There is a technology gold rush happening in the United States. Indeed, the technology sector creates more individual wealth than any industry, ever. Over 32 billion dollars will be invested and over 60,000 tech startups will launch during this year alone. We believe this is the last true growth market in the U.S.
 
There is great opportunity for investors and emerging tech companies to forge new success. But some investors are hesitant because existing investment vehicles are either too complex, flawed or not for them. The professional structure of venture capital is great for institutional investing, but investors often miss ground-floor opportunity since the focus is on late stage companies where much of the growth has already happened.. Angel investors with their passion and domain expertise have the advantage of getting involved when the cost of entry is at the lowest and where their experience is most valuable, but Angels also assume significantly higher risk for the opportunity. Accelerators are a great learning environment for startups, but investors can often pay the price for the entrepreneur’s education while the companies enter the market prematurely.

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At Crestlight we have created a new model that enables us to retain all the professional, process and passion benefits of venture capital, accelerators and angel investing while avoiding the significant downsides. Our model focuses on the acquisition process and framework for growth, along with ongoing senior-level staffing accountability through market-based milestones. We create a new and distinct opportunity for investors to get involved in startup investment at significantly reduced risk.



In our opinion, the most lucrative investment phase for technology startup companies is underserved by current models and a unique opportunity has surfaced as a result. Crestlight is a private equity firm for startups aimed at serving this gap inside of the tech market. Our private equity for startups model was put in place to foster and harvest investor returns in this new environment.

Crestlight’s process looks more like an entrepreneurial fabric than a diagram flowchart. United with every investment we are a private equity partner focused on shaping and preparing our portfolio companies for exceptional results. We use a proven process, which is a unique blend of the best practices from multiple investment industries and leading consulting practices, which prepares and shapes emerging companies with funding, support and real-world expertise. Our process provides us an unparalleled advantage over other startup investment options.

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Building companies happens in years, not months. Our investors gain confidence and get results from our process model that supports and guides early stage companies with hands-on involvement, support and funding. Our foundational DNA provides focus, resources and discipline -- elegantly knitting all of this together is our true distinction. 

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The Crestlight Foundational DNA.​

Acquisition - The Equity Acquisition System™ is a formula-driven assessment criteria designed to create perfect alignment and shared value.. Once an opportunity passes through this system we then leverage our funds with other funds and investors to gain additional advantage.



Production - A development system with keen alignment and intention to ensure the appropriate resource, expertise and market-driven milestones are set, funded and achieved. We blend staffing, methodologies and aligned focus to accelerate the business into a self-sustaining entity.



Exit Preparation - Aimed at extracting principle and returns we plan and arrange for each appropriate opportunity. Tools that Crestlight makes use of to create liquidity for investors and founders are in the M&A, public or semi-public markets, or revenue sharing.

Crestlight has changed the way early stage capital is placed into startups. The new investment landscape requires startup investors to step well beyond the boardroom and take an active role.

Crestlight was created to blend investment capital and services, in partnership with early stage companies that need to grow to the next level and beyond. The key to success for our investors lies in our approach to value creation that results in lower risk and a superior rate of return.

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In short, we find great assets, add direct value and make them greater!

