2024 Annual Alumni Forum & Dinner
Wharton and UPenn alumni who are private equity, venture capital, and other private alternative investors or allocators are invited to attend this marquee event.
Wharton Private Equity & Venture Capital Alumni Association (WPEVCAA) is excited to invite our global community to join us at the Annual Alumni Forum & Dinner April 24th in New York.
This must-attend event attracts 175+ WPEVC alumni to re-connect and re-engage around the common bond of the Wharton/UPenn education and the alternative investment industry. Attendees will engage in an afternoon of programming flowing into an evening of networking.
AGENDA
2:45 PM - Registration Opens
3:15 PM - An Allocator's Perspective: Strategies & Intentions in a Post-Zero Interest Rate Environment Hosted by Women in PE & VC & open to all attendees
- Jessica Brennan (WG'01) - Partner and Head of Strategy & Investor Relations, Kohlberg & Company (MODERATOR)
- Suzi Kwon Cohen - CIO, Mousse Partners
- Brooke H. Jones (W'03, C'03) - CIO, Bryn Mawr College
- Julia Mord (WG'06) - Deputy CIO, Tulane Investment Management Office
- Novisi Nirschl - Managing Director, Investment Strategy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
4:20 PM - Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Join your peers for interactive panel discussions covering private equity, private credit, and venture.
Getting Creative in a Tough Environment
This panel of experienced investors will engage in a discussion to address how both GPs and LPs have been using the secondary market to be creative at a time when primary fundraising is challenging and debt is expensive. They will cover continuation vehicle (CV) structures with high-level examples as well as other alternative exit strategies.
- Anjali Jolly (W'00) - Partner, ACON Investments
- Simon Oak (WG'10) - Managing Director, Lexington Partners
- Katie Stitch (W’04, C’04) - Partner, W Capital Partners
- Meena Thever (WG'08) - Partner, Head of Capital Formation, ACON Investments (MODERATOR)
Today’s Private Credit Market: Partnering & Negotiating for the Best Deal
In today's dynamic private credit market, successful partnering and negotiation strategies are essential for securing the best deals. This panel brings together industry experts to delve into a range of topics including current market trends on loan-to-value, leverage metrics, covenants, and amendments.
- Benji Guilford (WG'21) - Managing Director, Blackstone
- Albert Hu (WG'18) - Principal, Neuberger Berman (MODERATOR)
- Vikas Keswani (W'03) - Managing Director, Head of Specialty Direct Lending North America, HPS Investment Partners, LLC
- Mark Solovy (L'96) - Managing Director, Co-Head Technology Finance Group, Monroe Capital
Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
Join this esteemed group of senior-level investors who bring deep knowledge and experience from seed to growth-stage investments. This panel will dive into a series of topics that are top of mind in today's investing climate.
Join this esteemed group of senior-level investors who bring deep knowledge and experience from seed to growth-stage investments. This panel will dive into a series of topics that are top of mind in today's investing climate.
- Martin Angert (W'06, Eng'06) - Managing Director, Susquehanna Growth Equity
- Phin Barnes (WG'09) - Co-Founder, The General Partnership
- Ben Cukier (W'94) - Partner, Centana Growth Partners
- Jalak Jobanputra (W'94, C'94) - Founder & Managing Partner, FuturePerfect Ventures
- Michael Kopelman (WG'05, C'97) - Venture Partner, Armory Square Ventures (MODERATOR)
5:40 PM - Remarks & Featured Program:
Reflections on a 40-Year Journey: Lessons Learned & New Ventures
Brian Finn (W’82) - Chairman of Star Mountain Capital and Chairman of Siddhi Capital interviewed by Bruce Schulman (WG’99) - Managing Partner, NGP Energy Technology Partners/ES Capital Partners and Co-Chairman, WPEVC
Join us for a powerful keynote with Brian Finn, who brings over four decades of experience and an illustrious career in the financial services industry, including 26 years at Credit Suisse. Currently, Brian is Chairman of Star Mountain Capital, a lower middle market credit investment firm, and Chairman of Siddhi Capital, a growth equity firm focused on emerging food & beverage.
With Brian's expansive background, he'll share highlights and anecdotes from his long and successful career at Credit Suisse, unpack the challenges and changes in the alternative investment industry including the exploding private credit arena, and offer fascinating insights on the new and exciting discoveries and investment potential in next-generation food technology.
