By Sun Jen Yung, Partner, Head of Digital Media, Nfluence Partners
Amidst a robust macroeconomic environment, market activity in the digital news sector has been marked with increased regulatory and publisher uncertainty. We explore a set of key themes driving funding and acquisition activity, along with new strategies being implemented by leading players.
Partner
Brewer Stone is a Partner and co-founder of Nfluence Partners. Brewer has 20+ years of experience in investment banking, venture capital, and finance. Previously, Brewer was a Managing Director for Pacific Crest Securities and FBR. Brewer focuses on Commerce and Marketing-related SaaS, Marketplaces, IoT, and Clean Energy & Mobility Technologies. Brewer lived in China and India for eight years and can speak fluent Chinese. You can find Brewer and his family racing down the slopes in Tahoe or out rowing in the bay.
Education:
Ph. D., Politics and Economics, Harvard University
M.A., International Politics and Economics, Johns Hopkins University
BA, U.C. Berkeley
Brewer Stone is a Registered Representative of BA Securities, LLC. Member FINRA SIPC
Managing Director
Michael Hakim is a Managing Director at Nfluence Partners. Mike has over 15 years of experience in M&A, growth equity, debt, strategic initiatives, and advisory in the technology sector. Previously, Mike was Managing Director & Co-head of TMT Investment Banking at Deloitte Corporate Finance in Los Angeles. Mike was also a Vice President at Drake Star Partners and an Associate with Ocean Park Advisors. Mike focuses on EdTech, FinTech Application SaaS, PropTech and Safety/RegTech/GovTech. You can find Mike on a tennis court, poker table or out exploring Colorado with his wife and two young sons.
Education:
BA, Psychology, University of California, Berkeley
Michael Hakim is a Registered Representative of BA Securities, LLC. Member FINRA SIPC
Partner, Head of Digital Media
Sun Jen Yung is a Partner and co-founder at Nfluence Partners. Sun has 30 years of experience in investment banking and equity research. Previously, Sun has worked at Headwaters MB where she co-founded the TMT practice in 2011, and held senior Investment Banking positions at Oppenheimer, TD Securities, Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers. Sun focuses on Digital Media and Consumer Technology at Nfluence Partners. You can find Sun enjoying a glass of fine wine, hiking in Colorado or out competing with her rowing team.
Education:
MBA, Columbia Business School
BA, Macalester College
Sun Jen Yung is a Registered Representative of BA Securities, LLC. Member FINRA SIPC
Director
Kelsey Vinson Pols is a Director at Nfluence Partners. Kelsey has 10+ years of experience in investment banking and management consulting. Previously, Kelsey was Senior Associate at Rothschild & Co and FocalPoint Partners, and a Consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) – Expand and FTI Consulting. Kelsey focuses on Consumer Technology at Nfluence Partners. Kelsey has a love for traveling having been to over 70 countries and all seven continents.
Education:
MPhil, Finance and Real Estate, University of Cambridge
BBA, Finance, University of Georgia
Kelsey Vinson Pols is a Registered Representative of BA Securities, LLC. Member FINRA SIPC
Managing Director
John Sternfield is a Managing Director at Nfluence Partners. John has 30+ years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance. Previously, John was the Managing Director and Head of Technology and Investment Banking at Petsky Prunier, and Cantor Fitzgerald. John was also a Managing Director and Head of Communications Investment Banking at Piper Jaffray. John focuses on Customer Experience & Engagement and Marketing & Advertising Technology at Nfluence Partners. You can find John out playing golf, riding his road bike, or cooking up a Michelin star meal.
Education:
MBA, Harvard Graduate School of Business
BA, University of Pennsylvania
John Sternfield is a Registered Representative of BA Securities, LLC. Member FINRA SIPC
Partner
John Batdorf is a Partner, COO, and co-founder of Nfluence Partners. John has 30+ years of experience in investment banking. Previously, John was the Managing Director of Tech, Media & Telecom for Headwaters MB and Head of Software & Internet at Viant Capital. John was also a Director at SG Cowen Securities Corporation in the software group, responsible for originating and executing securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions transactions for software companies. John focuses on the Marketing & Advertising Technology and the Data Analytics, Management & DaaS sectors. John enjoys traveling to our national parks, winning fantasy sports leagues, and watching his daughter dominate on the soccer field.
Education:
MBA, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College
BS, Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude), Georgetown University
John Batdorf is a Registered Representative of BA Securities, LLC. Member FINRA SIPC
Managing Partner
Gary Moon is our Managing Partner and co-founded Nfluence Partners. Gary has 25+ years of experience in technology investment banking and entrepreneurship. Previously, Gary ran the Tech, Media and Telecom practice for Headwaters MB which Gary and our Partners grew into a top 5 Technology M&A Boutique. Gary focuses on managing the firm’s institutional investor network and working with mission-aligned businesses including the Wellness Technology and Digital Health sectors. Gary also serves on the San Francisco Bay Area board of Build.org, a non-profit teaching entrepreneurship to high school students in under resourced communities. Gary and his partner Maria have 5 kids between them, ranging in age 7 to 25. You can find them traveling somewhere in the world on various adventures.