JENS HORSTMANN

MANAGING PARTNER

As a founder, Managing Partner at Crestlight, Jens directs investor relations, fundraising, and portfolio
development.
Crestlight challenges the investment status quo, as does Jens, through first-hand involvement advising,
engaging, and creating technology driven ventures in the US and Internationally. Crestlight has richly
benefited from his direction engrained in strategic planning, execution, and with investment and exit strategy.
His involvement in Silicon Valley and Global high-tech industries, supported by unsurpassed leadership and
passion, have enabled Jens to empower numerous startup teams to generate fun, profitable and impactful
companies for decades.
As executive sponsor of Crestlight relations, Jens and his teams generate strong business results and
enterprise value through focus, momentum and intellectual property.
Current and former portfolio companies that have benefited from his direct involvement include,
AeroQuestUSA, BrainRewards, Executive Mindshare, Flyngo, iKlick, intelli-Pharma/Elytix, Kachingle,
MinuteKey, Secure Data Logic, and VyyCore. Currently, he also is an investor and Venture Partner in The
Entrepreneurs Fund, TEF III. In addition to this, he has presided over MXGO Technologies as CEO, since 2006.
MXGO owns, maintains and monetizes a patent portfolio on key mobile messaging technologies that were
developed in partnership with Motorola.
Additionally, he has channeled strategy and technology for NCR Corporation, a fortune 500 company, serving
as VP of Entertainment Technology, which later acquired DVDPlay (the original technology behind Redbox
Kiosks). He served as CTO and previously as a founding President and CEO. Prior to DVDPlay, he was
President of OpenGrid, after it acquired Ensemble Solutions, which Jens founded in 1996. Ensemble Solutions
was one of the pioneers in B2B solutions on the Internet. His prior practices include senior engineering,
research and development positions at Sun Microsystems, Siemens, LSI Logic Systems Research Laboratory,
and X1 Corporation.
Jens holds more than 12 patents, has taught classes for UC Berkeley, and is frequent keynote speaker,
addressing audiences on business opportunities of new technologies, funding, venture capital and startup
experience. He serves on the board of Acceleware (TSX-V: AXE), BrainRewards, SecureDataLogic, Flyngo, and
is Chairman of Kachingle.
Jens holds an MSEE/CS from the University of Braunschweig, with continued education at Stanford. He’s an
avid pilot and photographer.

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DAVID C. BORLO

MANAGING PARTNER

A visionary with deep-rooted experience in emerging markets, David represents Crestlight as a founding Managing Partner. As a senior leader at Crestlight with an extreme passion to motivate progressive change,
David stands at the helm of fundraising, investor relations, portfolio development, operations and marketing,
driving innovation and development for various companies.
Highly capable, assured and quick thinking, with over two decades of engineering successes inside highgrowth
digital media industries, at start-ups and mid-size corporations, David is a pioneer. With a special focus
on driving profit via internal and external business development, client engagement and relationship
development, he demonstrates a sharp intuitive understanding of existing and emerging markets.
David is sales oriented chief whose initiative recurrently surpasses the finish line. With twenty years of
entrepreneurial experience in domestic and international markets, David projects a unique blend of corporate
development, business development, sales and mentoring to every task he pursues.
Prior to Crestlight, David led, as corporate VP, the strategic initiatives for a private equity funded turn around,
AMI Entertainment. Participating as an executive member of the team, David launched new products, new
markets and sales channels. He led the restructuring of a strategic business unit, saving millions in operating
cost, engineering a new growth strategy and process. Before AMI, he served as VP of Business Development
for DVDPlay (the technology behind Redbox and ultimately sold to NCR), inking deals with 7-Eleven, Barnes &
Noble and Burger King within 12 months. Prior, he spent ten years as Managing Director and CEO of 2
companies he founded and successfully exited after building them to $50M+ in value.
David has directed value creation strategies, implemented product innovation and generated revenue growth
for Fortune 500 companies including McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Frito-Lay. He is named on a software patent
and helped to pioneer the digital signage industry by spearheading industry-leading partnerships with IBM
and Coca-Cola. While in college he helped launch a division of Earwax Productions of San Francisco to
develop interactive projects for Lucas Arts, Broderbund, Living Books, Apple Multimedia Design Group
among others.
David holds a BA in Communication from St. Mary’s College of California. He is an avid cook, poet and music
aficionado.

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ERIC MCCARTHEY | ATLANTA

MANAGING PARTNER

Mr. Eric McCarthey is retired VP Commercial Execution Group with The Coca-Cola Company.  Appointed to this position in July 2010, he directed value creation strategies, business system design, product and service innovation, revenue growth, and supply chain support for the Coca-Cola Global Bottler system.

With 30 years of business, marketing development, operations, and general management experience, Eric has significantly contributed to the development of   Coca-Cola’s sales and global business system, establishing innovative customer and commercial leadership capabilities, consumer marketing initiatives, and increasing growth opportunities for the Company.

Eric joined the Company in 1981 as a territory sales manager.  Throughout his tenure he has held numerous positions including division marketing director and deputy division president for the Nordic and North Eurasia division, vice president and managing director of the global Burger King account team, senior vice president of sales and marketing of the North American Foodservice division and most recently President Global 7-Eleven Business division.

