Rafaella is the Head of Capital Formation at Fulcrum Venture Group, where she plays a pivotal role in driving the firm's growth and strategic initiatives. She brings extensive prior experience from working with two emerging venture managers, where she was instrumental in fundraising efforts, developing tech stacks, deal sourcing, and screening. Her comprehensive approach has consistently added value to early-stage venture firms by building robust operating processes and evaluating high-potential investment opportunities.

Prior to her career in venture capital, Rafaella served as the US Director for Champagne Bollinger, leading their US strategy with notable success. Her leadership in the luxury goods sector provided her with deep insights into strategic market positioning and brand management.

Rafaella is a passionate advocate for increasing Latinx representation in venture capital. She previously served as co-President of Latina Venture Students, the first community dedicated to Latina students in the field. Rafaella holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and degrees in Economics and Sociology from Columbia University.

Brandon Karpf brings extensive experience in national security, cybersecurity, and business operations to his role at Fulcrum Venture Group. He started his career in the US Navy, serving as a Cryptologic Warfare Officer with leadership positions at the National Security Agency, US Cyber Command, and onboard USS Boxer.

After his military career, Brandon transitioned to the private sector, co-founding a cybersecurity startup and working as a Cybersecurity Consultant at KNC Strategic Services. He also held positions as an Adjunct Professor of Cyber Science and Electrical Engineering at the US Naval Academy and a Curriculum Developer at MIT.

Brandon's technology industry experience includes roles as a Research Engineer at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and a Data System Engineer at the National Reconnaissance Office. Currently, he is the General Manager, Vice President, and Executive Editor at N2K Networks and N2K CyberWire. In these roles, he leads sales, product development, marketing, strategic initiatives, and the distribution of market intelligence.

Brandon holds a Master of Science in Technology and Policy (Computer Science) from MIT and an Executive MBA from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Robotics and Controls Engineering from the US Naval Academy, graduating 12th in his class. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Project Management Professional (PMP).

Nick Hesselgrave is a Marine Infantry Veteran, former Management Consultant, and seasoned SaaS Sales Professional. With a successful track record across companies of all sizes, he brings vast sales experience to Fulcrum Venture Group.

As a Management Consultant at Oliver Wyman, Nick led engagements with Fortune 500 companies across diverse industries, equipping him to analyze complex business problems and frame effective solutions. In the sales domain, he has excelled in both startups and established companies, consistently achieving top performance and recognition.

Nick is available to work closely with our portfolio companies, helping them develop and execute early sales strategies. His consultative approach and process-driven philosophy ensure that early-stage companies can secure their first paying customers and build robust sales frameworks.

Nick holds a B.A. in Economics & Philosophy from Columbia University.

Nicholas Mirisis is a seasoned Growth Executive with over 25 years of experience in building and scaling technology companies. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer & Board Director of HomeTown Ticketing, a hyper-growth Series-B SaaS company serving U.S. K-12 institutions with social media, communications, event management, fundraising and engagement solutions.

Previously, Nicholas was the Chief Revenue Officer & President/GM eCommerce at SamCart, where he drove the company's growth from $10M to $30M ARR in 24 months. He also held leadership roles at GoCanvas, doubling ARR to nearly $50M, and at Dude Solutions, where he helped scale the company from $1M to $100M in revenue.

Throughout his career, he has collaborated with numerous PE and VC firms, advising over two dozen SaaS and tech companies. His extensive network and strategic insights are invaluable to Fulcrum Venture Group, supporting deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio company growth.

Nicholas holds a B.A. in Political Science from North Carolina State University and an M.A. in Government from Johns Hopkins University.

Matthew Kuta is the President and Co-Founder of Voyager Space. He was also the founding Executive Director for Space for Humanity, a non-profit organization that has sent multiple diverse passengers into orbit on commercial space vehicles. Prior to Voyager Space, Matthew was a key member of the private equity investment team at Goldman Sachs in New York City. Matthew started his private sector career focusing on middle market private equity at Plexus Capital in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Matthew Kuta is also an accomplished leader with global operational experience. As a former military officer, he has led large multi-national teams in very high-stakes initiatives as an F-15E fighter pilot. He has been recognized for multiple professional accolades to include the Jabara Award, awarded to the top U.S. Air Force Academy alumni for contributions to aviation. He is also a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the highest medal solely for aviation in the U.S. military that can be awarded in combat.

Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He is on the Board of Directors of Voyager Space, the National Defense Industrial Association, the United States Air Force Academy Endowment, and Space for Humanity. He is also a Member for the Council on Foreign Relations. Matthew resides in Denver with his wife and two daughters.

Bill Spruill is an accomplished entrepreneur and executive with over 20 years of experience in building and scaling high-growth technology companies. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Global Data Consortium (GDC), where he led the company to significant success, forming over 50 enterprise channel relationships and generating more than $70 million in revenues. GDC was acquired by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) in 2022.

Prior to GDC, Bill held leadership roles at DataFlux/SAS and AddressDoctor, where he drove substantial revenue growth and strategic partnerships. Bill is also an active investor, advising and investing in early-stage companies. His extensive experience includes mentoring over 50 companies and serving on the executive committees of the North Carolina Council for Entrepreneurial Development and Triangle Family Services. His family office, 2ndF, is deeply committed to helping grow Raleigh's venture ecosystem.

Bill attended Northrop University in Los Angeles and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His vast network and strategic insights are invaluable to Fulcrum Venture Group, supporting deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio company growth.