Venture Equities is built on the conviction that great outcomes require great operators. Our team combines investment discipline, deep sector expertise, and hands-on operating experience across the full investment lifecycle.
Israel Ramirez is the Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Venture Equities, an independent sponsor focused on equity-first private capital solutions for lower to middle market businesses across the United States. He sets the vision and strategy for the firm and oversees all aspects of deal sourcing, underwriting, capital structuring, investor relations, and operations.
Prior to founding Venture Equities, Israel structured buy-side investments for family offices and hedge fund LPs in real estate, and managed his own real estate portfolio. He has also deployed his own capital into pre-seed ventures, backing early-stage founders in consumer products and healthcare. This combination of institutional transaction experience, direct investing, and operational entrepreneurship informs his approach to every deal the firm pursues.
Israel completed Columbia Business School's Private Equity and Venture Capital program, where he studied mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, value investing, financial analysis, and the mechanics of both private equity and venture capital.
Scott Leu is the Chief Financial Officer of Venture Equities, bringing over 15 years of institutional finance experience across asset management, fund operations, and financial planning. He oversees fund structuring, LP reporting, administrator oversight, performance analytics, and long-term capital planning for the firm.
Prior to Venture Equities, Scott served as Head of Finance at Rockefeller Capital Management, operating as CFO-equivalent for a $16 billion multi-asset platform and building Rockefeller's first venture capital fund. He has also held senior roles at JPMorgan Chase, Pzena Investment Management, Barclays Capital, Merrill Lynch, and Grant Thornton. Scott is a CPA licensed in New York and holds a B.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Our operating executives bring deep sector expertise and hands-on leadership experience to portfolio companies. They engage directly with management teams to drive value creation throughout the investment lifecycle.
Jesse brings deep operational expertise across the healthcare sector, with a focus on services and distribution businesses. He works alongside portfolio company management teams on commercial acceleration, margin improvement, and strategic growth initiatives.
JD brings executive leadership experience across the energy and construction sectors. He partners with portfolio company management teams on operational improvement, strategic positioning, and value creation across the investment hold period.
We are actively expanding our operating executive network across our five priority sectors. If you have senior executive experience and want to partner with a disciplined equity platform on a carry and co-investment basis, visit our For Executives page.
Learn More →Our co-GP partners bring specialized sector coverage, capital relationships, and deal flow across specific verticals where we invest alongside aligned capital partners.
Manusha serves as Healthcare Co-GP through Freestone Capital, bringing specialized healthcare investment expertise, deal flow, and capital relationships to Venture Equities' healthcare vertical. She works in close coordination with the firm on healthcare-focused acquisition and investment opportunities.
Whether you are an investment professional, sector operator, or capital partner, there is a place for the right people on this platform. Reach out directly.