of the Whole Loan and Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Trading Desk. He managed risk and trading for various mortgage and asset-backed products and served as the primary coverage officer for large financial institutions in the Western U.S.
Jim holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Vermont.
JACKSON J. GARTON, CFA
Chief Investment Officer,
Makena Capital Management
Biography
MICHAEL MCINTOSH, CFA
Chief Market Strategist,
IEQ Capital
Biography
Mr. McIntosh brings over ten years of investment management experience, joining the team as a Director of Research at First Republic Investment Management in 2017, with previous roles at UBS and Merrill Lynch. These roles involved wide-ranging research responsibilities, including macroeconomic forecasting, public equity, and fixed income analysis, private markets investment diligence, portfolio analysis, and various client-facing responsibilities.
Mr. McIntosh received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
The Big Pitch – Cal vs. Stanford
Sponsored by:
Back by popular demand, our student stock pitch competition returns for its second year—featuring standout undergraduate investors from Cal and Stanford.
Building on the storied rivalry of The Big Game, one team from each school will again be selected to present their best investment idea live on the SohnSF main stage. This year, we’ll also announce the winner of last year’s competition, based on the performance of their 2024 pitch. Join us to see which school takes the lead in insight, analysis, and returns.
The Big Pitch – Cal vs. Stanford
Sponsored by:
Back by popular demand, our student stock pitch competition returns for its second year—featuring standout undergraduate investors from Cal and Stanford.
Building on the storied rivalry of The Big Game, one team from each school will again be selected to present their best investment idea live on the SohnSF main stage. This year, we’ll also announce the winner of last year’s competition, based on the performance of their 2024 pitch. Join us to see which school takes the lead in insight, analysis, and returns.
Panel Discussion
Investing in China: Challenge and Opportunity
Two of the top global experts on China discuss long-term investment strategies in the current political environment.
MELISSA J. MA
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Asia Alternatives
Biography
Prior to launching Asia Alternatives, Ms. Ma was a Director at H&F, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. She was involved with sourcing and monitoring H&F’s investments in financial and professional services. She helped manage H&F’s relationships with its investors and had a leading role in its fundraising activities.
Previously, Ms. Ma worked at McKinsey & Co., Inc. in the Hong Kong and San Francisco offices. From 1995-2000, she worked in the Hong Kong office of McKinsey in the Corporate Finance Practice and the Financial Institutions Practice. Ms. Ma was also a Financial Analyst in the Financial Institutions Group in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Ms. Ma received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and holds an A.B. in Economics and East Asian Studies, magna cum laude, from Harvard College. She is proficient in Mandarin Chinese.
Ms. Ma currently sits on a number of Advisory Boards for several of Asia Alternatives’ private equity and special situations funds. In addition, she serves on the Boards of the East-West Center (appointed by US Secretary of State), Asia Society (Northern California), One Sky (formerly Half the Sky), Lick Wilmerding High School, San Francisco Zoo and the Harvard College Fund Executive Committee. She is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Gold, the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Committee on United States-China Relations.
JEFF SHEN, PhD
Managing Director, Co-Chief Investment
Officer and Co-Head of Systematic Active Equities, BlackRock
Biography
Dr. Shen’s service with BlackRock dates back to 2004, including his years with Barclays Global Investors (BGI), which merged with BlackRock in 2009. At BGI, he was the Head of Investment for Asia Pacific and Emerging Market active equities. Prior to joining BGI, he began his career in 1997 with JP Morgan where he held numerous positions in global macro investment and asset allocation research in both New York and London.
Dr. Shen earned a BA degree in Economics from Hobart College, a MA degree in Economics from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a PhD degree in Finance from New York University.
Dr. Shen is an adjunct professor at NYU teaching an MBA class on international investment. He also serves on the advisory board of the Clausen Center at UC Berkeley.
PETER LARDNER, CFA (Moderator)
Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Biography
Prior to Goldman, he was a financial correspondent for Reuters news agency in London and Tokyo. Peter earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from London Business School. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of San Francisco. Pete and his wife are raising their four children in Marin County.
Panel Discussion
Investing in China: Challenge and Opportunity
Two of the top global experts on China discuss long-term investment strategies in the current political environment.
MELISSA J. MA
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Asia Alternatives
Biography
Prior to launching Asia Alternatives, Ms. Ma was a Director at H&F, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. She was involved with sourcing and monitoring H&F’s investments in financial and professional services. She helped manage H&F’s relationships with its investors and had a leading role in its fundraising activities.
Previously, Ms. Ma worked at McKinsey & Co., Inc. in the Hong Kong and San Francisco offices. From 1995-2000, she worked in the Hong Kong office of McKinsey in the Corporate Finance Practice and the Financial Institutions Practice. Ms. Ma was also a Financial Analyst in the Financial Institutions Group in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Ms. Ma received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and holds an A.B. in Economics and East Asian Studies, magna cum laude, from Harvard College. She is proficient in Mandarin Chinese.
