Jake Simon

Jake seeks out entrepreneurs building transformative companies that push the boundaries of what is possible to solve complex challenges. He has a desire to empower exceptional founders that build, scale, and enable next-generation technologies that ultimately improve lives and create value in the world around us.

At Fontinalis, Jake takes an active role in identifying and evaluating investment opportunities, in addition to collaborating with and monitoring portfolio companies’ operations, strategies, and capital formation. He is also responsible for leading due diligence and financial modeling efforts, contributing to the firm’s financial reporting and valuation processes, and supporting the team in research.

Jake is also active throughout the venture ecosystem and local community serving as an alumni fellow member of the Michigan Venture Capital Association, a venture advisor to GoingVC—a premier professional development program for entering and advancing careers in the venture and startup world, and is a member of the Partners Committee for Karmanos Cancer Institute where he helps lead capital raising efforts that fund research and innovation to fight cancer.

Prior to joining Fontinalis, Jake was in the investment banking group at William Blair in Chicago where he engaged in numerous sell-side and buy-side M&A, equity, and debt financings across a variety of industries. During his time, he enjoyed working hand-in-hand with management teams, positioning growth-oriented companies to ultimately find attractive investment and exit opportunities. Today, he applies the same thinking and pedigree to help startups navigate the company-building process, emphasizing product and technical innovation through all phases of growth.

Jake earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the Farmer School of Business at Miami University (Ohio). While at Miami, he took leadership positions in investment banking and asset management organizations, in addition to supporting mentorship programs. In his free time, Jake enjoys golf, endurance sports, and intramural leagues such as softball, and values his time most adventuring with family and friends on the lake in up north Michigan.