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News and Updates

Cogenuity Celebrates $425 Million Debut Fund and Media Recognition

Cogenuity Partners is proud to announce the successful closure of our inaugural fund, Cogenuity Fund I, securing $425 million in commitments. This achievement, accomplished in just five months, has garnered attention from esteemed publications, including The Wall Street Journal, which highlighted our firm’s unique approach and rapid fundraising success.

Read the article here.

Our strategy focuses on investing in high-technology industrial companies, emphasizing operational improvements over financial engineering. This approach has resonated with a diverse group of investors, including endowments, foundations, insurers, family offices, and private fund investors.

The Wall Street Journal’s feature underscores our commitment to excellence and innovation in the private equity landscape. We are honored by this recognition and remain dedicated to delivering exceptional value to our investors and portfolio companies.

We extend our gratitude to our investors and partners for their trust and support. As we embark on this journey, we look forward to building a legacy of success and contributing to the growth of high-technology industrial sectors.

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Sarah Sheeder

Executive Assistant & Deal Coordinator

Education
Louisiana State University, BA, Geography

Responsible for
Ensuring the seamless operation of all activities, personnel, and deal coordination.

Prior Organizations
i80 Group, AIMPERA Capital Partners, Vertex Ventures HC, FEMA

Personal Interests
Outside of work, Sarah can usually be found exploring the redwoods or strolling along Ocean Beach with her dog, Fred—who has strong opinions against frisbees but will happily chase the occasional stick. A proud LSU Tiger fan, Sarah never misses a chance to cheer on her alma mater. She’s especially passionate about Women’s Gymnastics (the Uneven Bars and Vault are her personal favorites) and Football—strictly in that order.

Fun Fact
Growing up in New Orleans, Sarah played the clarinet in her high school band and marched in over two dozen Mardi Gras parades.

Graham Banks

Director, Business Development

Education
Westminster University, BS, Business Management
University of San Diego, Knauss School of Business, MBA, Finance

Responsible for
Sourcing new investment opportunities and cultivating intermediary relationships

Prior Organizations
Head, Silicon Valley Bank, Tide Rock

Personal Interests
Graham has reconnected with snowboarding now that it’s just for fun again, but also spends his free time surfing, fishing, spearfishing and boxing.

Fun Fact
In Graham’s previous career he was a professional snowboarder – and while many of his friends went on to win Olympic and XGames gold medals, he was able to walk (limp) away with the record for the most blown knees. 6 ACLs – and that’s just the left! 

Andrea Frey

Executive Assistant

Education
University of Amsterdam, BA, Organizational Sociology and Human Resources

Responsible For
Ensuring the seamless operations of all activities and personnel in the SF Office.

Prior Organizations
Event Producer / Project Manager for the Hakkasan Group and Angel Music Group

Fun Fact
Andrea created the reveal for the flashy overhead lighting vizualization at the Hakkasan Nightclub in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Hotel when it debuted with Tiesto.  Not to worry though we’ve now got her as excited about critical products and services businesses as she once was about nightclubs.

Spencer Mueller

Associate

Education
University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, Bachelor of Business Administration

Responsible for
As a member of the investment team, Spencer supports the evaluation and execution of acquisitions from inception to exit.

Prior Organizations
Cascadia Capital

Fun Fact
When he’s not working, Spencer enjoys devouring sushi, pretending his golf game is getting better, and purportedly skiing which you might guess by the picture he provided which he claims is actually him and not literally any other person on a mountain.

Richard Cao

Senior Associate

Education
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, B.S.B. Finance and Accounting

Responsible for
Evaluating, executing and supporting platform and add-on investments from acquisition to exit.

Prior Organizations
Industrial Growth Partners, HSBC Securities

Personal Interests
An avid learner, outside of work you will find Richard playing guitar covers at small gatherings, shooting travel photography, taking calculated risks at the poker table, or searching for the next travel destination.

Brian Rappl *

Principal, Portfolio Operations

Education
University of Minnesota, Bachelors Mechanical Engineering, MBA

Responsible for
Collaborating with management teams on revenue and profitability growth initiatives.

