2023 Annual Alumni Forum & Dinner 

 

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Welcome back!  Wharton Private Equity & Venture Capital Alumni Association (WPEVCAA) is delighted to invite our global community of Wharton and UPenn alumni investing in private equity, venture capital or other private alternative investment strategies to join us for our first in-person event in recent years this spring at the New York Athletic Club. 
 
The annual Alumni Forum & Dinner has been a hallmark event over the past two decades attracting over 150+ WPEVC members and alumni to re-connect and re-engage around the common bond of both the Wharton/UPenn education and the alternative investment industry expertise. 

WPEVCAA is the only alumni club dedicated to serving the interests of the 4,000+ UPenn and Wharton alumni who are investment professionals around the globe.  
 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Time: 3:30 PM Registration opens; 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location:  New York Athletic Club, 180 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019 
(212) 767-7000 
Note: Members only event
 
Bundled Tickets (Membership + Event) must be purchased by SUNDAY, April 16 at midnight ET. Additional pricing and registration information below. 
register-now-button
 
 
 
 
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
parekh--2- susan-garrett--2- _milan-koch-new
Ryan Hinkle
Insight Partners
Susan Garrett
Prudential   
Milan Koch
Mantis VC
 
PROGRAM SPEAKERS 
crichlow-akilah friedman-jenny gendeson-ari glassman-ken--1-
Akilah Crichlow
Warburg Pincus
Jennifer Friedman
Four Acres Capital
Ari Gendason 
Continental Grain
Company
   Ken Glassman  
RWN Management
golden-leslie haimovic-dan himmel-andrea jannuzzi-pj
Leslie Golden
DigitalBridge
Daniel Haimovic
SC Holdings
Andrea Himmel
Himmel + Meringoff Properties 
PJ Jannuzzi
Blackstone 
_brian-kasser--1- mathias-ed mejia-sheryl myers-lisa
Brian Kasser
Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe 
Ed Mathias
The Carlyle Group
Sheryl Mejia
Steward Asset Management 
Lisa Myers
Clerisy 
_anna-nekoranec--1- smith-darryl sturvis warner-greg
Anna Nekoranec
Align Private Capital
Darryl Smith
Pacific Avenue Capital Partners
Gary Survis
Insight Partners
Greg Warner
Ingleside Investors
  weiner zaken  
  Jared Weiner
Veritable, LP
Jordan Zaken 
Gamut Capital Management
 
                    

PLANNING COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs
Bruce Eatroff, WG'89, Star Mountain Capital
Ari Gendason, W'97, WG'05, Continental Grain Company
Anna Nekoranec, WG'91, Align Private Capital

Committee Members
Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan, W'90, K6 Investments LLC
Leslie Golden, W’89, WG’96, DigitalBridge
Karen Griffith Gryga, WG'93, Biomeme, Inc.

Willy Guo, WG'19, BTG Pactual
Lisa Myers, W'89, Clerisy
Jennifer Signori, WG'13, Neubereger Berman


CLASS AMBASSADORS
Bruce Eatroff, WG'89, Star Mountain Capital
Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan, W'90, K6 Investments LLC
Tom Courtney, WG'90, The Courtney Group
Anna Nekoranec, WG'91, Align Private Capital
Karen Griffith Gryga, WG'93, Biomeme, Inc.

Rob Driscoll, WG'95, Driscoll Holdings
Craig Enenstein, WG'95, Corridor Capital
Mark Solovy, L'96, Monroe Capital
Rene Benedetto, WG'98, Certares Management
Dean Miller, WG'99, PCOM Innovation Fund
Bruce Schulman, WG'99, NGP Energy Technology Partners
John McCarty, W '99, Star Mountain Capital
Craig Reed, WG'00, MultiFormance Capital
Brett Topche, W'03, Red & Blue Ventures
Dave McCoy, WG'04, RCP Advisors
Justin Lott, W‘04, Appia Capital Partners

