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Author: Dayna Besser

Tech Tube Appoints Brian Highley as Chief Executive Officer to Accelerate Growth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Appointment marks strategic milestone as precision tubing manufacturer scales operations with new CEO and institutional capital partnership SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 13, 2026 – Tech Tube, a leading provider of precision small-diameter metallic tubing for aerospace & defense, medical, power generation, and industrial applications, today announced the appointment of Brian Highley […]

Cogenuity Announces United Safety’s Acquisition of Dafo Vehicle, Expanding Global Leadership in Vehicle Fire Safety & Survivability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 8, 2025 – Cogenuity Partners (“Cogenuity”), a next-generation lower middle market private equity firm investing in critical businesses within the advanced industrial economy, formally announced the successful acquisition of Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection AB by its portfolio company, United Safety & Survivability Corporation. The transaction marks a […]

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Michael Ouyang

Managing Director

Education
Dartmouth College, BA, Economics

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

Prior Organizations
Neos Partners, Warren Equity Partners, Huron Capital

Fun Fact
Despite having lived in mostly sea-level and flat places, Michael is particularly passionate about alpine mountaineering. He has summited over 40 peaks so far, and has climbed in the Rocky mountains, the volcanos of Mexico and Ecuador, and the Peruvian Andes.

Rebecca Kolde

Principal

Education
Stanford University, BS, Management Science and Engineering

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

Prior Organizations
Altamont Capital Partners

Personal Interests
In her free time, Rebecca loves being outdoors – whether she’s hiking with friends or road-tripping along the California coast in her beloved convertible. A proud Scandinavian-American, she has a soft spot for kringle pastries, minimalist design, and the occasional ABBA singalong. She’s also a passionate traveler, having explored over 35 countries – and always leaves room in her suitcase for local snacks.

 

Fun Fact
Rebecca’s competitive streak comes out in Bananagrams and music trivia. Her teenage archery career may be long past, but she still aims high.

Jackson Roper

Operating Partner

Education
Furman University, BA, Business Administration
UNC Chapel Hill, MBA, Kenan Flagler Institute

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

Prior Organizations
Ametek TPM, Controls Southeast Inc (CSI), Fruit of the Loom, RJR Nabisco, Procter & Gamble

Personal Interests
Shallow water fishing in the South Carolina backwaters dispels the myth of “if you build it they will come”.  On his relentless quest to one day transform himself from a fisherman to a catcherman, Jackson has been busted a time or two launching his drone to discover new water….some might say that’s cheating…he calls it efficiently unlocking idle potential :-)

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

Nick Wiesbrock

Associate

Education
University of Illinois, BS, Industrial Engineering

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

Prior Organizations
Hennepin Partners

Personal Interests
Nick started running during the pandemic, and for no particular reason just kept on going, until one day he found himself running marathons “for fun”. When not sprinting on deals, traveling, or admiring the real professional athletes, he can be found training for his next race, or limping around from his last.

Morgan McCord

Senior Associate, Business Development

Education
University of San Diego, BA, Business Administration & Real Estate

Responsible for
Sourcing new investment opportunities and cultivating/ managing intermediary relationships

Prior Organizations
Neos Partners, Tide Rock Holdings, Bainbridge Capital Advisory

Personal Interests
Morgan is a proud Canadian — which means she loves hockey, has strong opinions on maple syrup, and says sorry more than she probably should. Beyond her Canadian roots, she’s passionate about discovering the world and has traveled all over the world. She spent a year living with a host family in Switzerland, where she developed an affinity for the finer things in life: chocolate and cheese. She’s always in search of new food, people, music, cultures, and natural beauty.

Fun Fact
She once spent four months living on a ship, stopping in 11 countries along the way — turns out, Wi-Fi is hard to find in the middle of the ocean.

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

Prior Organizations
Cascadia Capital

Fun Fact
When he’s not working, Spencer enjoys hitting the ski slopes, pretending his golf game is improving, and—apparently—meeting his sushi before eating it, like during this totally unplanned, absolutely-not-staged moment with an octopus. He swears it just swam right up.

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.