Ms. Ma currently sits on a number of Advisory Boards for several of Asia Alternatives’ private equity and special situations funds. In addition, she serves on the Boards of the East-West Center (appointed by US Secretary of State), Asia Society (Northern California), One Sky (formerly Half the Sky), Lick Wilmerding High School, San Francisco Zoo and the Harvard College Fund Executive Committee. She is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Gold, the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Committee on United States-China Relations.
JEFF SHEN, PhD
Managing Director, Co-Chief Investment
Officer and Co-Head of Systematic Active Equities, BlackRock
Biography
Dr. Shen’s service with BlackRock dates back to 2004, including his years with Barclays Global Investors (BGI), which merged with BlackRock in 2009. At BGI, he was the Head of Investment for Asia Pacific and Emerging Market active equities. Prior to joining BGI, he began his career in 1997 with JP Morgan where he held numerous positions in global macro investment and asset allocation research in both New York and London.
Dr. Shen earned a BA degree in Economics from Hobart College, a MA degree in Economics from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a PhD degree in Finance from New York University.
Dr. Shen is an adjunct professor at NYU teaching an MBA class on international investment. He also serves on the advisory board of the Clausen Center at UC Berkeley.
PETE LARDNER, CFA (Moderator)
Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Biography
Prior to Goldman, he was a financial correspondent for Reuters news agency in London and Tokyo. Pete earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from London Business School. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of San Francisco. Pete and his wife are raising their four children in Marin County.
SohnSF Leadership Forum: The Power of Mindset
KEREN ELDAD
Executive Coach,
With Enthusiasm Coaching, INC
Biography
Keren Eldad (“Coach Keren”) is a top executive coach helping high achievers—from Olympic athletes to Fortune 500 leaders—reach extraordinary success. As the bestselling author of GILDED: Break Free From the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More, she challenges ambitious individuals to redefine success on their own terms.
As the founder of THE CLUB, Keren empowers high performers to unlock their full potential. Recognized as a Top Ten Executive Coach by the ICF, Real Leaders Magazine, and Goop, she holds advanced degrees from The London School of Economics and the University of Jerusalem. A former C-suite executive with experience in 17 countries, she coaches in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and French.
With over 500,000 TEDx views and a global speaking presence, Keren’s insights inspire leaders worldwide. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Ryan, and their beloved pets.
In Conversation with:
LINDSAY COSTIGAN, CAIA
Managing Director,
BNP Paribas
Biography
Lindsay Costigan is a seasoned finance executive with a proven track record of success in Prime Finance Distribution. As a Managing Director at BNP Paribas, she oversees relationships with hedge funds and asset owners across the Western U.S., driving business growth and identifying new opportunities.
With a career spanning over two decades, Lindsay has held senior roles at top financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Securities, and Jefferies, where she excelled in Prime Brokerage Sales and Capital Introductions. Her early career began as an analyst at US Trust and later in hedge fund due diligence at Wells Fargo Family Wealth.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Lindsay is a mother of two and an accomplished equestrian, competing at the Grand Prix level in show jumping. She is also a passionate advocate for supporting underrepresented youth in the Bay Area, serving on the Excellence in Investing for Children’s Causes Foundation Board (“SohnSF”). Additionally, Lindsay serves on the Pepperdine University Board, where she helps recruit and mentor the next generation of finance professionals.
Lindsay has been a featured speaker at prominent industry events, including Bloomberg’s Sell-Side network, the Sohn San Francisco Investment Conference, and MFA Network, sharing her expertise with the alternative investment community. She has also been recognized by the Hedge Fund Journal as one of 50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds (2023).
Lindsay holds a BA in Economics from Occidental College and an MBA from Pepperdine University, as well as the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation.
SohnSF Leadership Forum: The Power of Mindset
KEREN ELDAD
Executive Coach,
With Enthusiasm Coaching, INC
Biography
Keren Eldad (“Coach Keren”) is a top executive coach helping high achievers—from Olympic athletes to Fortune 500 leaders—reach extraordinary success. As the bestselling author of GILDED: Break Free From the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More, she challenges ambitious individuals to redefine success on their own terms.
As the founder of THE CLUB, Keren empowers high performers to unlock their full potential. Recognized as a Top Ten Executive Coach by the ICF, Real Leaders Magazine, and Goop, she holds advanced degrees from The London School of Economics and the University of Jerusalem. A former C-suite executive with experience in 17 countries, she coaches in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and French.
With over 500,000 TEDx views and a global speaking presence, Keren’s insights inspire leaders worldwide. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Ryan, and their beloved pets.
