Boka People
An established public and private market finance professional, CEO and technologist, with a strong background in institutional investing, asset management, and technology entrepreneurship. Previously CEO of Fusion Acquisition Corp. he merged with MoneyLion Inc. (NYSE:ML). He previously founded fintech company BetaSmartz - serving as its CEO and later Chairman - and medtech company Scalamed (having sold to Cardinal Health, Inc.). He was a reserve officer in the U.K.’s Royal Naval Reserve and holds a BA (Hons) and MA from the University of Oxford with further studies in Law at the University of London. He is a fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (F Fin) and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (Chartered MCSI).
An established entrepreneur with a deep understanding of markets and market strategy, across sectors and tangible experience in real estate, infrastructure and economic development, with pioneering contributions including the introduction of ground-breaking opportunities in key emerging markets and engaging governments on macro-investment strategies and opportunities. With a background that has included a period as Political Secretary to a member of the (British) Cabinet during the late 1980s and early 1990s and later serving as an Equerry and Private Secretary in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, he has, for the past 24 years engaged exclusively in diverse business ventures, and brings a wealth of experience and extensive connections.
A distinguished British politician who represented East Devon in the House of Commons from 2001-2019. A former Minister of State for Northern Ireland and subsequently Minister of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office with responsibility for the Americas, Latin America, Asia and Asia Pacific regions. He served in the Grenadier Guards and subsequently in a number of roles in the Art world and business. He has been Non Executive Chairman and Director of a number of publicly listed companies. He is currently Deputy Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council. He was made a Privy Councillor in 2011 and Knighted in 2016. He was elevated to the House of Lords in 2022. He is married to Sasha, daughter of The Rt Hon Sir John Nott KCB who served in Margaret Thatcher’s first Government as Secretary of State for Defence. They have two daughters.
An accomplished finance professional and operator with expertise in M&A, portfolio management, and technology investments both in the public and private markets. He has held key roles at Calaveras Capital, BNY Mellon wealth management, E*TRADE Financial and the US Trade and Development Agency. His experience extends to service at Board level, including as audit committee chair and company investment committees and advisory. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst Charterholder with a BA in International Relations (Syracuse University) and an MBA from the Darden School (University of Virginia).
James is a seasoned investor and corporate leader with deep interests and investments in diverse fields such as Quantum, Artificial Intelligence, Space, CyberSec, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Drones, Enterprise Infrastructure, and Autonomous Vehicles. His professional journey, spanning across different continents and industries, uniquely positions him at the intersection of finance, defense, and technology. He is an officer in the Australian Army where he specialises in Capability Development. James was an investment banking director at VCA Partners / LightHorse Group, a leading defense and national security investment house in Sydney. Additionally, he is a senior partner at Gilmour Space Technologies, an Australian-based rocket company innovating in the field of low-cost small satellite launch vehicles. James holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialisation in International Business from the University of Sydney, is a Graduate of Applied Finance at Macquarie University, and holds management courses in Private Equity and Venture Capital from Harvard Business School. He has also completed the Company Directors Course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors, focusing on Company Ethics and Director's Responsibilities. He is a fellow of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
Niklas is an accomplished professional who began his career in private equity and investment banking. At Goldman Sachs, he rose to the role of Associate, advising on healthcare, consumer, and AI transactions, including M&A and corporate finance. His achievements include key engagements like the equity investment in AI company BenevolentAI and the IPOs of Autolus Therapeutics (NASDAQ: AUTL) and MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR). He later excelled in corporate development at MorphoSys, where he co-led early-stage VC investments and was integral in a substantial acquisition. He is a PhD candidate and research associate in innovation and entrepreneurship at RWTH Aachen University, holding a BSc in General Management from EBS Business School.
Teresa is a distinguished leader with over 30 years in the intelligence community and private sector and has been pivotal in national security mission evolution. After a number of years in the private sector, Teresa returned to the CIA as the first Director of Digital Futures in the CIA's Directorate of Digital Innovation, she established critical partnerships with the private sector, accelerating technology adoption for intelligence missions. Her significant roles include service in the CIA as well as Salesforce’s Vice President of National Security Programs She has also founded and managed a number of consulting businesses focussed on leading digital innovation and change management initiatives in the national security community. She was awarded the CIA's Distinguished Intelligence Medal and Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. Additionally, Teresa's earlier career involved technical analysis and senior management at the CIA. During her tenure she participated in and led multiple transformation-related task forces and programs aimed at modernizing the business of intelligence, including the development of the first Directorate of Intelligence strategic plan. She conceptualized and led an innovative initiative aimed at aligning fragmented intelligence production processes into a secure, web-based, collaborative, real-time production environment. Teresa served on the White House Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. She has served on multiple corporate boards, and invested in and mentored several emergent technology companies.
Rich is an experienced operator in both government and commercial domains across technology, analytics, operations, programmatics, and management. Known for his expertise in technology innovation, risk, and change management, Rich has a proven track record of driving progress and innovation. He was formerly Global Head, National Security and Space Startups for AWS Worldwide Public Sector and previously held impactful roles at HawkEye Systems and Booz Allen & Hamilton. A former officer in the US Army, Rich holds a BA from the University of Southern California.
Gregory is a seasoned technology leader with extensive experience spanning government, commercial, and startup sectors. His expertise includes building and managing dynamic teams and technical solutions in areas such as analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cybersecurity, cryptography, key management, and cloud technologies.
In his distinguished career, Gregory has held pivotal roles in major organizations. He served as the AI/ML, cybersecurity, and quantum Computing lead for AWS Worldwide Public Sector, focusing on Venture Capital and Startups. Prior to this, he was the Chief Solutions Architect and Founder at several innovative companies, including FUTURA Cyber, Semper Fortis Solutions, Flex Analytics, and Air Fusion Inc. His tenure at In-Q-Tel was marked by his contribution as the Senior Director of Systems Integration Outreach.
Gregory's academic credentials are equally impressive. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and an MBA from George Washington University. During his time at GWU, he also contributed as a Graduate Teaching Fellow in the School of Government and Business Administration, further solidifying his expertise in both the academic and professional realms.
Grant is an accomplished senior executive with over 30 years of experience in corporate multinational and UK Government sectors. Specializing in innovative technical solutions, particularly in cloud-based environments, he has notably served as CEO of a defense-focused cloud IT services company. Grant's expertise in cyber, AI, and ML has been instrumental in delivering solutions to UK National Security and Defence clients. His roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS) have included Business Development Manager for National Security, Defence, Space, and Sustainability sectors, as well as leading the EMEA, UK National Security & Defence AWS Venture Capital Startup Innovation Accelerator programs. His further experience include Chief Information Officer and Head of Practice ICT at ForceSelect and MoD Software Client Leader at IBM UK. Grant is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army and spent a number of years at Joint Forces Command.
Grant is a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Chartered IT Professional, and is an advisor to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Industry 100. His education includes a PGDip in Advanced Information Systems from Cranfield University and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Kaspar Varmuza is a multifaceted professional with a decade of experience as an officer in the British Army's Grenadier Guards. His role encompassed strategic planning, operations, and defense liaison for the UK Government. He notably coordinated key UK ceremonial military operations and was involved in high-level planning and response during the COVID-19 crisis. Kaspar holds a BA in Architecture from Oxford Brookes University and attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. His transition to technology-focused private equity is underpinned by qualifications in PRINCE2 and CFA Investment Management, reflecting his broad skill set in managing complex, high-profile projects and clients.