Prior Organizations
Arcline Investment Management, Boston Consulting Group, Ingersoll Rand

Fun Fact
In 7th grade Brian was the runner up in his middle school spelling bee after using a K instead of a C in Bicuspid.  The winner got to advance to a regional competition for spelling Banana correctly and all these years later that still just doesn’t seem fair.

*Operating Partners are either employees or independent contractors that provide services to Cogenuity and portfolio companies of Cogenuity.

Sam Adler

Managing Director

Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison, BBA (Finance & Accounting)

Responsible for
Sourcing, underwriting, and monitoring prospective and current portfolio companies.

Prior organizations
Industrial Growth Partners, Robert W. Baird

Fun Fact
If you’re reading this then Sam is definitely taller than you which makes his dreadful fear of heights terribly ironic.  His passions include skiing, hiking, and conquering his fears to take pictures with his fiancé on top of really tall things.

Kathryn Seni *

Operating Partner

Education
Wake Forest University, BA in Psychology, MAEd in Counseling

Responsible for
Overseeing human capital across the Cogenuity ecosystem and driving talent value creation initiatives in the portfolio.

Prior Organizations
Consulting with multiple PE firms; Vista Equity Partners; Keystone Partners; Fidelity Investments/J. Robert Scott

Fun Fact
In addition to being an active aunt, godmother, and dog-mom, Kathryn is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with extensive training in energy and consciousness. After all, quantum transformation is the ultimate value creator and growth accelerator.

*Operating Partners are either employees or independent contractors that provide services to Cogenuity and portfolio companies of Cogenuity.

Brett Johnson

Managing Partner & CFO

Education
Northwestern University, BA, Economics

University of Chicago Booth School of Business, MBA

Responsible for
Finance, investor relations, legal and compliance, as well as firm operations

Prior Organizations
Industrial Growth Partners, Pantheon Ventures, University of California Regents, and One Equity Partners

Personal Interests
Brett is an avid NBA fan and has been blessed to bear witness to the Jordan era and the Curry era while living in Chicago and the Bay Area, respectively. He is closing in on 20 national parks visited and is on a quest to see them all!

Daniel Niccum

Managing Partner & Operating Partner

Education
Wake Forest University, BS, Finance

Responsible for
Overall firm strategy, investing in exceptional leadership teams, and leading the Collaborative Operations group in partnering with management to create value.

Prior Organizations
Voltyx, North American Substation Services, Stifel

Personal Interests
Daniel is a self-proclaimed swirling mix of contradictions – an executive with tattoo sleeves, a playlist of 90’s rap and showtunes, a homebody who has visited over 40 countries, and the social stamina of an introverted extrovert who still recovers from a big night by napping in his closet, despite being out of one since his 20s.

Fun Fact
Daniel’s snazzy-dressing labradoodle (who insists on always wearing a bandana) can trace his name, Link, to three different sources, each representing Daniel’s varied interests:

  1. Link from the Legend of Zelda (90’s era NES gold cartridge for the win!)
  2. Link Larkin – a character from Broadway’s Hairspray (he has seen well over 50 shows and invested in several)
  3. Linkin Park (one of Daniel’s favorite bands, not the Chicago suburb, which is far too cold for Daniel’s California sensibilities) – in fact, Link’s full name is “Linkin Bark”

Dan Delaney

Managing Partner & Founder

Education
California Polytechnic State University, BA, Business Administration 

University of Chicago Booth School of Business, MBA

Responsible for
Firm leadership and strategy, investment decisions & management, and investor relations

Prior Organizations
Industrial Growth Partners, Glencoe Capital, A.G Edwards

Personal Interests
Dan originally decided to skip college and chase his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. Armed with ambition (and his trusty 1986 navy blue 4Runner as a makeshift home), he hit the road. After a few months of competing, earning a whopping $750 in prize money (pre-tax, of course), and learning the true meaning of “living the dream,” Dan realized that maybe—just maybe—a college education could serve him well. A few phone calls later, Dan traded the pro tour for a spot as a student-athlete at Cal Poly, where his next chapter began.