Team

At betterCap, we don’t just crunch numbers. We bring together complimentary skill-sets and expertise. Our combined experiences across different industries, international markets, and careers is what makes us different. This is what helps us see the whole picture. This is what makes us betterCap.

Jan Zalud

Jan Zalud

Managing Partner & Founder

Strategic Advisors & Operating Partners

Our strategic advisors and operating partners expand our group know-how and provide valuable and complimentary insights to us, to our companies, and to our clients.

Brian Craven

Brian Craver

Strategic Advisor

Jim Marino

Jim Marino

Strategic Advisor 

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Copyright 2019 // Securities offered through Cape Securities, Inc., Member FINRA & SIPC. // Website design by Angie Webb Creative

Jan Zalud – Managing Partner & Founder

Jan founded betterCap and is responsible for strategic vision and growth of the company. Jan is also responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, financial structuring, investment banking advisory, and managing relations with our investors.

Past Experiences

  • Capital raising, recapitalization, investment banking and sell-side advisory in combined value of more than $150 million
  • Underwriting, structuring, financial modeling, and management of variety of special purpose investment vehicles across real estate and lower-market companies
  • Investment committee member for a venture capital fund specializing in Seed round investments across ag-tech, fintech, and business techology
  • Private fund placements for emerging managers accross real estate, venture capital, distressed mortgage and consumer loans
  • Leading expansion of U.S. based technology company into Central Europe by establishing its first European office and driving sales into large multi-national enterprise accounts in the region

Education

  • BS, Business Management, Kennesaw State University (formerly known as Southern Polytechnic State University)
  • MBA, Finance, Georgia State University/Kennsaw State University
  • Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst charter holder (CAIA) and holder of FINRA series 7, 79, and 63 licenses

Family & Fun Facts

  • Originally from the Czech Republic, Jan is a former college basketball player and member of the junior (U16 & U18) Czech National Basketball Team, Jan lives with his wife and daughter in the Atlanta neighborhood of Candler Park

Brian Craver – Strategic Advisor

Brian is the Chief Executive of ML Healthcare, LLC, a medical management and healthcare funding company where he has been since 2007. Brian brings tremendous C-level management experience to betterCap and to betterCap’s clients and portfolio companies.

Past Experiences Include

  • Prior to joining ML Healthcare, Brian has been the principal of Freeport Holdings, LLC, a private business development & investment company. 
  • Co-founding Cbeyond, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBEY), an IP based business communications company where he held several senior executive positions from 1999 through 2006. During those years, Cbeyond transitioned from a venture-funded start-up into a profitable publicly traded corporation with over $275MM in revenues and over a $1.2B market capitalization. 
  • Senior Director with Intermedia Communications (Nasdaq: ICIX) until its acquisition by WorldCom (Nasdaq: WCOM).

Education

  • Brian attended Florida State University where he received engineering degree.

Family & Fun Facts

  • Brian is a resident of the Atlanta area with his wife Bonnie and his children, Abigail, Jackson and William. He is an active Board member and Chairman of the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta, an organization that provides furniture to previously homeless families, families fleeing domestic violence and families who live with HIV/AIDS. He is also on the Development Board of Catholic Charities of Atlanta and serving as a mentor at Cristo Rey Jesuit School.

Jim Marino – Strategic Advisor

Jim is a seasoned sales executive having held numerous senior management positions with both industry leaders and startups in the telecommunications space. Jim provides additional expertise to betterCap’s portfolio companies and clients in all aspects of sales process and sales management, which includes vast network of contacts spanning many industries. He currently serves as the Director of Sales for Chrome River Technologies, a SaaS expense and invoice solutions provider. 

Past Experiences Include

  • Leading worldwide sales at Gainspeed, Inc., a company backed by NEA, Andreessen-Horowitz, Shasta, Juniper and Technicolor, where he built and executed the global sales strategy until company’s acquisition by Nokia
  • Consulting and investing  along-side various private equity and venture groups in the South East 

Education

  • Jim graduated from Penn State University with a BS in Finance and an a MBA from Georgia State University. 

Family & Fun Facts

  • Jim lives in Atlanta with his wife Crissy and children Ryan and Julia. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Enduring Hearts, a 501(c)(3) public charity which aggressively funds pediatric heart transplant longevity research to prolong and improve the quality of life for pediatric heart transplant recipients.