Education:
BS, Stanford University
Gary Moon is a Registered Representative of BA Securities, LLC. Member FINRA SIPC
Executive in Residence
Angel Gambino is an Executive in Residence at Nfluence Partners. Angel is an accomplished founder, executive, innovator, and investor. Angel’s experience includes strategy, partnerships, marketing, content, distribution, and team building, ranging from startups to multi-billion dollar companies. She began her career as a public interest environmental attorney before discovering a love of tech. She was also a professional soccer player. You can find Angel helping advance her passion causes and making killer spaghetti for her son.
Education:
JD, Law, University of Oregon School of Law
Masters, Ocean and Coastal Policy, University of Oregon
BA, History and Political Science, Missouri Valley College
Managing Director
Kenneth Chan is a Managing Director at Nfluence Partners. Ken has over 15 years of experience in M&A, growth equity, structured investments, strategic initiatives, and advisory in the technology sector. Previously, Ken was an Investment Partner at BroadLight Capital and led Macquarie Capital’s Principal Finance west coast operation in digital infrastructure and technology. Ken was also an Investment Director at Tennenbaum Capital Partners and an Investment Banker with UBS Investment Bank. Ken focuses on the Human Capital Management sector and emerging B2B software companies. Ken enjoys hosting dinner parties, creating arts with his son and spending the afternoon biking along the beach. He and his family have traveled extensively to experience different cultures.
Education:
MS, Finance and Financial Management Services, Boston University
BA, Economics, University of Pennsylvania
BS, Finance, General (Summa Cum Laude), The Wharton School
Managing Director
Bill Billeaud is a Managing Director of Deal Origination and drives strategic Business Development for Nfluence Partners. Bill has over 30+ years’ experience as an entrepreneur and leader in technology and in tech corporate finance. Recently, Bill sourced and closed several transformational transactions between elite Snowflake and Google Cloud partners and their Global 500 and Private Equity suitors. Bill loves to travel around the world and has visited 49 US states. He speaks Spanish fluently. Today, Bill is busy trying to keep up with his two teenage daughters in Texas.
Education:
Post MBA, Johns Hopkins, Thunderbird and UIUC
International MBA, Saint Louis University
BA, Political Science and History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Administrative Assistant
Barbra Coen is the Executive Assistant at Nfluence Partners. Barbra has 6+ years of administrative experience. Previously, Barbra worked as Administrative Specialist at BlackRock. Barbra focuses on coordinating internal and external meetings, travel, and project management for Nfluence Partners. Barbra enjoys playing pickleball, traveling for tournaments, and trying new recipes in the kitchen.
Education:
BS, Business Administration, Sonoma State University
Analyst
Damian Moon is an Analyst at Nfluence Partners with 2+ years of experience in investment banking. Previously, Damian was a Summer Analyst at Nfluence Partners, and CFO of a CPG start up that raised additional investor capital. Damian enjoys watching soccer and is an avid FC Barcelona supporter.
Education:
BS, Environmental Economics & Policy, U.C. Berkeley
Analyst
Peter Lindae is an Analyst at Nfluence Partners and has 3 years of experience in investment banking. Previously, Peter was a Fall Analyst with Nfluence Partners, and Summer Analyst at Horizon Capital, a leading private equity fund manager in Emerging Europe. Peter spends his time with friends and family, cooking, making music, and exploring San Francisco with his dachshund Odie.
Education:
BA, Economics and Political, Specializing in International Macro-Finance., University of California, Davis
Director
Rachel Candler is a Director at Nfluence Partners. Rachel has 15+ years of experience in investment banking. Previously, Rachel was Director at Capstone Headwaters, Vice President at RBC Capital Markets and Daniels & Associates where she focused on providing M&A and capital advisory services to the telecommunications industry. Rachel focuses on HR Technology at Nfluence Partners. Rachel enjoys family time skiing, traveling to sunny locations, and having brunch with friends.
Education:
MBA, Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt
BS, University of Denver
Director
Monica Mariani is a Director at Nfluence Partners. Monica has 15+ years of experience in investment banking. Previously, Monica was a Director at Woodside Capital Partners, Associate at Rutberg & Company, and an Analyst at Lazard Freres. Monica focuses on Education Technology at Nfluence Partners. Monica is fluent in Italian and has traveled all over the world. She spends her time enjoying country music, eating candy bars and trying new restaurants with friends.
Education:
MS, International Business Economics from City University London
MS, Financial Analysis from University of San Francisco
BS, International Securities, Investment Banking from University of Reading
Analyst
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