Extensive Experience in Consumer Investing and a Shared Philosophy

Leigh is a co-founder of Topspin’s private equity practice and head of the investment committee. Leigh joined Topspin in February 2004 and has over 25 years of private equity and transactional experience.

Leigh has extensive experience in consumer products and services, and in particular, has acquired deep knowledge and expertise in the health, wellness, beauty and personal care sectors through both a past senior operating role and past investments. Prior to joining Topspin, Leigh served as Chief Financial Officer of Stonewater Spas, a leading, private equity-backed operator and consolidator of day spas. Prior to that role, he served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development of Small World Media, a game software developer. Earlier in his career, he was a consultant with McKinsey & Company and a corporate attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Before Cravath, Leigh clerked for the Honorable Charles S. Haight, Jr. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Leigh received his AB in English and Economics from Duke University in 1992 where he graduated summa cum laude and his JD from Harvard Law School in 1995 where he graduated magna cum laude and served on the Law Review. In addition, Leigh is on the Board of Advisors of the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to supporting the public schools in the Town of Mamaroneck.

Stephen joined Topspin in January 2008 and is a member of the investment committee. Stephen brings over 20 years of investing and operating experience and was instrumental in building the infrastructure and the success of Topspin Consumer Partners’ private equity business. During his tenure with the firm, Stephen has covered a wide range of consumer-focused industry verticals with significant experience in specialty retail, health and wellness and juvenile products.

Stephen began his career with Bain and Company, where he focused on business services and manufacturing firms. Following his tenure with Bain, Stephen left to support the executive leadership team of Spherion Corporation during a multi-year turnaround.

Stephen received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering with highest honors from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2000, where he was a President’s Scholar, and received an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2007, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar, and helped support the Chair of the Finance Department in the development of a new course focused on private equity finance.

Ojas joined Topspin in July 2009 and is a member of the investment committee. Ojas brings nearly 20 years of private equity and investment banking experience and has played an integral role in building Topspin Consumer Partners’ private equity business and portfolio. Over his time with the firm, Ojas gained extensive experience in consumer products and services, and in particular, has acquired deep knowledge and expertise in e-commerce, health and wellness and specialty retail.

Prior to joining Topspin, Ojas worked at Merrill Lynch & Co. where he assisted in the reorganization of a portfolio of principal credit and equity investments. Prior to business school, Ojas joined Key Principal Partners (now Cyprium Partners), where he focused on equity and mezzanine investments to fund growth, buyout and refinancing of manufacturing, distribution and service-oriented companies. Ojas began his career with Salomon Smith Barney (now Citigroup) in the investment banking division focused on transactions in the automotive and aerospace & defense sectors.

Ojas received his B.A. in Economics and Philosophy with distinction from the University of Michigan in 2000, and his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2008.

Josh joined Topspin in 2018. Prior to joining Topspin, Josh was Founder and CEO of Oceanus Advisors Inc., an investment and advisory firm that specializes in working with private equity-owned companies on strategy, sales, marketing, product development, operations, HR and M&A. Prior to Oceanus, Josh was Founder and CEO of Mission Product Holdings, Inc., a leading, private equity-backed consumer brand in the health and wellness sector focused on sports accessories. Prior to Mission Product Holdings, Josh was Co-founder and President of GoSMiLE Inc., a leading innovative private equity-backed consumer brand in the beauty industry. Josh began his career as Co-founder and EVP of Student Advantage, Inc., a publicly-held consumer brand in the youth marketing and media industry.

Over the last 20 years, Josh has invested in, and served on the Board of Directors of several consumer companies. He has a deep network within brick-and-mortar retail, which includes senior level contacts for Walmart and CVS. Josh received his BS in Marketing and Finance from the University at Albany in 1997. He has received numerous industry awards and been recognized and featured on CNBC, Fox Business, and in NYT, WSJ, E&Y and more. In addition, Josh serves on the Board of Directors of Driving Force Group, a non-profit focused on social and justice equality.

Venus joined Topspin in November 2022 as an Operating Partner. With 7 Grand Slam titles, 5 Wimbledon championships and 4 Olympic gold medals, tennis champion Venus Williams is arguably one of the most accomplished and inspiring women in the history of sports. In addition to her accolades on the court, Venus parlayed her fine-tuned business acumen with her healthy competitive spirit to launch several successful businesses. In 2002, Venus founded V Starr, a full-service commercial and residential design firm. Continuing with her love for design, Venus obtained an Associate of Science in Fashion Design and in 2012 she launched fashion-forward activewear and lifestyle brand, EleVen by Venus Williams. Her entrepreneurship in the health and wellness space additionally includes her plant-based protein company, Happy Viking. Venus recently served as Executive Producer on the Academy Award-winning Warner Brothers biopic King Richard, which detailed the influence her father and coach, Richard Williams, had on her childhood and careers as she became a tennis icon and changed the sport for generations to come. Throughout her career, Venus has been a steadfast advocate for equality. In 2007 it was her unwavering fight which led Wimbledon to award women players the same pay as their male counterparts and in 2021, she launched an awareness initiative called the #PrivilegeTax in conjunction with EleVen to bring attention to the wage inequality and unveiled a platform of resources for young women to get inspired and address the issue on a grassroots level.

Venus is a graduate of Indiana University East where she received a BSC degree in Business Administration in 2015, and of The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where she received an Associate of Science in Fashion Design in 2007.

Leo Guthart is a Senior Advisor to the Fund. Prior to its sale to Honeywell in 2000, he served as Vice Chairman of Pittway Corporation and Chief Executive Officer of its Security Group of companies. After Pittway’s sale to Honeywell, he served as Chairman of the Security and Fire Solutions Group of Honeywell International.

He was also Chairman of publicly-held Cylink Corporation, a leading U.S. supplier of encryption equipment that was sold to SafeNet Inc. He also served as a Director of AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE: ATR), an international producer of dispensing valves, pumps and closures for pharmaceuticals and perfumes. He is a Trustee of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and served as its Treasurer as well as Hofstra University where he served as Chairman of its Board.

Leo is a graduate of Harvard College where he received a BA degree in Physics in 1958, and of Harvard Business School where he was a George F. Baker Scholar and received both an MBA in 1960 and a Doctorate in Business Administration with a specialty in Corporate Finance in 1966.

Joli Cooper is an accomplished leader and board director with over 30 years of global business experience. She is currently the Founding Executive Director of GreenLight Fund Atlanta, a venture philanthropy fund working at the intersection of community need and social innovation. Prior to joining GreenLight Fund, she was a founding member of CSW Private Equity Investments, LLC and served on the Board of Directors of privately-held Berkshire Blanket, Sqwincher Corporation, and H20+ Plus.

Joli’s career as an operating executive includes domestic and international marketing and general management roles at Nestle, Tropicana, Seagram and Vitality Beverages, Inc. She launched new products in Latin America, led global marketing initiatives in the United Kingdom and was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Pasco Brands, once the largest private label juice manufacturer in the United States. Additionally, Joli was honored to serve as 25th National President of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, the oldest African American family organization in the United States with over 250 chapters and 40,000 family members.

Committed to her community, Joli serves on the Advisory Board of The City of Atlanta Women’s Entrepreneurial Initiative (WEI) and has served on several nonprofit boards including Academy Prep of Tampa, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Tampa Bay, Junior Achievement and The Children’s Home. Joli holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, where she was awarded the Kathleen McDonald Distinguished Alumna Award from Wharton Women in Business in 2002 for her professional excellence and many philanthropic contributions.