Energize is heading into the final stretch of 2022 with a larger team and a stronger platform. Throughout the year, we’ve been focused on doubling down on our efforts to provide our portfolio with operational and commercial support post-investment – from helping them measure impact and build out ESG strategies, to providing technical expertise in sales and go-to-market strategies. We’re excited to officially announce the addition of two new senior team members dedicated to helping our firms scale up and mature their operations.
Over the summer, we welcomed Jeff Schmidt as our Head of Commercialization and David Yi as a Portfolio Finance Specialist. As seasoned software operators, together Jeff and David will help our growing portfolio of software companies capture value realization and commercialization opportunities.
In his role as Head of Commercialization, Jeff supports Energize’s portfolio in planning and executing go-to-market strategies. He provides leadership and hands-on coaching around sales, customer success and business development, including helping companies build pricing strategies, develop sales and account management processes, and hone their value propositions. He also serves as a critical bridge between Energize’s strategic Limited Partners (LPs) and corporate network and Energize’s portfolio companies, helping match corporate innovation and sustainability priorities with our portfolio’s technology solutions.
Jeff brings three decades of operational and sales expertise spanning tech and SaaS startups, public markets, and venture capital. Most recently, he supported portfolio business development for Norwest Venture Partners and served as Chief Revenue Officer for Energize’s portfolio company DroneDeploy. He also has functional experience at startups such as ClearSlide, Hightail and Pivotlink (now SMARTFOCUS).
“Jeff has firsthand experience in commercially scaling technology companies at nearly every stage of growth. This is where he can add incredible value to our portfolio – he’s been there, he’s lived it, and he is equipped with solutions to help these founding teams unlock incremental growth,” said Energize Partner and Chief Operating Officer Katie McClain.
As a Portfolio Finance Specialist, David acts as a consulting resource for our firm and platform, occasionally serving as a stop gap to provide interim support for portfolio companies. He brings more than 25 years of experience in finance and accounting. Having served as a consultant for 12 of those years, David has worked with more than 30 early- and growth-stage cleantech and SaaS companies – including Clean Power Finance, Matterport and AMP Robotics – to create finance and accounting functions, implement technology systems, and develop and implement accounting policies. He has held leadership roles across the FP&A discipline, including serving as CFO or Head of Finance and leading investor relations .
“The perspective David has gained from working within different facets of venture capital is an invaluable asset to Energize and our portfolio,” said John Tough, Energize’s Managing Partner. “In his short time at Energize he has already worked directly with three investments, and his understanding of business financials and mechanisms for driving enterprise value are unparalleled.”
Energize has also recently added two new senior investment associates, Jarell Mason and Meredith Breach, to support due diligence and deal flow for our venture and growth funds. We are grateful for our firm’s continued growth as these new teammates join Energize’s ranks!