Eric received his MBA in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado.  Eric consults with Emory University Center for Relationship Marketing on global customer management.  He served as a Board Member, Audit Committee Chair and Lead Director of Global Imaging Systems (NASDQ:GISX) and led the merger with Xerox Corporation in 2007.  Eric is currently a Board Member of Standard Register (NYSE:SR), as well as a member of their Audit and Nominating/Governance Committees.  He is also Chairman of the International Franchise Association Diversity Institute.

Eric is an accomplished author.  He contributed to the book Inside the Mind: The Art of Sales, a compilation of articles by top sales executives from several of the nation's leading companies.  His article “High Impact Boards” was published in Leadership Excellence as well as several other articles on the subject of creating high-performance teams.

Eric is an avid photographer, reader, skier, and runner.  He is married and has a 20 year old daughter.

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JAY SETHURAM

VENTURE PARTNER

Mr. Jay Sethuram has over 30 years of engineering/management experience in semiconductor and communications technology firms. Jay started his career at Bharat Electronics Ltd. (India) specializing in Semiconductor technology. Later he moved to the United States to pursue his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Washington State University. He went to work at Bell Laboratories specializing in design and development of microprocessors. He then moved to Silicon Valley and worked at Micro Linear, National Semiconductors, NEC and Intel before becoming a serial entrepreneur co-founding several startup companies.

The startups he co-founded include Advancel, Fiberlane (split into Cerent and Siara), StartumOne, Sonoa (now APIgee) and Elucido Media Networks. Of these startups, the most notable ones are Fiberlane and StratumOne, which were acquired for a combined total of over $13B. In addition to starting companies, he has participated in many venture funds both as a LP and a GP and has made very successful investments in startup companies as an angel investor.

Jay has an uncanny ability to think through technical problems and come up with innovative and elegant solutions to many of the technical problems. He has an excellent ability to spot the technology trends, which helped him develop plans ahead of the market for products in the startups co-founded. Through his hands-on involvement, the products he architected became highly successful and the companies became excellent targets for acquisition.

Even after many successes, his passion to create startups has not diminished. In fact, Jay continues to be involved and mentor many startup companies globally. He keeps abreast of the latest development in technology, which helps him locate startups for potential investment through Crestlight and help these companies achieve success similar to the startups he created.

Mr. Sethuram holds an MSEE from Washington State University and a BSEE from MIT Madras (India).

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AJAY GOEL | INDIA

MANAGING PARTNER

Mr. Ajay Goel is an experienced and accomplished business leader, built and managed Technology, Solutions and Services business for leading corporations. A hands-on technology savvy professional -lead large P&L, Business Operations, Sales Management, Strategy Office, Project & Program Management, System Engineering, and Services Delivery functions for India, South Asia, Asia Pacific regions.

An Industry person, provides thought leadership in the national and international technology industry forums and Industry associations . Brings along a sound understanding of high technology business, global relationships, and also good understanding of Cloud Computing, Mobile Device Management, Big Data, Cyber Security, Green Energy, Smart Grids and Digital Media Systems.

Ajay was the Managing Director for Symantec Corporation for India and SAARC countries. In this role, he was responsible for driving the company's business strategy, development and sales operations in the Indian and SAARC region. Prior to Symantec, Ajay was the Senior Vice President for the Industry Business, Strategy and Operations for Cisco Systems, India and SAARC, and had a long stint with Sun Microsystems as the Country Director –India Business Operations. He has the unique distinction of building and growing over USD 300 Million P&L and bring along with him deep understanding of the India and Asia Pacific market.. Ajay started his career with AseaBrown Boveri(ABB).

Ajay has built and successfully managed large P&L, lead diverse business units, and transformational efforts across Industry in Asia. A well recognized industry personality, an active Rotarian, Paul Harris Fellow, Louise MarcheseFellow, Member of American Chambers of Commerce, and member of the CII National Committee on IT & ITeS2011-12. Ajay is the past chairman of Bangalore Round Table.

Ajay is an Engineering Graduate in Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering from College of Engineering Poona , India and Stanford Business School alumnus.

Download: Investor materials are available upon request, please contact Crestlight.