ANN ARBOR, MICH. – August 11, 2014 — The Michigan Venture Capital Association’s (MVCA) Venture Fellows Program announces the placement of new Fellow Daniel Ratliff with Detroit-based Fontinalis Partners. The Venture Fellows program matches talented, highly motivated, emerging professionals with venture capital firms in order to grow the next generation of venture professionals in Michigan. Ratliff will be an associate with Fontinalis, responsible for a variety of tasks involving current portfolio companies, evaluating prospective investments, fundraising, reporting, and conducting research.
“From the outset, it’s clear the Fellows Program will be a great tool during my early progression as an associate with Fontinalis, providing a variety of additional resources and support outside of my new organization as I begin building a career in venture capital,” said Ratliff. “As I get more settled in with Fontinalis, I look forward to engaging in the MVCA and Venture Fellows networks and creating opportunities to help grow both Fontinalis and the greater venture capital community in Michigan.”
“We are excited to welcome Dan to the growing Fontinalis team in Detroit, where he will be a critical component of our investment staff going forward,” said Chris Stallman, a principal at Fontinalis. “Supportive programs like the MVCA Venture Fellows Program allow us to ensure that we remain thought leaders in next-generation mobility, and we look forward to continuing our commitment to Michigan by partnering with and investing in the best and brightest Michigan-based companies in our space.”
“The Michigan Venture Fellows Program provides critical support to the state’s efforts to grow the venture capital industry here,” said Carrie Jones, MVCA executive director. “The Michigan Venture Fellows Program is an important tool in attracting and retaining talent here, and helps venture capital firms hire the best and brightest to expand their capabilities.”
Prior to joining Fontinalis, Ratliff was an analyst at P&M Corporate Finance (PMCF), an investment banking affiliate of national accounting and professional services firm Plante Moran. During his three years at PMCF, he was engaged on numerous buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions focused on the plastics and packaging manufacturing space, working with a range of business and finance professionals including entrepreneurs, private equity investors, and other investment bankers.
Ratliff earned his master’s degree in finance from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, and he holds a bachelor of arts degree in accounting from the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University.
MVCA recently received $987,850 from the Michigan Strategic Fund for Venture Upstart III, which includes the Michigan Venture Fellows Program. Since 2012, the Michigan Venture Fellows Program has placed nine fellows at venture capital firms throughout the state.
About The Michigan Venture Capital Association
The Michigan Venture Capital Association is a non-profit trade organization designed to bring together venture capital industry participants in the state of Michigan. The organization’s goal is to grow and sustain a vibrant venture capital community in Michigan. Michigan Venture Capital Association members include private venture capital funds, corporate venture capital funds, private equity firms, angel investors, and entrepreneurial infrastructure participants. More than 200 individuals are members of the Michigan Venture Capital Association, representing 100+ organizations across the state. For more information, visit www.MichiganVCA.org
About Fontinalis Partners
Fontinalis Partners is a strategic venture capital firm focused on the next-generation mobility sector. Fontinalis was founded in Detroit in 2009, and the firm now has offices in both Detroit and Boston. Fontinalis’ mission is to leverage the team’s considerable management experience, market access, strategic relationships, international expertise, and background in transportation innovation to scale companies providing next-generation mobility solutions. Fontinalis invests as a strategic partner across all facets of the world’s mobility systems on a stage-, structure- and size-agnostic basis. More information about Fontinalis is available at www.fontinalis.com.
CONTACT:
Jennifer Cornell
734-765-0174
[email protected]