Daniel K. Arenberg, Founder and Managing Partner

ZJM’s founder and managing partner, Dan Arenberg, has 20 years of private equity and mezzanine investing experience, in addition to significant operating experience as the founder of a successful startup.  Prior to forming ZJM, Arenberg was a General Partner at NewWest Capital Partners in Denver where he co-managed two committed funds with a diversified portfolio of equity and mezzanine securities. While at NewWest Arenberg was involved in 20 investments totaling approximately $40MM in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, business services, and consumer oriented businesses. NewWest had an excellent investment track record and Arenberg played an integral part in that success. 

Prior to joining NewWest, from 2000 to 2001, he was VP of Portfolio Management with IdeaSpring, a Denver based venture capital firm. At IdeaSpring he was involved with five investments totaling more than $15MM and served several stints as interim CFO at IdeaSpring portfolio companies. Mr. Arenberg started his business career as an entrepreneur. In 1995 he co-founded and served as VP of Finance and Operations, Board Member and In-House Counsel for IntraEAR, Inc., a Colorado-based medical device company that was sold to Durect Corporation (NASDAQ: DRRX) in 1999. 

Mr. Arenberg earned a B.A. degree and Executive M.B.A. from the University of Colorado and a law degree from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington, D.C.

Advisory Board

Raji Singh, Broadgate Capital

Raji founded Broadgate Capital focused on real-estate investments & business acquisitions within North Texas, and has since diversified throughout the US. Prior to Broadgate, Raji was the CEO & President of Impex Inc., a private-label & branded manufacturer. Over 15 years, Impex’s distribution network grew to over 1000 active customers, with offices in Dallas, India, & China, and equity positions with several factories in Asia. Raji is deeply involved in the workings of the global economy, and is experienced in all facets of management, including accounting, finance, international marketing, production, negotiation and strategy. Raji earned his BA in Political Science from Pepperdine University and is a graduate of the Owner, President Management Program (OPM) at the Harvard Business School.

Mark Soane, Glidepath Partners

Managing Director, Glidepath Partners, a growth-stage venture firm focusing on IT, healthcare services and industrial technologies and, prior to Glidepath, founder and managing director of Appian Venture Partners, an information technology-focused venture capital firm.

Mark is an experienced entrepreneur, investor and board member. He held executive positions at two venture-backed startups and has acted as executive chairman of a PE-backed rollup. He has served as a board member or board observer on 20 corporate boards including Veritas Software, Voyant Technology, Ping Identity, Carefx and Controlled Products. He is former Chairman of the Colorado Venture Capital Authority and former Chairman of both the Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association and the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. He is a frequent guest lecturer at University of Colorado and University of Denver business schools. He is a board member of the Colorado chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Stanford.

Dean Pisciotta, Red Arrow Capital, Inc

Right out of college, Dean Pisciotta took a position with a Denver based commercial real estate company; Gold Crown Management. He worked on commercial real estate and larger multi-family housing acquisitions, financing and property management during his time at Gold Crown.

In 1993 he joined Brakes Plus®, Inc. to pursue an opportunity to help grow a young company with great potential. Brakes Plus® was a family owned and operated auto service and repair company that started with one store in 1990 and grew to 80 stores in six states; Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, Nebraska and Iowa. In the early days of Brakes Plus®, Dean worked in the retail stores, developed accounting procedures and systems, implemented inventory control procedures, developed vendor relationships and pursued development of additional retail stores. Dean eventually became President of Brakes Plus®, Inc. with responsibilities that included overall company direction, expansion and culture.

In 2017 Brakes Plus® merged with two larger companies through a large private equity firm, Golden Gate Capital. The combined company now consists of one thousand stores in 27 states. Most recently Dean founded Red Arrow Capital, Inc. to develop real estate for new Brakes Plus® stores and invest in young growing companies.

Dean is also very active in the community. He served on the Denver/Boulder BBB Board of Directors for 9 years including one year as Board Chairman and five years on the Executive Committee. Dean is also currently a Board Member for UMB Bank Colorado and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. He was also very active in fundraising for a capital campaign for Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado.

Mr. Pisciotta graduated from the University of San Diego with a BA in Business Administration.