In Conversation with:
LINDSAY COSTIGAN, CAIA
Managing Director,
BNP Paribas
Biography
Lindsay Costigan is a seasoned finance executive with a proven track record of success in Prime Finance Distribution. As a Managing Director at BNP Paribas, she oversees relationships with hedge funds and asset owners across the Western U.S., driving business growth and identifying new opportunities.
With a career spanning over two decades, Lindsay has held senior roles at top financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Securities, and Jefferies, where she excelled in Prime Brokerage Sales and Capital Introductions. Her early career began as an analyst at US Trust and later in hedge fund due diligence at Wells Fargo Family Wealth.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Lindsay is a mother of two and an accomplished equestrian, competing at the Grand Prix level in show jumping. She is also a passionate advocate for supporting underrepresented youth in the Bay Area, serving on the Excellence in Investing for Children’s Causes Foundation Board (“SohnSF”). Additionally, Lindsay serves on the Pepperdine University Board, where she helps recruit and mentor the next generation of finance professionals.
Lindsay has been a featured speaker at prominent industry events, including Bloomberg’s Sell-Side network, the Sohn San Francisco Investment Conference, and MFA Network, sharing her expertise with the alternative investment community. She has also been recognized by the Hedge Fund Journal as one of 50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds (2023).
Lindsay holds a BA in Economics from Occidental College and an MBA from Pepperdine University, as well as the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation.
SohnSF Next Wave Speakers
Sponsored by:
SohnSF Next Wave Speakers
Sponsored by:
JIM EDWARDS
Managing Partner, Maestria Partners
Biography
JIM EDWARDS
Managing Partner, Maestria Partners
Biography
GAURAV GUPTA
Founder & CIO, Floating Capital
Biography
Gaurav Gupta is the Founder and CIO of Floating Capital, a concentrated technology investment fund based in San Francisco. Floating Capital seeks to be long-term partners to generational, often non-consensus, technology companies that it believes can be multi-baggers. Floating Capital’s team is comprised solely of senior partners who have worked together for over a decade across investing and operating roles, and an Advisory Board of prominent tech founders and executives. The team is augmented by an internally developed proprietary software platform, Floating.ai. Prior to founding Floating Capital, Gaurav spent nine years at Light Street Capital, where he led Internet, media, and fintech investments globally ex. China. Gaurav started his career at Goldman Sachs in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications group in San Francisco after graduating from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.
GAURAV GUPTA
Founder & CIO, Floating Capital
Biography
Gaurav Gupta is the Founder and CIO of Floating Capital, a concentrated technology investment fund based in San Francisco. Floating Capital seeks to be long-term partners to generational, often non-consensus, technology companies that it believes can be multi-baggers. Floating Capital’s team is comprised solely of senior partners who have worked together for over a decade across investing and operating roles, and an Advisory Board of prominent tech founders and executives. The team is augmented by an internally developed proprietary software platform, Floating.ai. Prior to founding Floating Capital, Gaurav spent nine years at Light Street Capital, where he led Internet, media, and fintech investments globally ex. China. Gaurav started his career at Goldman Sachs in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications group in San Francisco after graduating from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.
SHAUN MEHRA
Founder, Ishara Investments
Biography
Mr. Mehra previously worked at four global, multi-billion dollar investment firms including Citadel Global Equities and Silver Lake Partners. He has experience across public equities, PE/VC, and investment banking in the healthcare and technology sectors. Mehra holds degrees in business from the Wharton School and biomedical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
He has served as an alumni moderator and science judge for the National Science Bowl, a Department of Energy organization that strives to prepare students nationwide for STEM careers, since 2011.
SHAUN MEHRA
Founder, Ishara Investments
Biography
Mr. Mehra previously worked at four global, multi-billion dollar investment firms including Citadel Global Equities and Silver Lake Partners. He has experience across public equities, PE/VC, and investment banking in the healthcare and technology sectors. Mehra holds degrees in business from the Wharton School and biomedical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
He has served as an alumni moderator and science judge for the National Science Bowl, a Department of Energy organization that strives to prepare students nationwide for STEM careers, since 2011.
JUN Y. OH
CIO, Griet Capital
Biography
At Peregrine Securities, he was an equity analyst in charge of the Korean semiconductor and electronics sector. After completing his undergraduate degree, he completed the 2-year investment banking analyst program at JP Morgan in New York. He has an MBA from MIT Sloan and a B.A. in East Asian Studies from Yale College.
JUN Y. OH
CIO, Griet Capital
Biography
At Peregrine Securities, he was an equity analyst in charge of the Korean semiconductor and electronics sector. After completing his undergraduate degree, he completed the 2-year investment banking analyst program at JP Morgan in New York. He has an MBA from MIT Sloan and a B.A. in East Asian Studies from Yale College.
RECEPTION
5:00PM – 6:00PM
Sponsored by:
Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors
Over $3.5 Million Raised
to support Bay Area organizations focused on improving educational opportunities and life outcomes for underserved youth.
