The Portfolio

Ventures

A portfolio career built deliberately — investing in bold founders, building platforms that bring people together, and developing the leaders behind them.

2024 — Present

Current ventures

Clear Skies Venture Capital

2024 – Present United States Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Clear Skies is a venture capital firm backing bold founders building a positive future. The firm invests in seed to venture-stage companies across AI, robotics, space, healthcare, beauty, wellness, enterprise, fintech, and more — stage agnostic, conviction led.

clearskies.vc →

Common Bonds

2024 – Present United States Founder

A digital community platform for private, typically B2B, communities — designed to promote rich peer-to-peer interaction, member matching, deep discovery, and community monetization. Common Bonds serves associations, industry groups, and private equity and venture capital portfolio communities, and currently powers FI Community.

commonbonds.com →

Syntrina Leadership

2018 – Present Indianapolis, Indiana Co-Founder & Managing Partner

A network of experienced executive coaches and thought leaders delivering uniquely intimate, exclusively designed development experiences for senior leaders. Syntrina’s mission: provide an intensely human experience that fosters greater individual self-mastery and extraordinary leadership impact.

syntrinaleadership.com →

FI Community

2013 – Present Indianapolis, Indiana Executive Director

The largest online community of financial institution professionals, and Fiserv’s primary client-to-client peer platform — serving over 10,000 financial institution employees worldwide through nationwide collaboration.

ficommunity.com →

The Track Record

Past ventures

Two decades of building, advising, and exiting — beginning in a college dorm room.

Passageways

2003 – 2012 West Lafayette, Indiana Creator & Co-Founder · VP Product Development

Built from a college dorm room into an industry-leading enterprise collaboration software company serving financial institutions in 7+ countries — and successfully exited.

  • Inc. 500 winner, 2008 — 27th fastest-growing software company in the U.S.
  • $100,000 initial investment; profitable within 3 years, and for 10+ years after
  • Grew to 450+ banks and credit unions globally, including 40 of the largest 300 U.S. institutions

Vendorcamp

2014 – 2016 Carmel, Indiana Founder & CEO

A vendor relationship management and community ratings platform for financial institutions — profitable in its first year, with customers holding $500M+ in assets.

CUNA Online Network

2015 United States Community Launch Strategist

Facilitated the strategic direction, development, and launch of the Credit Union National Association’s Online Network — serving over 75,000 financial institution managers, CIOs, CFOs, marketing professionals, and CEOs.

Rake Digital Media

Nashville, Tennessee Co-Founder & CTO

A digital media company specializing in production management and large-scale display of media — hashtag-based photos, videos, and more.

FoundOps

2013 Strategic Advisor

An online service delivery facilitation startup named Top Startup of the Year at Startup Bowl, Indiana 2012 — IP and team integrated into Angie’s List (NASDAQ: ANGI) in early 2013.

BuzzJoy

2013 Strategic Advisor

A platform helping local businesses find each other and partner more efficiently.

Building Something Bold?

Great teams deserve great partners.

If you’re a founder with an idea that matters, I’d love to hear what you’re building.

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