Dan Ratliff

Dan is excited by the far-reaching impact that new mobility solutions are already making across countless industries globally, and he has a soft spot for ambitious entrepreneurs who recognize the breadth at which mobility technologies can be applied. As a firm believer that you don’t always have to re-invent the wheel to revolutionize an industry, Dan has an equal appreciation for bold “moonshot” ideas and for finding innovative ways to apply proven technologies to legacy processes and solutions.

Currently, Dan serves as a Board Observer to Ouster and CelLink, but you’ll find him regularly engaged across the broader portfolio (most frequently with Ike and Elementum) and since joining Fontinalis in 2014, Dan has played an active role in the investment and due diligence processes for most of Fontinalis’ portfolio companies.

Previously, Dan spent his early career supporting entrepreneurs and business owners to grow and exit their companies through his role as an investment banker with PMCF. During his time at PMCF, Dan worked primarily with manufacturing companies where he gained an appreciation for building (and moving) physical goods and the importance of staying ahead of the competitive curve by prioritizing robotics, automation, and supply chain initiatives.

Dan is a life-long Michigander, growing up in Metro Detroit and earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University where he was a member of the Honors College. He took a brief hiatus from Michigan, spending a year in Nashville while earning his Master’s degree in Finance from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Business. Dan is an avid golfer and will look for any opportunity to get out on the course, but mostly you’ll find him at home spending time with his wife, son, and their dog.