Michael Kopelman, WG'05
Mark Tyson, W'06, LBC Small Cap
Thomas Radford, W'07, Onex Falcon
Alejandro Lopez Delgado, WG'07, CDPQ
Tal Slobodkin, WG'08, StageOne Ventures
Bordon Lai, WG'09, Beach Point Capital Management
Jennifer Friedman, W'12, Four Acres Capital
Langdon Mitchell, WG'13, Siguler Guff
Vivek Jain, WG'14, H.I.G. Capital
Henry Elefter, WG'15, Partners Group
Jonathan Sockol, WG'16, Stone Court Capital 
Hannah Buchan, CL '16, Beehouse LLC
Allison Fiore, WG'17, Cortec Group
Albert Hu, WG'18, Neuberger Berman
Willy Guo, WG'19, BTG Pactual

Helen Zhang, WG'20, Neuberger Berman
Michael Lei, WG'21, The Blackstone Group
Tip Myers, WG'22, Marque Ventures


Sign up to be a Class Ambassador,
email jsimons@wpevc.org

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS  
timing subject to change
 

3:30PM   Registration Opens
 
4:00PM    Perspectives in a Changed Environment - An investor panel representing PE, VC, Real Estate and Infrastructure
Hosted by Women in PE & VC Open to all attendees
  • Moderator: Leslie Golden, W'89, WG'96, Managing Director, Global Head of Capital Formation and Investor Relations, DigitalBridge
  • Jennifer Friedman, C'12, Founding Partner, Four Acres Capital 
  • Andrea Himmel, W'08, Managing Principal + CIO, Himmel + Meringoff Properties
  • Lisa Myers, W'89, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Clerisy
5:00PM  
Concurrent Roundtables - Join your PE & VC peers for a facilitated discussion on topics including:
 
   
Insights from Fund Founders: Building a Successful Fund and Investing Today
  • Moderator: Ari Gendason, WG'05, W'97, CIO, Continental Grain Company
  • Daniel Haimovic, WG'12, Founder & Managing Partner, SC Holdings
  • Sheryl Mejia, WG'94, Managing Partner, Steward Asset Management
  • Jordan Zaken, W'97, Founding Partner, Gamut Capital Management
   
Rethinking the Value Creation Playbook: An Operating Partners Point of View 
  • Moderator: Darryl Smith, WG'96, Managing Director Operations, Pacific Avenue Capital Partners
  • Akilah Crichlow, WG'17, Director - Portfolio Operations, Warburg Pincus
  • PJ Jannuzzi, WG'12, Managing Director - Portfolio Operations, Blackstone
  • Brian Kasser, WG'95, Talent Partner at Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe
  • Gary Survis, W'86, Operating Partner, Insight Partners
   
What's Next for the Family Office
  • Moderator: Anna Nekoranec, WG'91,CEO, Align Private Capital LLC
  • Ken Glassman, WG'98, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, RWN Management, LLC
  • Ed Mathias, C'64, Senior Advisor, The Carlyle Group
  • Greg Warner, WG'91, President, Ingleside Investors
  • Jared Weiner, WG'07, Partner and Director of Research, Veritable, LP

6:00PM

  Cocktails & Networking

7:00PM

  Dinner & Featured Program
   
  • Ryan Hinkle, W'03, Managing Director, Insight Partners interviewed by Susan Garrett, W'91, Managing Director, Alternative Investments, Head of Private Equity, Credit and Co-investments at Prudential Financial in a fireside chat-like format.
     
  • Milan Koch, General Partner, Mantis VC, interviewed by Anna Nekoranec, WG'91, Co-Founder and CEO of Align Private Capital LLC and WPEVCAA Forum & Dinner Co-Chair. Mantis VC is the exceptionally high-energy, wildly active celebrity fund with Jeffrey Evans in partnership with The Chainsmokers - the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning production duo of Drew Taggart and Alex Pall. They have 140 companies in their portfolio with no signs of slowing down. 

