CEO and Founder
David@kickpoint-ventures.com
David is the CEO and Founder of Kickpoint Ventures. He is also a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company.
David brings a world-class approach to transformation and operational excellence, having played leadership roles in transforming 30+ of the best global organizations, across sectors. Over his near 15 years with McKinsey, he held many leadership roles, including convening the Operational Excellence Practice globally.
David has led several efforts within the Michigan community. David holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University; and a BSE and MSE in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan. David and his wife, Maureen, live in the Detroit area with their three kids. They enjoy travel, golf, hockey, pickleball, sailing, and skiing.
Vice President and Head of Portfolio Operations
Erin@kickpoint-ventures.com
Erin is a Vice President and Head of Portfolio Operations at Kickpoint Ventures. Erin works closely with family-owned, founder-owned, and PE-owned businesses to transform their business operations and accelerate earnings and growth.
Erin is a former McKinsey & Company Associate Partner with over a decade transforming businesses. She has worked across multiple industries including Energy, Mining and Metals, Chemicals, Packaging, Automotive, and Aerospace, as well as with Public Sector and Nonprofit organizations. Her functional expertise is in manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, capital excellence, and organizational health.
Erin is passionate about economic development, and serves on the advisory boards of several nonprofit organizations focused on education and workforce development. She holds a PhD from the University of Michigan. Erin lives in Detroit with her partner and their two children.
Director of Investments
Jake@kickpoint-ventures.com
Jake is Director of Investments at Kickpoint Ventures and leads firm operations in Cleveland. He is focused on bringing capital and advisory solutions to business owners throughout Ohio and the broader Midwest.
Jake brings a diverse background in private equity, consulting, and operating roles. At McKinsey & Company, he focused on buy-side acquisition diligences and operationally intensive transformations for building products and other industrial businesses in the Midwest. Clients ranged from private equity firms to fortune 50 companies. Before his time at McKinsey & Company, Jake worked in private equity investing at RIK Enterprises and The Townsend Group in Cleveland. Jake was responsible for evaluating and closing new investment opportunities, as well as working closely with management teams post-transaction on strategy and operations.
Jake received an MBA from the Chicago Booth and a BS in Finance from Miami University (Ohio). Outside of work, Jake loves spending time with his wife Katie and their two young daughters, playing golf, traveling, and staying active. He also is involved with Cleveland Clinic’s VeloSano Bike to Cure and the First Tee of Cleveland.
Vice President and Head of Strategic Partnerships
Tony@kickpoint-ventures.com
Tony Tricozzi is a Vice President and Head of Strategic Partnerships at Kickpoint Ventures. Tony partners in advisory, operating, and investor roles for Family, Founder, and PE-owned businesses and leads Kickpoint’s relationships with strategic partners.
Tony has over a decade of experience at the Boston Consulting Group; and Fortune 500 to technology start-up operational experience. He has worked in B2B and B2C contexts across Industrial goods, Agribusiness, Consumer goods, and Technology sectors. His functional experience is in growth strategy, go-to-market acceleration, M&A and corporate development, supply chain & operations, and sustainability.
Tony holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BSE and MSE in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan. Tony, his wife, Elsa, and their two kids live in Ann Arbor and enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors and on the water, playing sports, and cheering on the Michigan Wolverines.
Kickpoint Capital
Matt@kickpoint-capital.com
Matt is a member of the Kickpoint Capital team. He has spent his career advising, operating, and investing in lower middle market companies. Matt previously led deal execution at ScaleCo Capital, a Cleveland-based lower middle market private equity firm, where he has a continuing role as an Business Development Partner. Matt has founded several companies, including Apollo Medical Solutions, a value-based program implementer for medical facilities, and served as CEO of Del Palma Orthopedics, a office-based medical device company, which was strategically acquired by a competitor.
Earlier in his career, Matt was an attorney at Chicago-based law firm Gaido & Fintzen, where he advised business owners on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and investment structuring.
Matt is originally from Akron, OH. He received a B.S. in Finance from Miami University (Ohio) and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. Matt currently resides in Birmingham, MI with his wife Jenna and their three (soon to be four) children.
Kickpoint Capital
Andrew@kickpoint-capital.com
Andrew is a member of the Kickpoint Capital team. Over his career, Andrew has completed buyout transactions across multiple industry sectors, representing over $800 Million in enterprise value. Prior to Kickpoint Capital, Andrew was Vice President at ScaleCo Capital, a Cleveland-based lower middle market private equity firm where he led the deal execution and diligence efforts in the distribution and tech enabled services industries. Andrew also served as Vice President of Operations for Innoplast, a ScaleCo portfolio company, where he managed the day-to-day management of all three business units. Andrew also served as Chief of Staff to the COO of Flynn group where he supported the acquisition of over 1,000 restaurants while working with operators to enhance the group’s value creation strategy.
Earlier in his career, Andrew was a management consultant at ZS Associates where he focused on strategy, data analytics and go to market strategies for a variety of fortune 100 companies across the healthcare industry.
Andrew received a B.S from Vanderbilt University and was selected as a Crain's 20 in their 20s, and Forbes 30 under 30 honoree. Andrew currently resides in Cleveland with his wife Allison.
To help people recognize and pursue what they are capable of
To help business owners drive profitable, inclusive, and sustainable growth; and to help people pursue their dreams - building confidence, finding courage and taking agency
Own it. Evolve your purpose, lead with passion, and take agency in your growth.
Make it matter. Build something that lasts, beyond yourself.
Think scientifically. Use facts, focus, build standards, try it, and learn from it.
Leave people an inch taller. Make a difference and help others, every time.
Leave it on the ice. Work hard, persevere, and get better every day.