Last Call: Purple Arch Ventures Fund 7

David has played a leading role in many aspects of the VC investment cycle: structuring transactions as a fundless sponsor, improving operations as a consultant, leading management teams as a CEO, evaluating opportunities as an investor and advisor, and selling companies as a licensed business broker. Previously, he founded Synergy Financial, a private capital and consulting firm for entrepreneurs, PE professionals, and family offices. He started his investment career as a professional advisor managing millions in assets. David has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northwestern and played for the two-time Big Ten Championship Northwestern Wildcats Football Team. He serves on the NUvention and Kellogg Entrepreneurial Center Advisory Boards.

Rachael’s interest in Venture Capital began in Tel Aviv while working at Pitango, Israel’s first and largest VC fund. Here, Rachael worked on their nascent Impact Investing fund and discovered the role technology and entrepreneurs hold in driving systemic shifts in sustainability and socioeconomic equity. Rachael received a grant from Northwestern University and the Gates foundation to return to Israel to study sustainable food systems. Returning to Northwestern, Rachael co-founded a profitable business which expanded to serve 100+ universities. This experience was complemented with 2.5 years at Accenture, where Rachael consulted multinational companies on their 5-year technology innovation strategy, examining global trends and emerging technologies. Throughout this time, Rachael’s continued passion for the VC space was reinforced by working with Accenture’s corporate venture arm, attending a variety of conferences, and serving as a mentor for a sustainable food accelerator.

Lucas brings an operator’s perspective to Venture Capital, having led teams at fast-growing startups in digital health, proptech, and retail. Most recently, he led BizOps at LetsGetChecked, an at-home lab diagnostics company that helps people detect conditions early and live longer lives. Lucas earned his MBA from Kellogg, where he focused on entrepreneurship and venture. During that time, he founded a marketplace for esports viewing events called FanHome, culminating in a first-place victory in The Garage’s summer accelerator demo day. Complementing that experience, Lucas worked part-time while in business school as an investment associate at MATH Venture Partners, where he focused on evaluating early-stage SaaS investments and developed a passion for venture. Prior to business school, Lucas cut his teeth in investment banking at KeyBanc Capital Markets, as well as on the strategy team at Trunk Club. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.