8:30PM

  Drinks & Continued Networking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOOR PRIZES bryan-adams-square

To add to the buzz around this year's Forum & Dinner event, we are thrilled to have a few AMAZING DOOR PRIZES offered by speakers and sponsors including concerts, champagne, Bose Bluetooth Audio Sunglasses,  JBL Flip 5 Speaker and more!
 
  • Grant Thornton is offering tickets for 2 to see Bryan Adams at Madison Square Garden, Friday June 9th at 7:30 pm to one lucky winner. To make it even better, the tickets are in the posh Grant Thornton corporate suite!
     
  • The Mantis VC team and specifically Alex and Drew are inviting two winners (and their +1) to an exclusive experience in Las Vegas tochainsmokers-square enjoy time with the duo beforehand and a performance of The Chainsmokers at Encore Beach Club or XS Las Vegas. The prize also includes a room at Encore Las Vegas for the night of the show. Several dates to choose from - afternoon or evening. 

Bring your business cards for entry into each drawing. Winners will be chosen and announced during the dinner and attendees must be present to win!
 

TICKETS / REGISTRATION

Members - Event Ticket:
          Alumni - $260 
          Recent Grads ('18-'22) - $185 
    
Non-Members Bundled Ticket - Membership plus Event**:
This option will not be available after Sunday 4/16 at midnight ET. If you need to process a membership application, or want to purchase a Bundled Ticket, you must do so by Sunday. If your schedule is uncertain, submit your membership application or renew NOW, so you at least have the option to purchase a late ticket on Monday.

Alumni - $360
Recent Grads ('18-'22) - $285 

 
** This ticket includes a WPEVCAA Annual Membership (or 12-month extension) plus attendance at the full program.
**This ticket is open only to Wharton/UPenn Alumni who meet the definition of a member. Advisors, investment advisors, investment bankers or other service providers are not eligible and will be refunded.  

 

Table of 8 - For your firm or class year: 

$2,400 
This price includes a reserved table with signage, 8 tickets to the event + membership to any alumni who qualify
Email Jen Simons at jsimons@wpevc.org for additional information and the private link 

 

register-now-button

 

 

 

Thank you to our Annual Corporate Sponsors!
     

  morganlewisnew        newams                     

  

             triago_rgb                   wtw

 


Thank you to our Forum & Dinner Sponsors!  

17-br-logo-greyred-standard-rgb-01       grantthornton 
canaccordib   harris_altinvestment__s_color_v
 

 

ADDITONAL DETAILS


Membership Eligibility: 
Wharton Private Equity & Venture Capital Alumni Association is open to private equity, venture capital, or other private alternative investment professionals AND who have graduated from The Wharton School or the University of Pennsylvania.  

Investment professionals include those who are investing equity capital in venture stage companies, growth equity, buyouts, real estate, take-privates, or secondaries from a dedicated firm, family office, institutional limited partners, or professionals who manage third party fund-of-funds targeting the private equity and venture capital space.  Funds must be closed at the time your application is submitted. Mezzanine debt/private debt and entrepreneurs/angel investors who invest actively in private companies may also qualify. 

Cancellation Policy: 
Cancellations must be received via email to jsimons@wpevc.org by 9:00 PM ET Friday, April 7, 2023 order to receive a refund, less a $10 processing fee. Substitutions are welcome in advance or on site but guests must meet the membership eligibility outlined above.
 
Room Block 
A limited room block is available at the New York Athletic Club at a rate of $300++ per night. Please call the reservations line at 212-767-7135 and refer to the Wharton PE & VC Alumni Association. 
 
Dress Code: 
A jacket and collared shirt are required for men, and a jacket and tie are preferred. Women should dress with equal formality.  


Questions with registration or log-in: 

Contact Jennifer Simons, jsimons@wpevc.org 
 

When:

4:00PM - 10:00PM Tue 18 Apr 2023, Eastern timezone

Where:

New York Athletic Club
180 Central Park S
New York, NY 10019 USA

[ Get Directions ]