Paul Kessler

Paul Kessler has extensive experience with emerging growth companies which, for a variety of factors, trade below their fundamental value, and, when necessary, will lead activist efforts with both company boards and executives. He is well-versed at identifying deep value activist opportunities in a variety of industries. He has broad experience in finance, actively sourcing and identifying investment opportunities, and negotiating, structuring and re-structuring investment transactions with emerging growth public companies. His responsibilities include implementation of trading strategies as well directing trading in portfolio securities. Paul Kessler has negotiated and worked on numerous mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, venture capital, private equity, re-structuring and other capital market activities. His experience includes many forms of active investing as well as negotiating transactions involving common stock, debt and/or preferred instruments or combinations thereof, including novel warrant structures. He has actively worked with executives and boards of companies on corporate governance and oversight, strategic repositioning and alignment of interests with shareholders. Paul Kessler has guided and overseen over 650+ investment transactions, whether as lead, co-lead, or syndicate investor. Paul Kessler’s vast networks of relationships have consistently provided the Fund with excellent investment opportunities. Paul Kessler has been recognized as an active investor, financier and venture capitalist. His investments have focused on emerging growth public companies and, to a lesser extent, private companies on the path to becoming public. As an investor he has invested, provided seed capital, and/or founded numerous successful companies including Cheniere Energy, Inc., Lion Biotechnologies, Inc., Cantango Oil and Gas Company, The Los Angeles Film School, Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc., Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Miller Energy Resources, Inc., Genspera, Inc., Research Solutions, Inc., Wizard World, Inc., and Energous Corporation, to name a few. Additionally, Paul Kessler co-founded Start Engine, LLC, the largest technology incubator in Los Angeles which has launched over 50 technology companies since its inception. Paul Kessler has been a guest speaker on the subject of financing emerging growth public companies at a variety of forums, including The Pipe's Conference, Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA), Wall Street Reporter's Pipe Conference, and UCLA Anderson School of Management, Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management. He has attended courses at various colleges and universities, including Harvard Business School's Executive Education Program and UCLA's Extension Program. Paul Kessler has passed the Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor Examination.