6:30 PM - Reception-style Dinner & Networking
Enjoy a 2-hour open bar, food stations & hors d'oeuvres, and meet-up areas to easily connect with peers. There will be ample seating and enhanced networking compared to our prior sit-down dinner format.
8:30 PM - Evening concludes
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Time: 2:45 PM Registration opens; 3:15 PM - 8:30 PM Program & Reception
Location: New York Athletic Club, 180 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019
Members-only event for Wharton/UPenn alumni who satisfy the membership eligibility below.
Thank you to our Forum & Dinner Sponsor!
Thank you to our Annual Corporate Sponsors!
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Learn about sponsorship opportunities. Email Jen Simons, jsimons@wpevc.org
ADDITIONAL 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. Mezzanine debt /private debt and 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 12, 2024, 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 $315++ 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
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. Mezzanine debt /private debt and 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 12, 2024, 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 $315++ 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
Alumni Volunteers
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Alina DiMeglio, WG'14, Apollo Global Management
Bruce Eatroff, WG'89, Star Mountain Capital
Leslie Golden, W’89, WG’96, DigitalBridge
Karen Griffith Gryga, WG'93, Biomeme, Inc.
Benji Guilford, WG'21, Blackstone
William Guo, WG19, BTG Pactual
Albert Hu, WG'18, Neuberger Berman
Michael Kopelman, C'97, WG'05, Armory Square Ventures
John McCarty, W'99, Star Mountain Capital
Lisa Myers, W'89, Clerisy
Alina DiMeglio, WG'14, Apollo Global Management
Bruce Eatroff, WG'89, Star Mountain Capital
Leslie Golden, W’89, WG’96, DigitalBridge
Karen Griffith Gryga, WG'93, Biomeme, Inc.
Benji Guilford, WG'21, Blackstone
William Guo, WG19, BTG Pactual
Albert Hu, WG'18, Neuberger Berman
Michael Kopelman, C'97, WG'05, Armory Square Ventures
John McCarty, W'99, Star Mountain Capital
Lisa Myers, W'89, Clerisy
Anna Nekoranec, WG'91, Align Private Capital
Tom Radford, W'07
Mark Solovy, L'96, Monroe Capital LLC
Meena Thever, WG'08, Acon Investments
Tom Radford, W'07
Mark Solovy, L'96, Monroe Capital LLC
Meena Thever, WG'08, Acon Investments
CLASS AMBASSADORS
Bruce Eatroff, WG'89, Star Mountain Capital
Tom Courtney, WG'90, The Courtney Group
Anna Maria Nekoranec, WG'91, Align Private Capital
Karen Griffith Gryga, WG'93, Biomeme
Craig Enenstein, WG'95, Corridor Capital
Rob Driscoll, WG'95, Driscoll Holdings
Mark Solovy, L'96, Monroe Capital
John McCarty, W '99, Star Mountain Capital
Dean Miller, WG'99, PCOM Innovation Fund
Bruce Schulman, WG'99, NGP Energy Technology Partners
Craig Reed, WG'00, MultipFormance Capital
Brett Topche, W'03, Red & Blue Ventures
Dave McCoy, WG'04, RCP Advisors
Thomas Radford, W'07
Alejandro Lopez Delgado, WG'07, CDPQ (Paris)
Tal Slobodkin, WG'08, StageOne Ventures
Jose Guzman, WG'11, 361Firm
Jenny Friedman, W'12, Four Acres Venture Capital
Wendy Xu, WG'12, Alt Advisory
Matthew Barbas, WG'12, Long Arc Capital
Alina DiMeglio, WG'14, Apollo Global Management
Hannah Ross, CL'16, Beehouse LLC
Jenny Zhang, W'16, Two Sigma Impact
Albert Hu, WG'18, Neuberger Berman
Yilun Li, WG'18, Neuberger Berman
Willy Guo, WG'19, BTG Pactual
Eduardo de Haro, WG'20, Antler
Sydney Bub, WG'23, Crestview Partners
Ashley Knight, WG'23, Ara Partners
Iynna Halilou, WG'23, Defiance Capital
Willy Guo, WG'19, BTG Pactual
Eduardo de Haro, WG'20, Antler
Sydney Bub, WG'23, Crestview Partners
Ashley Knight, WG'23, Ara Partners
Iynna Halilou, WG'23, Defiance Capital
Help build alumni engagement and promote the event to your cohorts.
Sign up to be a Class Ambassador,
email jsimons@wpevc.org.